Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Seeks Pope’s Support for Reparations
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson plans to seek support from Pope Leo XIV in his quest for reparations in the city. Johnson led a delegation to the Vatican, including George Floyd family lawyer Antonio Romanucci. During this visit, Johnson presented the Pope with various Chicago-themed gifts, including a Chicago Cubs hat.
Repair Chicago Initiative
As part of his efforts, Johnson launched the Repair Chicago initiative. This program aims to collect stories from Black Chicagoans to provide reparations for historical injustices. Johnson previously established a 40-member task force to address harms committed against Black Chicagoans and their ancestors.
Pope’s Involvement
Before his trip to Rome, Johnson expressed his intention to ask Pope Leo XIV to use his platform to support reparations for African American descendants. This request comes after Pope Leo apologized for the Vatican’s historical role in supporting slavery. Johnson appreciated the Pope’s acknowledgment of the lasting impact of slavery, noting its relevance to the ongoing reparations efforts in Chicago.
Johnson said, ‘This nation is not what it is without the free labor and the forced labor of Black people,’ emphasizing the importance of this recognition.
Community Engagement
Johnson’s office announced Repair Chicago would feature diverse community activities such as bus tours, panel discussions, and town hall meetings. These events are intended to gather input for the administration’s reparations study. Carla Kupe, appointed as the chief equity officer, will lead this effort with allocated funding of $500,000.
Chicago joins several states and municipalities pursuing reparations initiatives. In Illinois, a reparations commission highlighted historical harms against Black residents. Nearby, Evanston became the first city to provide reparations through housing expense payments to qualifying Black residents.
Fox News Digital reporter Joshua Q. Nelson covers cultural trends and public policy, including the reparations movement. He joined the organization in 2019, bringing educational expertise from Syracuse University and Wharton Public Policy.