‘BACK THE BLUE’ RALLY TAKES ON POLITICAL HUE
Mayoral allies cancel plans to attend pro-police event, saying they disagree with some scheduled speakers — but police union president thinks Lori Lightfoot had a hand in their decisions
A “Back the Blue” rally outside the Jefferson Park police district Wednesday night drew more than 600 police supporters and nearly four dozen counterprotesters.
Some wore masks as they roamed the street waving police flags; many did not. Besides a yelling match between the two groups, overall, the event remained peaceful.
Despite organizer Ald. Nick Sposato’s (38th) hope to avoid politics, the event took on a political undertone, which was ultimately the reason some aldermen had earlier decided not to attend.
Many in the crowd waved Trump 2020 flags, and some wore MAGA hats. U.S. Senate candidate Willie Wilson made an appearance, too, though he didn’t say more than a mere “hello.”
Between speakers, Sposato — who co-sponsored the event with other Northwest Side Alds. Anthony Napolitano (41st) and Jim Gardiner (45th) — reminded people that this was a “positive event,” not a political one.
However, that didn’t stop Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara from bringing up the union’s ongoing contract negotiations, which frustrated Sposato.
“The only thing that was uncomfortable — a couple people went too long, and we brought politics into it, and the politics was the union contract,” Sposato said. “He wasn’t supposed to say that. This is all about the positivity of the rally, so I was a little disappointed about that. John’s my friend, you know, but whatever.”
Earlier in the day, Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th), a former Chicago police officer now chairing the Public Safety Committee, and Taliaferro’s predecessor, Ald. Ariel Reboyras (30th) — who decided not to attend the rally — were accused of backing out under pressure from Lightfoot and from constituents who support defunding the Chicago Police Department.
Taliaferro said the “Back the Blue” rally was turning into a political show.
Catanzara was incensed.
“I can guarantee you we are going to find people to run against these aldermen. Enough is enough,” Catanzara said.
“They listened to the squeaky wheels. They got a couple phone calls from their constituents [saying], ‘You can’t possibly go.’ Now, they’re gonna be cowards and ... back out. Shame on them. Every single member of that committee should be at that rally. Every single one of ’em. We are gonna be paying attention to see who shows up and who doesn’t.”
Catanzara said he has no doubt Lightfoot was a heavy hand behind the no-shows.
“Look what happened when [Ald.] Ray Lopez tried to get the National Guard here. In the Public Safety Committee, only two of ’em voted ‘yes.’ Napolitano and Lopez. Everybody else cowered out. Including some of our big backers. I love Nick Sposato. But, Nick Sposato voted ‘no’ too,” the FOP president said.
Taliaferro said Catanzara is dead wrong about outside political pressure.
“Ald. [Gilbert] Villegas, Ald. Reboyras and myself did not stop supporting the police. We backed out of a rally that became very political in nature. That rally has been conducted for over six years by Ald. Sposato, and we supported it every single year. But this year, they brought in political candidates that I disagree with to speak,” Taliaferro said.
“Unfortunately my name was used as saying that now the sponsors support the premise that Kim Foxx is a failed state’s attorney and we should back her opponent, [Pat] O’Brien. Because of that and other reasons and other statements of speakers they’ve included that I believe are racist in nature, I could not go to the event . ... I still support the police. But I can’t support that event. … I’m not gonna stand up there as the 29th Ward Democratic committeeman saying that I do not support Kim Foxx or [say that] Kim Foxx is a failure.”
Taliaferro also cited the addition of radio personality Mancow Muller, saying he finds Muller’s beliefs objectionable.
Muller declined the Sun-Times’ request for comment at the rally.
Taliaferro is “not worried” about the FOP’s threat to run a candidate against him in 2023.
“I ran on what I plan on doing for this ward. And then, I ran on my record. I will run on my record when I run again,” he said.
Villegas serves as Lightfoot’s City Council floor leader. But, he argued, that position has nothing to do with his decision to back out of the rally.
“I had initially signed up to support that [rally]. I wanted to show my support for police officers and the hard work we’ve been asking them to do. However, there were some speakers brought on after I agreed that did not align with what I’m trying to do. Nothing personal, but some political views they might have,” Villegas said.
If the FOP wants to punish him for backing out by fielding a challenger against him, “that’s their prerogative,” Villegas said.
“I’ve always supported the Police Department. If they’re gonna base it off one event, so be it.”
Reboyras could not be reached for comment.