Chicago mayor refuses interview with white journalists | Abroad

Lightfoot is known for its anti-racism program and support for Black Lives Matter. She finds “a pity that in a city where half of the inhabitants are black, Latino, Asian or Indian, the press is predominantly white,” said the 58-year-old Democrat. “Our media should reflect this multiculturalism.”

The mayor calls on news agencies to actively hire people of color, give them a chance as journalists and investigate the existence of underground prejudices.

Ben Shapiro, Orthodox Jewish political commentator and conservative for The Daily Wire, calls the action “ pure racism ” in his podcast. Chicago Tribune Latin journalist Gregory Pratt is also critical. He said that due to the problem, the newspaper ended an interview that was scheduled. “It’s not for politicians to determine who writes about them.”

Black journalists

Even the National Association of Black Journalists does not support this decision. It’s a bold move that rightly addresses an important theme, says the organization. “But we never tolerate the exclusion of journalists, even if it’s just for a day and to make a point,” the lawyer for journalists of color said. Yet there are also black and also white journalists who talk about justified action.

Some journalists point out that the mayor invariably refuses requests for interviews on abuses involving minorities. The civilian mother would also complain about requests for public information, according to the law.

Racism

However, the majority of politicians, commentators and opinion makers appear to be essentially critical, cynical and shocked. Many Republican, black and Latino commentators, among others, disagree with the mayor’s action.

A well-known entrepreneur says: “There is a word for it: racism”. A local journalist also speaks of racism. According to another, “Martin Luther King is turning in his grave.”

The editor of The Triibe, which explicitly focuses on the black community of America’s third largest city, responds positively to this decision. “It’s a daily struggle for black journalists in Chicago. Let’s talk about that, instead of people complaining about not having access for a day. “