While the nation celebrated independence, large parts of Democratic-controlled areas in Chicago were thrown into mourning. Over the July Fourth weekend, multiple cases of gun violence sprung up around the city, claiming twenty lives and leaving over 100 people injured.
Meanwhile, the city’s mayor is facing intense backlash after he blamed the rising gun violence on former Republican President Richard Nixon.
The Controversial Press Conference
In the wake of the tragic shootings, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson held a press conference to speak to the people. During this conference, he made the controversial move of pointing fingers at decades-old policies.
“Let’s tell the full story of what happened,” he started. “Black death has been unfortunately accepted in this country for a very long time,” he stated.
Johnson Calls Out Nixon
Johnson said, “We had a chance 60 years ago to get at the root causes,” referring to Democratic anti-gun violence efforts of the 1960s. He blamed the current violence on the refusal of American voters to support President Lyndon Johnson, who is famous for signing the Gun Control Act of 1968.
“People mocked President Johnson, and we ended up with Richard Nixon,” he said. He didn’t give any explanations for his comments.
Backlash Erupts
Not long after his press conference, his comments on President Nixon went viral and drew heavy condemnation. Several X accounts had cut out the clip and posted it on the social media platform.
Within 24 hours, the issue had gone viral, with one clip amassing over 2.6 million views. Thousands of comments began pouring in, most of them bashing the mayor for engaging in blame games.
A Wave of Angry Comments
“This guy doesn’t know he’s actually in charge of controlling this violence right now, right?” asked one user. “Didn’t we have a Black President from Chicago for eight years since Nixon? Why didn’t he work on those root causes? What?” read another comment.
Another user said, “Uh oh. Looks like Biden isn’t the only one who needs a cognitive exam.”
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The Worrying Rate of Gun Violence in Chicago
For decades, the longtime Democratic-controlled city of Chicago has been known as a major gun violence city. Many experts have blamed liberal policies for the rising cases of gun deaths and shootings.
This July Fourth weekend is another reminder of the lingering problem. Also, it has placed Mayor Johnson under intense pressure even as the city’s reported shootings for 2024 reached 1,200 as of July 7.
Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon
Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon were the 36th and 37th presidents of the United States, respectively. The Johnson-Nixon transition marred a Democratic-to-Republican shift in governance.
Nixon led the country from 1969 to 1974 and remained a popular GOP figure even after his death in 1994. Many people saw Mayor Johnson’s swipe at the late President Nixon as yet another attempt by failing Democrats to shift blame.
The Richard Nixon Foundation Responded
The Richard Nixon Foundation has lashed out at the mayor in a press statement. In an X post, the foundation stated that “Mayor Johnson’s reference to President Nixon is gratuitous, and the facts are not on his side in his characterization of Richard Nixon and the Nixon administration.”
The post went on to list Nixon’s achievements in office. In addition, Jim Byron, the foundation’s president, declared that “Richard Nixon was a champion of civil rights.”
Mayor Johnson and the Habit of Blames
Some commentators have drawn attention to Mayor Johnson’s history of blame-shifting. For example, a news report recalled that the mayor had blamed his predecessor, Lori Lightfoot, for the migrant crisis in the city.
Johnson has also blamed conservatives for painting Chicago as a criminal’s paradise. He referred to their claims as baseless and racist. “They’re still mad that a black man is free in this country,” he remarked.
ALSO READ: Chicago Faces Chaos as Homeless Population Increases Amid Migrant Crisis
Crime Reduced a Little in Chicago
To the mayor’s credit, crime has declined a bit in Chicago. According to numbers from the Chicago Police, from last year’s July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, gun violence dropped by 27% compared to the numbers in 2021.
However, the figures began to rise again after June 2, 2024, and the spike lasted for the 28 days that led to June 30.
A Comedian Ridicules Mayor Johnson
Mayor Johnson’s comments have also made their way to the entertainment industry. Famous comedian Tim Young has made a joke about it. On his X page, Young wrote, “There were 109 shootings in Chicago this past weekend, so, of course, the mayor blames RICHARD NIXON.”
The post reflects the public’s perception of the mayor’s mention of Nixon, which many believed was too far-fetched.
Conservatives Deride Mayor Johnson
A number of conservatives have defended President Nixon and slammed Johnson for his desperation to pass the buck. One conservative, Jim Byron, stated that Chicago needed leadership “that takes responsibility and works together to solve problems.”
It is unclear how much goodwill the mayor may have lost due to his controversial comments. However, he has three more years till the next election to repair the damage.
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