Political commentators and social media users ripped Chicago Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson after he called for a ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war on Wednesday.
Earlier this week, Hamas rejected a two-month ceasefire deal proposed by the Israeli government, refusing Israel’s condition that top Hamas commanders be exiled from the Gaza Strip, The Times of Israel reported. Hamas is also reportedly demanding any ceasefire deal to include the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. On Wednesday, Johnson added his name to the list of Democrats in the U.S. calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
“We need a cease-fire,” the mayor said while referencing death tolls, according to WBEZ Chicago.
The mayor, who took office last year after defeating incumbent Lori Lightfoot, was slammed for his comment by numerous people who pointed out that the city he leads is coming out of a violent crime wave that saw Chicago top the nation in homicides with 810 in 2021.
“Can we first have a ceasefire in Chicago?” asked New York Post reporter Jon Levine.
Can we first have a ceasefire in Chicago? https://t.co/XSIWk5aAml pic.twitter.com/8b2hhm9VIY
— Jon Levine (@LevineJonathan) January 25, 2024
His question was echoed by conservative radio host Erick Erickson.
“How about a ceasefire on the South Side first?” Erickson posted.
“Netanyahu should call for a ceasefire in Chicago,” David Harsanyi, senior editor at The Federalist, added.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP
Johnson admitted that he doesn’t know if his statement on a ceasefire will influence the U.S. stance but said his duty as mayor requires him to “recognize people’s humanity” and “understand the value of what liberation … means for people.”
“I wish I could give you maybe an answer to what impact it will have on other people who make decisions, but I can say from a very personal note: I know that for Black liberation we had to make statements that maybe not in the immediate it had an impact,” Johnson said.
“But I’m not mayor of the city of Chicago if people weren’t pushing the government to recognize people’s humanity and understand the value of what liberation — what it means for people, groups and nations,” he added. “And in this instance, people should be liberated.”
During the last temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the terrorist group violated the agreement, firing rockets at Israel. Hamas terrorists also murdered four people, including a young pregnant woman, at a bus stop in Jerusalem during the ceasefire. The terrorist group has said it will only release the remaining hostages, believed to be more than 100 people, if Israel agrees to a comprehensive ceasefire.