Protesters demanding Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx resign were met Monday with shouts of “16 shots and a cover-up” from a group that wants more police accountability.
The Chicago Fraternal Order of Police rallied outside Foxx’s downtown Chicago office. The union representing the city’s rank-and-file officers is upset that the state’s attorney’s office dropped charges against “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett, who was accused of staging a hate-crime attack against himself.
The confrontation was sparked when community activist Ja’mal Green approached Ald. Nick Sposato, who sat in a wheelchair holding up a “We support the police” placard. He and Green began arguing. At one point, Green yelled: “This is what you represent? Go do some work!”
Sposato countered: “You started it.”
From then on, it was a chorus of “Foxx must go!” versus “Racists must go!”
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx has endured fierce criticism, both locally and nationally, for her office’s decision in March to dismiss the 16 felony disorderly conduct charges.
“The conduct of her office from the very beginning of this case was highly, highly suspicious,” Martin Preib, the FOP’s second vice president, told the Chicago Sun-Times last week.
On Monday, retired Chicago Police detective Peter Garza said: “Somebody needs to tell Kim Foxx she’s the prosecutor, not the public defender. You can’t have a prosecutor who has this mindset of a public defender.”
Supporters of Kim Foxx expressed outrage over the criticism during a rally outside Chicago Temple at 10 a.m.
“This is not just an attack on Kim Foxx. This is an attack on all black elected officials throughout the state,” community activist Ja’Mal Green said. “We know what this is really about, and we don’t stand for it.”
The Rev. Michael Pfleger, the pastor of St. Sabina Church, also rose to Foxx’s defense.
“Disagree with her, but take your damn hands off her. Change is going to come whether you want it or not,” Pfleger told the crowd.
“The attack on Kim Foxx isn’t about Jussie,” Pfleger said. “It’s an excuse to remove a strong black woman.”
TIMELINE: The Jussie Smollett investigation
