Johnson defends Sigcho-Lopez, deflects calls for him to remove alderman from leadership position

CHICAGO — Mayor Brandon Johnson said he supports the first amendment Thursday, after questions arose about alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez speaking at a rally where a flag was burned. Now, several council members are calling for the alderman to step down as a committee chairman.

“Whether it’s a noose or burning the flag, these are not particular expressions that I engage in,” Johnson said.

At a rally earlier this month, Sigcho-Lopez said he arrived after the flag was burned, and claims he didn’t see the flag.

“This is political fear,” Sigcho-Lopez said. “I think they are reactionary voices that want division.”

Several aldermen have asked Johnson to speak out against Sigcho-Lopez, who is a member of the mayor’s leadership team.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Aldermen demand removal of Sigcho-Lopez as chair of Housing Committee after rally in which U.S. flag was burned

Johnson did not say he would ask Sigcho-Lopez to step down from his leadership position. Instead, he said he supports the freedom of expression under the first amendment, and that anyone who shares their political opinion should be protected.

“I don’t even know why this is even being debated quite frankly,” Johnson said. “It’s actually quite disturbing [that] we’re having a conversation about protective speech in America.”

Johnson went on to compare the situation to one experienced by former President Barack Obama in 2008, when the Chicago-native was running for office and faced public backlash for comments his former pastor Jeremiah Wright made in the pulpit.

“Do we really want to have a society where someone else’s comments, who happen to be in the presence of someone else, that becomes a repudiation of that particular person?” Johnson said.

Sigcho-Lopez said he probably would not have spoken at the rally had he known a flag was burned, and also said he would not burn a U.S. flag.

“I’m a naturalized citizen,” Sigcho-Lopez said. “I made an oath to respect and to serve all communities across the country and in my city.”

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