Mayor Brandon Johnson told WTTW News on Thursday night that the Chicago Police Department “most certainly” passed the test posed by the Democratic National Convention, just as the final night of the convention — and the final planned protest — got underway.

“I couldn’t be more proud of how the Chicago Police Department responded in this moment,” Johnson said, praising Supt. Larry Snelling as “compassionate, collaborative and competent.”

Snelling told reporters Wednesday that the way officers responded to days of protests is evidence CPD has undergone a “transformation” after botching nearly every aspect of its response to the protests and unrest triggered by the police murder of George Floyd during the summer of 2020. 

“It’s a true example of how we protect the First Amendment rights,” Johnson said, “but that we also ensure that the value of protests is also protected.”

Before the convention, Johnson said he hoped it would rewrite Chicago’s narrative after former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for president, has spent years denigrating and disparaging the city. 

“I promised a safe, vibrant, exciting convention, and that’s what we delivered for the people of Chicago, and it’s a true testament to who we really are and why we are the center of attention,” Johnson said. “… The entire world got a chance to fall in love again with Chicago.”

Many of the protests called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza. Nearly 60 people were arrested outside the Israeli consulate after members of a group known as Beyond Enemy Lines refused police orders to disperse.

In January, Johnson became the first mayor of a major American city to call for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war and broke a tie vote to pass a nonbinding Chicago City Council resolution calling for a cease-fire. A separate resolution condemned the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas.

Before the convention, Johnson said Israel’s conduct in Gaza was “genocidal,” prompting outrage from some parts of Chicago’s Jewish community, which was already at odds with the mayor. 

Johnson said he would continue to condemn terrorism and call for peace.

“I believe that actually speaks to what Americans want,” Johnson said. “It’s really what the globe wants. We want an end to these wars that are causing so much devastation.” 

The convention took place without any sign of a renewed surge of migrants to Chicago, defying warnings from city officials and threats from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.  

Now that the convention has passed, the crisis that began in August 2022 will enter a new phase that will force Johnson to make another series of difficult decisions during the run-up to the presidential election in November.

“We have the most expansive new arrivals mission anywhere in the country right now,” Johnson said. “It is compassionate, and it is fiscally responsible, but here’s what has to happen. The city of Chicago has been attacked by the state of Texas, and we are rising above that. We’re still making critical investments on the West and South sides of Chicago, but we need comprehensive immigration reform.” 

Whether that legislation passes after November will largely depend on whether Democrats retain control of the U.S. Senate and the White House, and flip the U.S. House.

Contact Heather Cherone: @HeatherCherone | (773) 569-1863 | [email protected]