Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot (D.) on Friday expressed dismay that people are "still" meeting in private spaces but defended her choice to appear without a mask at a giant gathering of Joe Biden supporters.
Lightfoot justified the flouting of social distancing guidelines by telling MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle that "everyone was wearing masks"—a claim disproved by Lightfoot's own video—and saying Saturday's celebration came at a time "when we actually do need to have relief and come together." The mayor tweeted a video of her partying with other Biden supporters and telling them, "You should absolutely celebrate this victory and savor every minute of it."
This is a great day for our city and our country. We are taking our democracy back. #BidenHarris2020 pic.twitter.com/OAZQPd1r4y
— Lori Lightfoot (@LoriLightfoot) November 8, 2020
CDC guidelines state that masks are not a substitute for social distancing and should be worn in addition to observing six feet of distance. Those around Lightfoot during her speech were flagrantly violating those guidelines, but on Friday Lightfoot expressed alarm that Chicagoans were continuing to meet in "private places."
"One of the biggest challenges we face now, which is different than in the spring, is the spread in private places—in homes, event spaces," she said. "People are still having gatherings like weddings and funerals."
On Thursday Lightfoot announced a new stay-at-home advisory, banning gatherings of more than 10 people and urging citizens to "cancel traditional Thanksgiving plans."
- Stay home unless for essential reasons
- Stop having guests over—including family members you do not live with
- Avoid non-essential travel
- Cancel traditional Thanksgiving plans— Mayor Lori Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) November 12, 2020
Lightfoot drew ire for flouting state lockdown regulations in April by getting a haircut. In a public service announcement, she had explicitly told Chicagoans that "getting your roots done" was not essential, but she said that didn't apply to her because she is "the public face of this city."
"I'm on national media and I'm out in the public eye," Lightfoot told reporters in April. "I take my personal hygiene very seriously. I felt like I needed to have a haircut. I'm not able to do that myself, and so, I got a haircut. You want to talk more about that?"