By: Mark Glennon*
Whose side will Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson be on if protesters become lawbreakers at the August Democratic National Convention in Chicago, and how will he direct police to respond?
Concerns that Johnson will side with lawbreakers already are common, and Johnson’s interview published Sunday by the Chicago Tribune should increase those concerns.
The interviewers asked Johnson whether he agreed with police who forcibly broke up a recent protest at the Chicago Art Institute, arresting many protesters. Johnson answered that his primary concern was protesters’ rights. The reporters pressed further, asking, “Was the final response, the outcome — which led to dozens of arrests — was that necessary?”
Johnson’s answer:
Well, in some instances — and I’ve been a part of these demonstrations — in some instances, arrests are part of the objective. I’ll say it like that. I’ve taken arrest before. It’s not unprecedented for demonstrators to take arrest. The most important thing, though, here is that the First Amendment? Protected. Keeping people safe, it’s the primary goal, and we’ve done both of those.
In other words, getting arrested for breaking the law while protesting is no biggie.
The Chicago Tribune’s editorial board recognized the concern about what side Johnson will be on. “Democratic bosses,” their editorial says, “have figured something else out too. Chicago’s activist mayor is sympathetic to the pro-Palestinian protesters and likes to refer to the police as an entity separate from himself rather than under his control. Thus, he cannot be counted on to protect the convention and the party’s prospects.”
Others noting the same concern include the Wall Street Journal. A column there asked last week whether Democrats can trust Johnson to protect the convention. The city’s weak response to protests at the University of Chicago, the Journal said, added to questions about the political will to enforce the law.
The deliberate weakness in that response is now clear. In a Saturday MSNBC interview with Rev. Al Sharpton, Johnson said expressly that he opposed the university’s plan to clear the camp and assistance from the Chicago police.
Even left-leaning Politico wrote in some detail last week about concerns over what side Johnson will be on. From Politico: “There’s already a joke going around Democratic strategist circles that the main difference between 2024 and 1968 is that the Chicago mayor this year will be on the side of the protesters, not the cops.”
It’s no joke.
*Mark Glennon is founder of Wirepoints.
Audio and summary 
If this bill passes, say goodbye to local control over all Illinois parks and expect to see open drug and alcohol use, needles, no sanitation and fire hazards, but no ordinary park users.
Expect no retraction or apology. This what they do.
This should be blatantly apparent to the CPD officers who will be on the front lines when things go sideways at the DNC protests that the mayor, COPA(the agency investigating police) and the executive ranks will not be behind them. Words to those officers, don’t. SloJoe biden’s favorite saying, “don’t”. Speak with inside voices and do not use any force, don’t make arrests unless there is a signed complaint by someone else in hand. Stand down whenever possible, ignore looting or property destruction, walk away if possible. The mayor doesn’t care why should you.
I think that the “Fiery but mostly peaceful Brownshirts” need to be given Brandon Johnson and Davis-Gates home addresses.
Johnson’s comment “I’ve taken arrest before” is quite intriguing. Reading further on one recognizes that he is talking about being arrested that somehow does not click in my mind. Checking with a dictionary I found that “take” means to lay hold of or to remove something from its place. In view of that either Johnson knows something the dictionary does not know or his comment simply does not make sense. My guess is that it is the latter rather than the former and to think this individual, who is apparently grammatically challenged, was a school teacher. It does seem rather… Read more »
Take can also mean to endure something as in “hit me, I can take it”. That is how he meant it, and its a tell of what he may be doing convention week.
Ah yes how could I forget the old playground taunt “take it like a man.” Thank you for the reminder. Johnson could have followed your lead and said “I endured arrest before” but, in either case my feeling is Johnson used confusing and inappropriate grammar for a supposed classroom leader. In my mind Johnson should have perhaps said “I have been arrested before” if that is in fact what he meant. Maybe in actuality he somehow stole an arrest as in stole vs take. Who knows what he meant and that is my point. Johnson can’t speak easily discernable language… Read more »
U said it the best.
This country is falling apart in 100 different ways, yet Washington’s unelected bureaucracy, lobbyists and greedy politicians continue to send our tax money to needless wars in Ukraine and Israel. Americans do not care about either of these wars, they see it for what it is, war makes money. Israel’s endless little tiff with the Palestinians can only find a peaceful end when we stop funding it. This most recent uprising is not about October 7th. It is about the discovery of natural gas deposits under Gaza and the Mediterranean coast. Israel wants that gas, it wants the Gaza coast… Read more »
“Israel’s endless little tiff with the Palestinians can only find a peaceful end when we stop funding it.”
This is naivety at its finest.
