Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson seemed to blame Former President Richard Nixon for the massive number of shootings over Independence Day weekend.
More than 100 people were shot in Chicago, 19 of them fatally, from midnight Wednesday to midnight Monday, according to police.
Four of the violent incidents are considered mass shootings - including one on Thursday in a neighborhood on Chicago's South Side that left two women and an 8-year-old boy dead. Two other children were also critically injured.
During a press conference on Monday Johnson said he has called on federal authorities for more resources, but also appeared to blame the city's gun violence on Richard Nixon - who has been dead for three decades.
'Black death has been unfortunately been accepted in this country for a very long time. We had a chance 60 years ago to get at the root causes. And people mocked President Johnson, and we ended up with Richard Nixon,' the mayor said.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson appeared to blame the city's gun violence on Richard Nixon during a press conference on Monday
'I'm going to work hard every day to transform this city. That's what it takes to build a better, stronger, safer Chicago.'
Johnson called for those responsible for the shootings to be held accountable, but emphasized that he believes the solution to gun violence is to put more funding into communities.
'We are standing here today talking about a violent weekend because of generations of disinvestment and deep disenfranchisement in the exact communities where so much of the violence has taken place,' Johnson said.
'What we've experienced over the weekend is unacceptable and we didn't get here overnight. But everyone knows that. Let's tell the full story of how we got here... the fact of the matter is where there is most violence, that's where the poverty is most pervasive.
'We got to hold people accountable, but you know what my ultimate goal is? It's to transform this city so we cut off the pipeline of boys between the ages of 10 and 19 being either victims or the perpetrators. So yeah, it is personal.'
At least 10 of those shot over the weekend were in the 15th Police District where the mayor calls home, according to WLS.
One of those victims was Melvin Hill, a 36-year-old father, who was found dead with multiple gun shot wounds on his kitchen floor inside of his apartment on Central near West End in South Austin.
More than 100 people were shot in Chicago, 19 of them fatally, from midnight Wednesday to midnight Monday
Four of the violent incidents are considered mass shootings - including one on Thursday in a neighborhood on Chicago's South Side that left two women and an 8-year-old boy dead
Chicago has suffered so many murders from gun violence that the city is now offering to pay out $1,500 in funeral costs to help bereaved families.
The funds will be paid out as part of the Emergency Supplemental Victims Fund and will provide families with finances to help bury their loved ones.
Shooting victims can also receive $1,000 to help cover basic needs like their medical and grocery bills - as well as up to $1,000 for temporary relocation costs.
The program already exists in the city after being introduced across five communities in 2022 but is now being expanded to a further 15 across the city.
Johnson announced the plans saying the move was a step in the right direction and could help mitigate the gun violence problem. Critics have claimed the creation of the fund is a disturbing sign of just how the Windy City has become.
