CV NEWS FEED // The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) opened a formal investigation May 19 into the City of Chicago to determine whether its hiring practices under Mayor Brandon Johnson violate federal civil rights laws.
In a letter addressed to Johnson, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon announced that the DOJ Civil Rights Division will examine whether the city is engaged in a “pattern or practice of discrimination based on race,” as prohibited by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The investigation stems from recent remarks Johnson made during a speech at the Apostolic Church of God in the Woodlawn neighborhood, according to the DOJ’s letter. In his comments, Johnson listed multiple senior city officials, emphasizing that each was black.
“Business and economic neighborhood development, the deputy mayor is a Black woman,” he said. “Chief operations officer is a Black man,” he added, among others.
Johnson went on to say that he was “laying” these roles “out” to “ensure that our people get a chance to grow their business,” the DOJ stated in their letter.
Federal officials stated that such language raises concerns.
“If these kinds of hiring decisions are being made for top-level positions in your administration,” Dhillon wrote, “then it begs the question whether such decisions are also being made for lower-level positions.”
The DOJ has not reached any conclusions and emphasized that the investigation remains in its early stages. The agency requested the mayor’s cooperation and proposed a meeting to determine the scope of the inquiry and the specific information to be reviewed.
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