When I read the headline from the Daily Caller, “Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Giving Interviews Only To Journalists Of Color” I was sure it was a joke. No elected official could possibly be crazy enough to grant interviews based on skin color. False. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is just that nuts.
According to Daily Caller contributor Nicole Silverio, Democratic Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is giving interviews solely to black or brown journalists, local reporters announced on social media. Lightfoot said she is giving priority to journalists of color temporarily.
Several journalists from the Chicago area, including Mary Ann Ahern, a political journalist at NBC 5 Chicago, have claimed that Lightfoot is only giving one-on-one interviews to reporters of color.
“As @chicagosmayor reaches her two year midway point as mayor, her spokeswoman says Lightfoot is granting 1 on 1 interviews-only to Black or Brown journalists,” Ahern tweeted.
As @chicagosmayor reaches her two year midway point as mayor, her spokeswoman says Lightfoot is granting 1 on 1 interviews – only to Black or Brown journalists pic.twitter.com/PAUsacD9Gj
— Mary Ann Ahern (@MaryAnnAhernNBC) May 18, 2021
The mayor herself followed up with a Twitter storm defending her decision.
“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. Diversity and inclusion is imperative across all institutions including media. In order to progress we must change.
“This is exactly why I’m being intentional about prioritizing media requests from POC reporters on the occasion of the two-year anniversary of my inauguration as mayor of this great city.”
This is exactly why I’m being intentional about prioritizing media requests from POC reporters on the occasion of the two-year anniversary of my inauguration as mayor of this great city.
— Mayor Lori Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) May 19, 2021
My colleague and I both called Mayor Lightfoot’s press office to inquire about the policy and were told it only applies to requests for interviews about the mayor’s two-year anniversary in office. When pressed about how the mayor would determine qualified journalists of color, the aide couldn’t explain.
“I am white,” my colleague said, “but I may have some black DNA, I’m not sure how much. Would I qualify for priority access to the mayor?”
The aide suggested we submit a written request to the Mayor’s office for more information about the new vetting process for journalists, which we did. We did not receive an immediate response to our inquiry.
This is, of course, absurd.
Chicago Tribune reporter Gregory Pratt Tweeted that he is Hispanic was granted access to Mayor Lightfoot, but declined the opportunity.
“I am a Latino reporter @chicagotribune whose interview request was granted for today. However, I asked the mayor’s office to lift its condition on others and when they said no, we respectfully canceled. Politicians don’t get to choose who covers them.”
I am a Latino reporter @chicagotribune whose interview request was granted for today. However, I asked the mayor’s office to lift its condition on others and when they said no, we respectfully canceled. Politicians don’t get to choose who covers them. https://t.co/YMW8M8ZgJm
— Gregory Pratt (@royalpratt) May 19, 2021
Good for him!
I believe that if each one of us pushes back like that to the left’s crazy woke culture, we just might have a chance of restoring sanity to our country.
Catherine Mortensen is Vice President of Communications at Americans for Limited Government.
