Florida Politics

Chicago Mayor Scraps Washington Statute Removal Plans Following Conservative Pressure

Share

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has reversed a decision to remove a George Washington statute from the City Hall after his decision sparked national outcry.

The statute of America’s first president was erected in 1984.

Mayor Johnson had claimed his decision to remove the statute was apolitical.

Johnson’s communications director Ronnie Reese told local media the statute removal was purely aesthetic.

"We're just freshening up the space. Making it a bit more current,” said Reese. “There's a lot of Chicago icons who would be deserving of statues as well. We should be considering that also - Ida B. Wells, DuSable, Harold Washington."

However, progressives have previously complained that statutes of founding fathers and other prominent revolutionary era Americans ignore their slave-owning past.

Conservatives had criticized Johnson’s removal plans, which were scrapped less than 24 hours after their announcement.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis took personal issue with the matter, calling Johnson’s idea “leftism run amok.”

“The revolution would not been won, the republic would not have been founded, and the Constitution would not have been created without Washington,” said Governor DeSantis. “It was his character — defined by service above self and a willingness to refuse power — that held it all together.”

Earlier this year, pro-Palestine protestors defaced a nearly 100-year old Washington statute at George Washington University.

The protests at GW were the latest in a chain of nationwide demonstrations across college campuses criticizing the US’s support for Israel’s war efforts against Hamas.

Many protestors openly called for the destruction of the state of Israel, and some alleged the idea justifying Israel’s creation is a “racist settler-colonial ideology.”

Mateo Guillamont

Mateo is a Miami-based political reporter covering national and local politics

Recent Posts

Donalds Says Trump's Mass Deportation Plans Will Not Require Military

President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to deport upwards of 10 million illegal aliens who have…

10 mins ago

Randy Fine Announces Run for Congress to Replace Rep. Michael Waltz

Three days after President-elect Donald Trump urged and endorsed State Senator Randy Fine (R) to…

1 hour ago

JUICE🍊—11.26.2024—Trump's DOGE Caucus Forms—Bean, Patronis, Immigration—Much More...

Tick Tock... Trump's DOGE Caucus in House Forms A new Senate caucus, led by Iowa…

2 hours ago

Senate Conservatives Prepare to Slash Government Spending as New 'DOGE' Caucus is Formed

A new Senate caucus, led by Iowa Senator Joni Ernst (R), aims to collaborate with…

3 hours ago

Luna Praises Trump's Budget Chief Pick Russell Vought, Stresses Importance of Unity in Cabinet

President-elect Donald Trump tapped Russell Vought to head the Office of Management and Budget (OMB),…

3 hours ago

Last Squeeze🍊—11.25.2024—Trump Endorses CFO Patronis For Congressional Run—Special Elections Set for Gaetz, Waltz Seats—Much More...

Trump Endorses Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis for Vacant Gaetz Seat Last week it was "RUN,…

16 hours ago