Chicago Mayor Only Granting Interviews To Journalists of Color

Mary Ann Ahern

Reporters in Chicago are alleging that Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot is now granting interviews only to journalists of color, FOX News reports.

NBC 5 Chicago political reporter Mary Ann Ahern took to Twitter on Tuesday to mark the "midway point" of Lightfoot's first term in office and apparently acknowledged her failed effort to land an interview. 

As ⁦@chicagosmayor⁩ reaches her two year midway point as mayor, her spokeswoman says Lightfoot is granting 1 on 1 interviews - only to Black or Brown journalists pic.twitter.com/PAUsacD9Gj

— Mary Ann Ahern (@MaryAnnAhernNBC) May 18, 2021

And apparently, Ahern wasn't the only one. 

"I was told the same thing," WTTW Chicago Tonight anchor and correspondent Paris Schutz reacted to Ahern's tweet.

"I can confirm," Chicago politics reporter Heather Cherone similarly tweeted.

It is unclear when such a practice was enacted and if it only applies to local reporters, particularly after her MSNBC appearance with Stephanie Ruhle on Monday.

Lightfoot was slammed on social media, facing allegations of racism for choosing to speak with journalists solely on the color of their skin.

During her MSNBC interview, Lightfoot told Ruhle she would "encourage" Chicago residents to continue wearing masks despite the new CDC guidance allowing those with the coronavirus vaccine to go without them.

"I know for me personally, I’m going to continue to wear a mask in public and I’m going to encourage others to do so," Lightfoot told Ruhle. "We’ve got to make sure that people are continuing to follow the public health guidance that has gotten us this far, and masks, I think, are a big and important part of that."