CHICAGO (WLS) — The U.S. Division of Justice is opening up a civil rights investigation into town of Chicago, it mentioned in a letter to the mayor’s workplace on Monday.
The DOJ is particularly wanting into town’s hiring practices.
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This comes after Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s remarks on the Apostolic Church of God in Woodlawn on Sunday prompted a barrage of social media posts calling for an investigation.
Johnson shared his imaginative and prescient for the remainder of his time period, emphasizing training, public security and fairness. Johnson additionally mentioned his administration is without doubt one of the most variety within the metropolis’s historical past.
“There are some detractors that may attempt to push again on me and say, ‘The one factor the mayor talks about is the hiring of Black individuals.’ No. What I am saying is, whenever you rent our individuals, we all the time look out for everyone else. We’re essentially the most beneficiant individuals on the planet,” Johnson mentioned.
In a letter to the mayor’s workplace, the DOJ says Johnson’s feedback highlighting the variety of “Black officers” in his administration prompted this investigation.
“Enterprise and financial neighborhood improvement, the deputy mayor is a Black lady… Division of Planning and Growth is a Black lady… Infrastructure, deputy mayor is a Black lady… Chief operations officer is a Black man… Price range director is a Black lady… Senior advisor is a Black man,” Johnson mentioned.
Assistant Legal professional Basic Harmeet Dhillon said within the letter, partly, “If these type of hiring choices are being made for top-level positions in your administration, then it begs the query whether or not such choices are additionally being made for lower-level positions.”
Johnson’s workplace launched an announcement on Monday afternoon, saying, “Mayor Johnson is proud to have essentially the most various administration within the historical past of our metropolis. Our administration displays the variety and values of Chicago. Sadly, the present federal administration doesn’t replicate both. We’re conscious of the letter issued by the Division of Justice, however are awaiting the official receipt of the letter. Our Company Counsel will evaluation it at the moment.”
Metropolis Corridor leaders are already reacting to the investigation.
“Listening to what he mentioned and seeing this investigation, participating, unfolding at the moment. I feel validates the considerations that many individuals have that this is not a mayor for everybody,” mentioned fifteenth Ward Ald. Raymond Lopez.
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