Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot says 99% of her critics are motivated by two things: racism and sexism.

Her comments came in an interview with WTTW, a local PBS station, to discuss the city’s recent surge in violence and those criticizing her leadership efforts.

Lightfoot said that “about 99%” of her criticism is motivated by racism and sexism when asked how much of the negativity she faces is based on her gender and race.

“Look at my predecessors,” she said. “…Women and people of color are always held to a different standard. I understand that. I’ve known that my whole life.”

She added that she is “fighting for the residents” of Chicago.

Nearly 1,500 people have been shot so far in Chicago in 2021 – a 12% increase compared to 2020 and a 59% increase compared to 2019, according to the Chicago Police Department’s crime statistics for the week ending June 27. Shootings were down in June, however, by 20%, compared to last year.

Over the weekend ending June 27, six people died and 74 were shot in a total of 46 shooting incidents.

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The mayor last month declared racism a public health crisis, pointing to systematic racism as a leading factor in life expectancy discrepancies across the city.

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