In remarks made during a committee hearing 25th Ward Ald. Byron Sigcho Lopez equated the terrorist movement undertaken by Hamas against Israeli citizens with "the liberation of Chicago.”
Sigcho Lopez said the movement was one in the same, aimed at eliminating capitalism and imperialism.
“All hostages. So let us liberate all the 2 million hostages in Gaza,” Sigcho Lopez said in a committee hearing.
“Now let us liberate the South side and the west side and all the poor areas across the continent. From imperialism, from capitalism, from systemic racism. And today let us come together as working people to stand up for what is just for the liberation of Gaza, which means that it is the liberation of Chicago. That's what we must care. And today, I thank you all for being here.”
Sigcho Lopez’s remarks came in a Committee on Health and Human Relations on Monday which voted for a ceasefire resolution.
The Chicago City Council resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza advanced after the committee voted to recommend it to the full City Council in January.
The resolution urges the White House and Congress to push for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza and facilitate humanitarian assistance.
The Chicago Jewish Community Relations Council and the Anti-Defamation League Midwest oppose the resolution, while the U.S. Palestinian Community Network notes that Chicago would become the largest U.S. city to call for a cease-fire if approved.
The 16th & 17th District Chicago Police Scanner called Sigcho Lopez’s comments “unhinged and unserious.”
"This is what our tax dollars are funding.No wonder these meetings are never widely disseminated.This is nonsense," Dan Butters said on X of of Sigcho Lopez's comments.
Sigcho Lopez, the city council’s Housing Committee Chair, drew criticism earlier this year after a video was posted to X in which he used the “From the River to the Sea” rallying cry.
“They are attacking our brothers and sisters and siblings, we cannot be quiet. We must announce it. We must organize,” he said in that speech.
Sigcho Lopez is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America which has previously made comments in support of the attack on Israeli civilians by Hamas.
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 have thus far refused to renounce the group’s support of Hamas.
Sigcho Lopez is a native of Ecuador who was first elected to the 25th Ward seat in 2019.
He was re-elected in 2023 at which time he emphasized the significance of the win against big money and corporations.
Earlier in the current term he pledged to advocate for affordable housing, preserve the Discount Mall, addressing property tax increases and holding police and corporations accountable.
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