(Chris Parker, Headline USA) A politician who has frequently denounced racism, while watching her city set record high crime rates, is now being forced to abandon her racist interview policy, the Daily Caller reported.
Lori Lightfoot, the Democrat mayor of Chicago, publicly enacted a policy in which she would only conduct one-on-one interviews with minority reporters. She has since repeatedly refused interviews with white journalists.
Lightfoot had denounced racism, ironically only a few weeks after refusing to be interviewed by a white reporter, as a “public health crisis” before diverting $10 million of the city’s budget to establish “healthy Chicago equity zones.” She also told the New York Times that she would “absolutely” racially discriminate again.
She was then sued by Judicial Watch on behalf of the Daily Caller News Foundation after her office instituted the racist interviewing policy.
It was ultimately that lawsuit that led Lightfoot to abandon her policy. In exchange, the DCNF agreed to drop its lawsuit. DCNF representatives expressed their surprise that such a lawsuit is still necessary in 2022.
The case arose after Thomas Catenacci, a white reporter, was denied an opportunity to interview Lightfoot due to her office “failing to respond in a timely manner.” Catenacci expressed hope that this move sets a new precedent: “I hope all elected officials take note of our case and think twice before issuing similar policies.”
The lawsuit was filed on grounds that it violated the 14th Amendment, which says no state can “deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” She was also accused of violating the First Amendment.
Initially, Lightfoot held fast to her new policy. She refused to speak with white journalists even as her policy gained public attention and scrutiny. It was only after the threat of a federal lawsuit that she relented.
Lightfoot still refused a request for comment by the DCNF. However, her office testified under oath that the racist policy will not continue. Catenacci has yet to request additional comments or an interview from Lightfoot.
