Democratic Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson on Monday raised an unexpected name as he discussed the reasons behind the weekend's mass shootings: former President Richard Nixon.
Police said Monday that more than 100 people were shot across Chicago over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, 19 of them fatally, including one police officer. Mayor Johnson held a press conference Monday to address the incidents and Chicago's violence and crime problems, appearing to argue that Chicago is plagued by gun violence because Nixon won in 1968 after then-President Lyndon B. Johnson decided not to seek reelection. (Related: 'Looks matter': Blue City mayor spends more than $30,000 on hair and makeup in one year)
“What we went through over the weekend is unacceptable and we didn't get here overnight and everyone knows that. I'm going to tell you the whole story of what happened,” Johnson said. Said Speaking at a press conference on Monday, he said the Black Death has unfortunately been accepted in the country for a long time.
“Sixty years ago, we had a chance to get to the root causes, but people laughed at President Johnson and we ended up with President Richard Nixon.”
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Johnson, who did not elaborate on his comments about Nixon, also spoke about what Chicago plans to do to crack down on gun violence, mourned the deaths of those shot over the weekend and warned that “there will be severe consequences” for those responsible. according to In the Chicago Sun-Times.
“I'm not going to stand by and watch. I'm not going to be passive in this moment,” he told reporters. “We need to ensure that each and every person is held accountable for the pain and the trauma and the suffering that they've caused this city. Violence has consequences. We will not allow our city to be destroyed and disfigured by criminal acts.”
Although Chicago saw a slight decrease in crime in 2023, it still has one of the highest crime rates of any city in the country. according to Violent crime will reach a 12-year high in 2023, and murder rates have fallen so far in 2024 but are still significantly higher than in 2014, according to the World Population Review. according to To CBS News.
According to CBS News, vehicle thefts have decreased in 2023 but are still more than double what they were in mid-2022. Armed robbery rates increased 24% in 2023 compared to the previous year.
Despite the rampant crime, arrest rates generally remain low, according to CBS News.
“We are here to say enough is enough. Enough is enough. When this senseless violence hits our city on such a scale, we lose a part of the soul of Chicago. It hurts so much to admit that, but it's true,” Johnson told reporters on Monday.
Johnson's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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