Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez of Chicago's 25th ward is facing backlash and potential censure from fellow City Council members after speaking at a rally outside City Hall where an American flag was burned to protest U.S. support for Israel. The protest, aimed at calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, has stirred controversy, leading to calls for Sigcho-Lopez's resignation as chairman of the Council's Housing Committee. Sigcho-Lopez claims he did NOT see the burnt remains of the flag. Mayor Brandon Johnson has defended Sigcho-Lopez, comparing the situation to criticisms faced by President Barack Obama and rejecting calls for censure as 'fascist'. The controversy, involving 15 Chicago aldermen and linked to the far-left extremist group Behind Enemy Lines, has sparked a wider debate on freedom of expression and the responsibilities of elected officials. The flag was burnt by a veteran, adding another layer to the controversy.
Chicago mayor defends council member who appeared at a pro-Palestinian rally where an American flag was burned https://t.co/ZxeqxLQpGW
Mayor Brandon Johnson was defending an alderman Thursday who came under fire this week for speaking at a protest where an American flag had been burned. https://t.co/fvxNmU3HG6
Mayor Brandon Johnson on Thursday delivered an impassioned defense of ally Ald. Bryon Sigcho-Lopez’s appearance in front of a scorched American flag and dismissed calls by other City Council members to have Sigcho-Lopez removed as head of a committee. https://t.co/9wwCYdWdkw
Mayor Brandon Johnson stands behind Sigcho-Lopez in flag-burning controversy (Via Sun-Times) https://t.co/JeUDI9p1C1
Mayor Brandon Johnson defends Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez for charred American flag incident, says censure would be ‘fascist’ https://t.co/cAr9G3VvWD
Mayor Johnson comparing Ald Sigcho Lopez to President Obama might be the most idiotic part of this story yet. Notably, the former president rejected his pastor’s inflammatory remarks. He didn’t double down on flag burning or threatening the DNC. Quite the hill to make a stand on. https://t.co/XQ6j7igqgq
Mayor Brandon Johnson defends alderman who spoke at rally in front of burned U.S. flag https://t.co/iLFvphJFtg https://t.co/vVFyHdG7I5
Mayor Brandon Johnson defends ally Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez for City Hall protest over Gazaft. a burnt American flag, compares it to President Barack Obama being blamed for Louis Farrakhan and poses: “Do you know how many conversations Black leaders have had to have with racists?” https://t.co/SH8adR05tQ
A group from @ChiCouncil want @SigchoFor25 censured and removed from @ChicagosMayor leadership after flag burning rally. Watch ⬇️ @nbcchicago https://t.co/LjLYIwI9jK
Nearly a dozen members of Chicago’s City Council Wednesday demanded Mayor Brandon Johnson call for removing ally Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez as head of the council’s Housing Committee as punishment for the alderman speaking in front of a charred American flag. https://t.co/WHwVcCVVYD
Protesters shouted down City Council members demanding that Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez either apologize or be forced to resign as chairman of the Council's Housing Committee for appearing at a rally outside City Hall where an American flag was burned. https://t.co/jwrhx2p9RG
BREAKING: 15 Chicago aldermen are calling on Mayor Brandon Johnson to strip Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez of his leadership role as Chairman of the Committee on Housing and Real Estate. Sigcho-Lopez is under fire for partnering with far-left extremist group Behind Enemy Lines, which… https://t.co/QxiFgpIRrx
After Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez spoke in front of a burnt US flag, 11 aldermen called for him to resign as Housing committee chair. The flag was burnt by a veteran. The council's 3 vets criticized BSL's appearance as "reprehensible." For @chicagotribune: https://t.co/VKlvTy3GSM
Aldermen call for Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez to resign committee chair over appearance with charred US flag https://t.co/a0MzWUgZzQ
City Council members blasted Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez for speaking at a rally where a protester burned an American flag, saying he should resign his committee chair position. Sigcho-Lopez said he’s “absolutely not” going to resign. https://t.co/lYlxx8Orf0 https://t.co/jCDfieksyN
A group of Chicago aldermen are condemning fellow Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez for participating in a rally during which someone lit an American flag on fire last week. https://t.co/xzKTrJkhE6
A group of aldermen are calling for the removal of Ald. Byron-Sigcho Lopez from his leadership position after Sigcho-Lopez attended a rally in which a U.S. flag was burned. WGN political reporter @tahmanbradley is on the story. https://t.co/DI0Z6clgMu
Pro-Palestine protests interrupted a news conference called by alders such as @RaymondALopez, @AldConway, @gilbert36ward, @AldermanTabares, etc. to condemn @ByronSigcho and call for his resignation as housing committee chair for speaking at a rally where a U.S. flag was burned. https://t.co/ss5WPwcN5V
Alds. Sposato, Quinn, Silverstein, Lopez, Taliaferro, Conway, Villegas, Napolitano, Tabares calling for Mayor to remove Ald. Sigcho Lopez from his post as Housing Committee chair for speaking at a protest where an American flag was burned (before he got there, Sigcho Lopez says) https://t.co/Lm6rStwr6Q
Chicago alderman criticized for attending rally where American flag was burned https://t.co/LQMG2fc8E4 https://t.co/8aF4Fi2jHC
Chicago alders call Wednesday presser to condemn Byron Sigcho-Lopez for speech where American flag was burned. Alders who will be there: Sposato, Cardona, Taliaferro, Napolitano, Villegas, Conway, Tabares, Lopez and Quinn. Group wants special City Council meeting over this.
Some City Council members are criticizing Pilsen Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez for speaking at a rally where a protester burned an American flag. Demonstrators at the rally called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. https://t.co/YbvegFS6h0 https://t.co/7ifoQe3NDO
Pilsen Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez has gotten backlash after speaking at a rally where a protester burned an American flag. https://t.co/QxMPv3TcwO https://t.co/GD0odZc1hP
Pilsen Ald. Byron Sigcho0Lopez has gotten backlash after speaking at a rally where a protester burned an American flag. https://t.co/P6H26GwqjA https://t.co/gq6f0UQGu5
Chicago City Council considering censuring 25th ward Alderman Byron Sigcho Lopez @SigchoFor25 for participating in a flag burning 🇺🇸 🔥 outside City Hall this weekend. 👨🦯 @ByronSigcho claims he did NOT see the burnt remains of the American flag at his feet (pictured below). LOL. https://t.co/fqzXAdTYEO https://t.co/zsAmGTRllt
U.S. flag burned outside City Hall, and some City Council members want to censure member who spoke at protest (Via Sun-Times) https://t.co/QOJ7fDGaA4
City Council members are talking about censuring one of their own for appearing at a rally outside City Hall where an American flag was burned to protest U.S. support for Israel. https://t.co/VYodpKH50i
A Marine veteran who burned an American flag at City Hall speaks out after a Chicago alderperson takes heat for it. https://t.co/aWbO9l1yIz
Chicago Alderman Byron Sigcho Lopez Speaks Outside City Hall in Front of Burned American Flag via @gatewaypundit https://t.co/tmMy44TKJY