Chicago City Wire

Chicago City Council Housing Committee Chair Byron Sigcho Lopez has drawn criticism after a video was posted to X in which he uses a Hamas rallying cry, calling for a free Palestine.

“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!” Sigcho Lopez says in the video.

“Free Palestine.”

“They are attacking our brothers and sisters and siblings, we cannot be quiet. We must announce it. We must organize.”

The video was posted to X by Jeff O.

“Mayor Brandon Johnson’s handpicked Housing committee chair for the Chicago city council, Byron Sigcho Lopez, using a Hamas rallying cry” Jeff O posted on X.  

Sigcho Lopez is a member of the Chicago City Council Democratic Socialist Caucus along with Daniel la Spata, Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez, Carlos Ramirez-Rosa and Jeannette Taylor. The caucus has thus far refused to renounce the support of Hamas.

Many politicians have been distancing themselves from the Democratic Socialists of America after the group has held public protests showing support of Hamas’ actions.

The New York City branch of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) held a rally, which took place as the conflict in Israel was ongoing, featured inflammatory chants and behavior, including waving pictures of dead bodies and hostages, and even a swastika.

The event has received strong condemnation from mainstream New York politicians, and it is suggested that it will likely diminish the DSA's influence in the city.

“As you might have seen, there was some sort of rave or desert party where they were having a great time, until the resistance came in electrified hang gliders and took at least several dozen hipsters,” a speaker said in a Midtown Manhattan protest. “But I’m sure they’re doing very fine despite what The New York Post says.”