Chicago’s progressive mayor tried to bully his way into a murdered police officer’s funeral — and only backed out after being told the victim’s sister would kick him out.
Brandon Johnson only abandoned plans to attend Luis Huesca’s memorial after the slain police officer’s 30-year-old sister threatened to “make a scene” if she saw him.
That’s according to Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara, who revealed the behind-the-scenes saga in an interview with the Chicago Sun Times.
On Monday, hundreds of people attended the funeral of Officer Huesca, who was shot and killed in a brutal carjacking while walking home from work last week.
But Mayor Johnson, who initially said he would attend the funeral according to the schedule released Sunday evening, informed reporters at the last minute that he would not be present.
Huesca’s family is upset that their loved one’s killer is on the loose and angry at Johnson for his progressive stance, which they say is making violent crime in the Windy City worse.
The change in Johnson’s plans came after Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza wrote in an early morning article on X that Huesca’s mother had asked her to tell Johnson that “he doesn’t was not welcome” at the funeral.
Luis Huesca, 30, was shot multiple times in the Gage Park neighborhood on April 21 and was pronounced dead at the University of Chicago Medical Center.
Mayor Brandon Johnson (pictured) tried to force his way into the funeral of slain Chicago police officer Luis Huesca, despite being told to stay away by family, according to reports.
On Monday, hundreds of people attended the funeral of Officer Huesca, who was shot and killed in a brutal carjacking while walking home from work last week.
Huesca, 30, was shot multiple times in the Gage Park neighborhood on April 21 and was pronounced dead at the University of Chicago Medical Center.
He served as a Chicago police officer for six years and was just two days shy of his 31st birthday. He was returning home from work when he was fatally shot.
Caschaus Tate, 20, was arrested and charged with one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon last week in connection with the shooting.
He is described as an “associate” of Xavier L. Tate Jr., 22, who is wanted for first-degree murder in the death of Officer Huesca.
Xavier Tate was not yet in custody Monday evening,
In an X-post shared shortly before the funeral began, Mendoza wrote: “Last night at Ofc. While visiting Huesca, his grieving mother asked Rep. Angelica Guerrero Cuellar and me to tell the mayor he was not welcome at her son’s funeral.
According to Catanzara, the Huesca family had conveyed their message to Mayor Johnson to stay away as early as last Wednesday.
“Someone close to the family” called Catanzara, saying he “didn’t want certain people in his service,” he said.
Unwelcome members included Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who immediately agreed to honor the family’s wish.
The mayor’s office “initially agreed” but began “backing off” on Thursday, Catanzara said.
“The last sentence Lily said to my lobbyist was, ‘If he (Johnson) shows up there, I’ll make a scene and throw him out myself,'” Catanzara recalled.
He “thought everything was settled” until the Huesca family texted him on Sunday: “Is the mayor really coming?”
The progressive mayor only backed down when Huesca’s sister threatened to “make a scene,” according to Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara, who revealed the behind-the-scenes saga in an interview with the Chicago Sun Times.
He rushed to the funeral home, only to learn from someone at the Chicago Police Department that they had told the family that “the presence of the mayor is mandatory,” Catanzara said.
He remembers telling the officer: “You are lying to the family. There is nothing mandatory about the mayor’s presence, and shame on you for even trying to tell the family that this is the only option they have.
“At one point, it was suggested that the honorary funeral was linked to the presence of the mayor. This is the feeling of guilt that we impose on this family,” Catanzara said.
During a conversation with CPD Supt. Larry Snelling, over the loudspeaker, a police officer told Huesca’s mother in Spanish that it was “obligatory that the mayor show up,” Catazara recalled.
At the wake Sunday night, Huesca’s mother reaffirmed her message with Mendoza and state Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar.
“They didn’t want the mayor there because they think he doesn’t support the police,” said Abdon Pallasch, Mendoza spokesman.
Still, the mayor’s office released a schedule Sunday evening, indicating Johnson would attend the funeral.
According to Catazara, the mayor’s preliminary team showed up at the chapel of the Saint Rita Cascia Shrine hours before the funeral Monday morning.
“It is not too late to honor the fallen officer Huesca by respecting the wishes of his mother,” Mendoza wrote in a message published 30 minutes before the start of the funeral, asking the mayor to honor the family’s wishes .
Mayor Johnson, who initially announced he would attend the funeral according to the schedule released Sunday evening, informed reporters at the last minute that he would not be in attendance.
CPD Superintendent. Larry Snelling was reportedly on speaker phone when a police officer told Huesca’s mother in Spanish that it was “obligatory for the mayor to show up.”
“Our family feels so frustrated and angry that our brother is not here,” Lily O’Brien, Huesca’s sister (second from right), said in a video released by the FOP before the funeral.
An updated schedule posted at 8:51 a.m. indicated Johnson would not be present at Huesca’s funeral.
“Our family feels so frustrated and angry that our brother is not here,” Lily O’Brien, Huesca’s sister, said in a video released by the FOP before the funeral.
“He was murdered by someone else (who) is running around, and he’s still free. The anger we feel about the violence in Chicago. How it’s now the status quo.
“How this is normalized. This week, it’s my brother. Next week, it’s your brother or someone else’s son or someone else’s mother,” Obrien said.
Johnson said in a written statement Monday morning: “We continue to extend our deepest condolences to the family and colleagues of Officer Luis Huesca as they recover from the loss of their son, nephew, brother and friend beloved.
“As Mayor, I am committed to continuing to support our police and first responders, uniting our city and remaining committed to working with everyone to build a better, stronger and safer Chicago.”
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