“I’m left hanging my head and asking why” — listen as Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson addresses the dramatic turn of events in the Jussie Smollett case.
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00:00How can an individual who's been embraced by the city of Chicago
00:04Turn around and slap everyone in this city in the face by making these false chalk claims
00:22This announcement today
00:25Recognizes that Empire actor Jussie Smollett took advantage of the pain and anger of
00:31racism to promote his career
00:34I'm left hanging my head and asking why I come to you not only as the superintendent of the Chicago Police Department
00:42But also as a black man who spent his entire life living in the city of Chicago. I
00:48Know the racial divide that exists here. I
00:52Know how hard it's been for our city and our nation to come together
00:56And I also know the disparities and I know the history
01:00Why would anyone especially an african-american man use the symbolism of a noose to make false?
01:08accusations
01:10How could someone look at the hatred and suffering
01:14Associated with that symbol and see an opportunity to manipulate that symbol to further his own
01:21public profile
01:22bogus police reports
01:25cause real harm
01:27they do harm to every legitimate victim who's in need of support by police and
01:33Investigators as well as the citizens of this city
01:36We do not
01:38Know will we ever tolerate hate in our city?
01:41Whether that hate is based on an individual sexual orientation race or anything else
01:48So I'm offended by what's happened, and I'm also angry. I
01:53Love the city of Chicago and the Chicago Police Department warts and all
01:59But this publicity stunt was a scar that Chicago didn't earn and certainly didn't deserve