Much of the criticism of Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx and her office is being written off by her supporters as misplaced bigotry. Where to point the finger is a bit complicated, though. On the one hand, Foxx herself has suggested that these “attacks” on her professional conduct are racist in nature. But she’s picking up a lot of support from the LGBT community because Jussie Smollett is gay. She probably appreciates support wherever she can find it these days and she received a fair dose over the weekend when the Rainbow PUSH Coalition held a rally for her. Yet somehow, the message managed to get a bit muddled along the way. (CBS Chicago)

Kim Foxx has taken a lot of heat since her office dropped charges against Jussie Smollet, but the Cook County state’s attorney received a public show of support at Rainbow PUSH Coalition Saturday. Fiery allegations were launched against law enforcement in the already controversial saga ignited by actor Jussie Smollett more than nine weeks ago. Saturday, Congressman Bobby Rush was among supporters of Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx. “The FOP is the sworn enemy of black people,” Rush said. “They want to keep African Americans in total disarray.”

Keep in mind, the guy standing up and calling the Fraternal Order of Police “the sworn enemy of black people” isn’t some activist they brought in off the street or random Smollett fan. That’s Congressman Bobby Rush. of the Illinois First District. That doesn’t sound very cooperative in terms of government agencies, does it?

At the same time, Foxx seemed determined to keep her own relationship with the police intact. She went on to say, “I have never, will never speak ill of our partners in this work.” (She was referring to the police in that line.) So you won’t speak ill of the police, but you’re willing to stand at the podium next to somebody calling them the sworn enemy of black people? I don’t think the people in the audience knew when to cheer and who to cheer for by the time this show was over.

You can read a lot in the tone Foxx took during her remarks. She is clearly defiant and has no intention of heeding the calls by everyone from the Mayor to the Police Superintendent for her to resign. She’s also not going to be shy about suggesting there was absolutely nothing out of the ordinary about the way her office handled Jussie Smollett’s case and those accusing her of malfeasance “make her wonder” where all that hostility is really coming from.

I’ll give her credit for one thing. Her office probably is operating in a way that’s absolutely “not out of the ordinary.” This is Chicago, after all.

Don’t take my word for it. Listen to Foxx’s remarks at the rally and judge for yourself.