Mayor’s assistant who called police officers “damned pigs” now accused of anti-Semitism

Calling police “fucking pigs” and openly talking about police abolition aren’t the only inflammatory comments that have led City Council members to demand that Mayor Brandon Johnson fire his chief lobbyist.

Kennedy Bartley, former director of the United Working Families union and now Johnson's deputy foreign affairs director, is now accused of anti-Semitic behavior.

The new allegation was made Thursday by Ald. Debra Silverstein (50), the only Jewish member of the council.

Silverstein said on October 9, 2023 – two days after Hamas launched a deadly attack that left about 1,200 people dead and about 250 others hostage – that Bartley tweeted: “From the river to the sea. Palestine will be free. Amen!”

Palestinian supporters often use the term to advocate the right of Palestinians to return to the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, where Israel now lies. Many Jews understand it to mean the annihilation of Israel.

“For me and, I am sure, for the majority of the mainstream Jewish community, this was like a congratulations to Hamas, an internationally known terrorist organization,” Silverstein said Thursday.

Bartley did not respond to calls seeking comment.

At the end of January, at a heated council meeting, Johnson cast the deciding vote for a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas.

Silverstein said Thursday that Bartley – then director of United Working Families – was among those who booed her in the City Council gallery when she spoke against that resolution. After Bartley was ejected, she was among a handful of protesters who were allowed back into the gallery.

Hamas “broke an existing ceasefire and murdered 1,200 innocent people. And for me to be booed while I talk about that and the rapes and mutilations is completely disrespectful,” Silverstein said.

Silverstein did not personally witness Bartley's heckling. However, Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) did.

“They were yelling and whistling and hooting. … That's why I yelled. That was the first time I ever said something like, 'Hey, be quiet and don't be disrespectful.' I thought it was extremely disrespectful and an attempt to shout them down,” Waguespack said.

Recently, Bartley has been calling city councillors in the hope of smoothing things over and saving her job.

Waguespack and Silverstein were not convinced.

“I'm not Jewish, but I don't understand this. I would think that the community sees this behavior as profound behavior that will not go away with an apology,” Waguespack said.

Silverstein also received a call from Bartley. “I don't forgive easily,” she said.

Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd), chair of the Finance Committee, said she is “still grieving the loss” of Intergovernmental Affairs Director Sydney Holman. Holman resigned earlier this week because she was upset with Johnson's decision to give Bartley control of intergovernmental affairs.

“Sydney Holman was an asset to the administration. Someone who … worked with the city council, had integrity and was fair. … I'm not sure Kennedy has the ability to work with the city council. We'll see,” Dowell said.

“She's made calls and apologized to people. But I don't believe that. These seem to be stubborn positions. I've seen no evidence that she has a different opinion.”

When asked what she thought Johnson should do about Bartley, Dowell said, “That's his business.”

At the Senior Fest in Millennium Park on Thursday, Johnson told ABC7 that Bartley's comments about the police were “not something I would ever say.”

However, Johnson made it clear that he would not fire her, adding: “What I know about Kennedy is that she is a very competent individual.”