OPINION | This article contains commentary that reflects the author's opinion.
Fox News reported that a Democratic member of Chicago’s city council stated that Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx has “failed consistently” to protect the residents and businesses of Chicago from violent offenders.
During an appearance on “Fox & Friends First” on Friday, the alderman for Chicago’s 15th Ward, Raymond Lopez, said that he was one of the people victimized during the nightly outbursts of violence that continue to terrorize the city.
Lopez criticized Foxx after learning that only 42 charges were approved by the State’s attorney in connection to the riots and looting in Chicago. This was significantly lower than lawmakers like Lopez expected.
The alderman dismissed Foxx’s charges that consisted mainly of misdemeanors and burglary charges.
“This is too little, too late at the moment,” said the Chicago Democrat to the hosts. And added; “We should’ve been doing felony charges two months ago when the city of Chicago was first rioted and ransacked by these organized looters.”
Lopez also criticized other legislators for turning the misfortune of Chicago residents into political statements instead of helping the communities through cooperation.
“Now to say that we’re finally taking action after the second round only sends the message that Chicago does not have a unified crime-fighting strategy because politicians are too busy bickering than they are protecting the public.” Lopez told the hosts.
In addition to being the State’s Attorney in a county experiencing a surge in violent crimes, Foxx has also been scrutinized for the handling of both the Jussie Smollett and R. Kelly cases.
“The approach Kim Foxx is taking is to deflect from her responsibility and her failure to actually do her job, which is to prosecute criminals,” Lopez told Jillian Mele and Todd Piro.
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“You have to show that there are repercussions for bad behavior. That’s not a partisan issue. That’s not a political issue,” he said. “That is a universal issue that if you do something wrong you must be held accountable, and she has failed consistently over the years, and now this is just a culmination of all of those efforts.”
In June, Lopez called Mayor Lori Lightfoot pleading for help after rioting and looting that gripped the city following the death of George Floyd, and in audio obtained by WTTW-TV, the Democrat mayor told him: “I think you’re 100 percent full of s—, is what I think.”
The Chicago Police Department launched a website with video of the looting to help identify criminals, but the alderman says it won’t work if the elected officials don’t work together.
“The true test will be whether or not CPD, whether or not the state’s attorney, and whether or not Lori Lightfoot pushes people to act,” Lopez said. “Simply putting videos out for the sake of entertainment will do nothing unless we are willing to prosecute and hold people responsible.”
