Demonstrators supporting the Fraternal Order of Police crowded together Monday holding signs, wearing buttons and calling for Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx to step down.
The protest was organized by the FOP, an organization critical of the state's attorney's office's handling of the polarizing and controversial Jussie Smollett case and the decision to drop charges against the "Empire" actor accused of lying to police.
"People have to be charged when they commit a crime," FOP President Kevin Graham said. "They have to be held accountable. That's not being done in this prosecutor's office."
Counter protesters faced off with the FOP demonstrators in what became an exercise in who could shout louder outside Foxx's downtown office.
"This is just not an attack on Kim Foxx," activist Ja'mal Green said. "This is an attack on black elected officials throughout this state."
Just before the FOP protest, supporters of Foxx, including Rev. Jesse Jackson and other clergy, spoke out saying that the FOP outrage was not over the Smollett case.
Sot father michael pfleger st. Sabina church 14:56 "Let's get it straight: that's a front," said Rev. Michael Pfleger. "Rather, it's about trying to remove a person who is a threat to the old boys' system of power in this city and in this state."
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Counter protesters called the FOP showing "selective outrage."
"The fraternal order of police is now outraged about Kim Foxx but it was not outraged about Laquan McDonald," said Rev. Otis Moss III. "They were outraged about 16 counts but not outraged about 16 shots."
But Graham said he did not criticize the prosecutor.
"I said I was disappointed in the outcome, I didn't criticize the jury," he said. "So, I think they're wrong when they say it's a double-standard. It's certainly not."
