The racism of the people screaming racism
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx claimed that she recused herself from the offensive hoax perpetrated by Jussie Smollett for his own personal benefit. But in truth, she ordered her staff to drop the charges. And when she came under fire from three reputable organizations of police chiefs, she and her allies accused the critics of racism. Racism today has become a political charge to defend the racist actions of some African American officials and leaders and it needs to stop
By Ray Hanania
Last week, a group of Suburban Police Chiefs criticized Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx for her decision to drop all charges against Jussie Smollett.
Smollett, you need to remember, caused a ruckus when he announced publicly that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack by supporters of President Donald Trump. He claimed the two attackers put a rope around his neck, evoking images of the civil rights movement and lynching of African Americans.
It was Smollett that made the issue an international story when he pushed to be interviewed by his friend ABC’s Good Morning America host Robin Roberts who soft balled questions to help Smollett build sympathy for the disgusting and violent assault.
Of course, we later learned, after Smollett turned it into an international cause, that Smollett lied and not only made up the story but paid two people, fellow actors who are African American, to stage the attack.
Chicago’s police took the attack seriously and pursued the crime. Had they not, everyone would have accused them of discriminating against Black people. But as soon as the evidence began to show that Smollett was a liar, and they started to investigate his lies, the activism changed and Chicago police were accused of “wasting time and money” on investigating a minor crime like pretending to be the victim of a racist and homophobic attack.
A former chief of staff to Michelle Obama called Foxx and lobbied her to drop the charges, and Foxx did just that, days later, after Smollett was forced to pay a small fine.
Now comes the real racist bigotry and bias.
Members of three suburban police associations – remember, Cook County has more suburban residents than Chicago residents – voted to express “no confidence” in Foxx’s leadership as the county’s chief prosecutor.
Those associations are all reputable policing agencies and include the North Suburban Chiefs of Police, the West Suburban Chiefs of Police and the South Suburban Chiefs of police.
Instead of addressing the issues, Foxx’s champions denounced the Police Associations because they were “all White.”
Of course, when you can’t argue the facts, just throw out the racism card and incite racial divisions.
They are professional police chiefs and they have my respect. Who cares whether they are White or Black, or Asian or Arab for that matter? The fact is they are police professionals. Instead of answering their concerns, they were vilified by African American activists who have embraced the “O.J. Simpson” code of justice: if you are Black, you are a victim of racism and should go free, even in a murder – if you are White you are a racist bigot.
In contrast, a group of South Suburban Mayors, called the “Black Caucus,” held their own press conference and supported Foxx.
Foxx supporters and the media cheered their statement in defense of Foxx and never mentioned the same concern of reverse racism. I wonder, is it because they are Black, maybe?
Why is it that when “White” officials challenge an African American official, they are denounced as racist. But when “Black” officials defend an African American, they are champions of civil rights?
I’m sick of the hypocrisy and the racism double standard that blames all White people for all of region’s racial problems. Blacks are just as responsible for racism as are Whites. When we deal with issues, we should deal with them as crimes, not as examples of racist policies.
If anyone injected racism into this scandal and controversy, it was Jussie Smollett, who orchestrated the hoax simply to advance his failing career as a TV actor on the FOX TV series, “Empire.”
Right our justice system is broken. Voters are learning a tough lesson that they elected an incompetent opportunist who uses race as a defense for her actions. Kim Foxx is a disgrace and she should resign. If not, maybe we should start a petition for a new election to elect someone who will do what Foxx refuses to do, prosecute the criminals. Crime is getting out of control in Chicago and in Cook County.
The last thing we need is a failed incompetent prosecutor like Kim Foxx who is leaving the people of Chicago and Cook County exposed to the whims of criminals.
(Ray Hanania is an award-winning political columnist and former Chicago City Hall reporter. Ray writes on every topic under the sun in his weekly opinion columns. He also hosts two podcasts, one on Middle East issues at www.TheArabStreet.org and one of Chicagoland and mainstream politics at www.RayHananiaonPolitics.com. His podcasts are available on iTunes, Spotify and most major podcast carriers. Email him at rghanania@gmail.com.)
Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.
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