Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Trends After Local Reporters Claim She’s Giving Interviews Only To “Black or Brown Journalists”
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is currently trending on social media after local reporters claimed on Tuesday that she only wanted to accept interviews from journalist of color.
It was said that Lightfoot, who is the city’s first female black mayor, made this request as she marked her two-year anniversary in the role. The Mayor seemingly confirmed that she made some sort of new move in a series of tweets. She said she was intentionally “prioritizing media requests from POC reporters’” and that it was actually a “shame” the journalists assigned to cover Chicago’s City Hall in 2021 were overwhelmingly white. Her response came after a number of local reporters started tweeting a day earlier about how white journalists wouldn’t be allowed to interview her one-on-one.
“I ran to break up the status quo that was failing so many. That isn’t just in City Hall. It’s a shame that in 2021, the City Hall press corps is overwhelmingly white in a city where more than half of the city identifies as black, Latino, AAPI or Native American,” Lightfoot tweeted. “Diversity and inclusion is imperative across all institutions including media. In order to progress we must change.”
Many people slammed Lightfoot for her alleged new move. One tweeted, “Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Granting Interviews “Only To Black Or Brown Journalists” Ah, yes, another important “woke” step toward wiping out racism in the country: judging people by the color of their skin.” Another said, “Well, this is a Racist thing to do, & a Racist way to be. You can tell, @LoriLightfoot, doesn’t like any White American’s ⤵️🇺🇸”
Well, this is a Racist thing to do, & a Racist way to be. You can tell, @LoriLightfoot, doesn't like any White American's ⤵️🇺🇸
Let me tell you, the only racism, I've seen, has been from our Public Servants, Media, & Democratic Organizations.⚖🇺🇸 https://t.co/Sq9oGMYrcx
— Angela (@Angela72825448) May 19, 2021
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is now refusing to do one-on-one interviews with any journalists unless they have brown or black skin.
You know, there’s a word for that: “Racism”
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) May 19, 2021
Calling out Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot for granting interviews only to “black or brown” reporters NOT just because its racist but because politicians should not get to choose who covers them.
— Jarome Bell (@JaromeBellVA) May 19, 2021
Others defended Lightfoot, with some pointing out that there wasn’t an official confirmation that she said this. A few social media users also believed that Lightfoot most likely didn’t exclude white reporters entirely, but wanted to make sure the journalists of color were seen and acknowledged by giving them one-on-one interviews.
Socialites, what are your thoughts on this? Sound off in the comment box below!
Press Play Below For More: