Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) claims the Supreme Court will target the rights of LGBTQ Americans if it overturns the landmark abortion decision Roe v. Wade.
In a tweet Monday night, Lightfoot wrote, “To my friends in the LGBTQ+ community—the Supreme Court is coming for us next.”
“This moment has to be a call to arms,” she continued.
The mayor added, “We will not surrender our rights without a fight — a fight to victory!”
We will not surrender our rights without a fight—a fight to victory!
— Lori Lightfoot (@LoriLightfoot) May 10, 2022
House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) tweeted, “So if you’re a prominent Democrat leader Twitter and the media will let you get away with an overt call for political violence.”
“Sounds like a Threat to Democracy,” he added.
So if you’re a prominent Democrat leader Twitter and the media will let you get away with an overt call for political violence.
— Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) May 10, 2022
Sounds like a Threat to Democracy™️ https://t.co/ABOnXHJvN7
Check out some of the responses below:
Not satisfied with the murders just in her own city, Mayor Lightfoot calls for more violence across the country https://t.co/miCOhICabr
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) May 10, 2022
Excuse me I thought it was illegal to incite an insurrection? Let me ask Trump… OH WAIT he was kicked off Twitter for farrrrrr less than this Lightfoot tweet calling people to arms against SCOTUS. https://t.co/SGmiLuBuBh
— Liz Wheeler (@Liz_Wheeler) May 10, 2022
"Call to arms"?? https://t.co/A1IDLg206p
— Jennifer Van Laar (@jenvanlaar) May 10, 2022
All of a sudden, guns are okay. https://t.co/FvOWzAYYbE
— Matthew Marsden (@matthewdmarsden) May 10, 2022
Uhhhhhhhhh… a call to arms?? @Twitter please remove Lori Lightfoot immediately for inciting violence. https://t.co/fd22qrLJex
— Five Times August (@FiveTimesAugust) May 10, 2022
Insurrectionist. https://t.co/G7l4LuARnj
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) May 10, 2022
A call to arms? Like an … insurrection? https://t.co/ERSFB0TNaB
— Brandi Kruse (@BrandiKruse) May 10, 2022
See a lot of people dunking in this but with how many guns are in the city of Chicago and experienced murderers, it would be a pretty formidable army. https://t.co/R4bOQ91t47
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) May 10, 2022
As a gay guy, and a former lawyer who actually read the draft opinion, I can tell you that this is an absolute lie. A fear-mongering lie spread by a politician desperate to distract from her abysmal record. https://t.co/5TX8d90jnh
— Chris Barron 🇺🇸 (@ChrisRBarron) May 10, 2022
Lightfoot’s tweet refers to a leaked draft opinion that appears to show the Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe.
In the wake of the leak, several prominent Democrats have claimed that other rights could be at risk.
In a statement, Vice President Kamala Harris said, “The rights of all Americans are at risk. If the right to privacy is weakened, every person could face a future in which the government can potentially interfere in the personal decisions you make about your life. This is the time to fight for women and for our country with everything we have.”
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden suggested that such a decision by the Supreme Court could open the door for states to ban same-sex marriage, as IJR reported.
And House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) claimed in a “Dear Colleague” letter on Monday, “Once Republicans have dispensed with precedent and privacy in overturning Roe, they will take aim at additional basic human rights. At this pivotal moment, the stakes for women – and every American – could not be higher.”