And a cancelling insult is the way of the woke at its finest.
In the last few decades, we only had peace under one president – PDJT. And for that, They hate him.
Fully expect Mayor to get involved with the ‘protestors’ thinking they will behave themselves in doing so – He considers them ‘kindred spirits’. Pritzker and Lightfoot encouraged BLM and Antifa to tear up the Mag Mile during the summer of love. W/o a massive law enforcement presence not seen before, I see a repeat of Kenosha but w/o a Rittenhouse to save the day. People making plans to be out of city that week. Could be a really hot August.
Ray Charles coulda seen this comming!
Any leaders best bet these days is to not take either side, take the side of peace, in Gaza and Chicago. Hamas and Israel can both go to hell, those two are bringing nothing but trouble to people who couldn’t care less.
This is going to be absolutely the most hilarious thing to watch, let me get my popcorn LOL!
It will be even more hilarious absurd when you have all the well healed pseudo-socialist celeb equity hustlers– from Bernie, to AOC, to the Squad, to CTU/Stacy, etc, to plain old Brando trying to be out marching with the protesters while up on stage at convention at the same time……all on the taxpayer dime of course!!
Let’s go Brandon! Could end up just wandering around and mumbling while filling his diaper – Would have no real idea what’s going on inside or outside the United Ctr.
Provided the protesters are handled well during the GOP convention, the probable chaos during the Dem convention could influence swing voters in closely contested state. Things are not going well for the Dems 6 months out from the election and a historic opportunity is starting to take shape. Inflation is being very stubborn. The middle east conflict is a no-win issue for Biden. Because of his age, Biden won’t be able to effectively debate or defend his policies. Immigration is the issue that has finally made it thinkable for minorities to abandon their allegiance to the Dems. As more and… Read more »
I want DeSantis for VP. Tired of putting people in office just because the gender/minority box is checked off. My husband wanted Nikki Haley. I want DeSantis!!!! I will not vote for a candidate just because the candidate is a woman. So sick of word salad from Kamala Harris.
I like Desantis too, but most important thing is beating Dems.
Biden’s age is immaterial, his problem is mental capacity.
We’ve observed his deterioration for more than three years – and he didn’t have that much capacity to start.
Hoping for the best …
Secret Service, Local Cops Ensure RNC Attendees Will Navigate a Gauntlet of Protesters in Milwaukee
https://www.shootingnewsweekly.com/2024/05/13/secret-service-local-cops-ensure-rnc-attendees-will-navigate-a-gauntlet-of-protesters-in-milwaukee/
Everyone stock up on ammo!
All Chicago property owners need to have their 2nd Amendment rights prepared and ready. In the absence of police, the citizenry need to defend themselves and their property. During the upcoming DNC in August the only thing standing for justice will be the 2nd Amendment citizenry.
It’s the Chicago Police and Chicago Fire
That put their lives on the line every day
For the citizens of Chicago. You cannot ask for more than that from them.
Yet stupid Brandon chooses time and again to not support them. What will it take for the people to realize that everyday
They will be at risk of dying without the
Backing of those two departments.
What the hell is Brandon thinking give each citizen a bucket and a .357 magnum
And hope for the best? The idiot deserves to be removed for malfeasance and general
Incompetents.
Oh, come on…I Don’t think there is any doubt really what this tool will do when he is placed in that position. The Police will need to cover themselves, because when this numbskull reacts to what ever happens, it will be siding with protestors and crucifying the Police – PERIOD..
Police – Stand the shade. Wait for a call. Write the report. Back to the shade.
Democrats and liberal voters are getting what they voted for here. Enjoy.
As a city taxpayer/homeowner I’m worried about CTU/Brandons leftie-lib base and desperate news media will be looking for ANY opportunities to file endless cop abuse of protester cases during DC convention all on the taxpayer dime as usual…..Is the city passing ANY ordinances to protect itself from endless law suits?? We already seeing this from Palestine campus protests. Your going to have professional activist-agitator types hitting Chicago from all over the country to get their “5 min of fame” posted on social media of them getting supposedly pushed by cop or something
I’ll say something nice about Brandon: he’s been crystal clear where he stands all year long. He cast the City Council’s tiebreaking vote in its resolution calling for an unqualified ceasefire in Gaza last January, and he has consistently condemned Chicago’s police when they have used force even before the facts of such incidents are fully uncovered and reported. Brandon will encourage the protestors to overstep the bounds of lawful protest and criticize the police if they use any force to corral them. Good luck, Chi-Raq. You’ll need it.
CPD, after what was done to them in 2020, need to stay away from it. Stay fetal my friends.