Radical leftist Chicago mayor UNINVITED from the funeral of fallen hero Enrique Martinez

CHICAGO, IL - Mayor Brandon Johnson, who initially planned to attend the funeral of slain Chicago Police Officer Enrique Martinez, announced that he will no longer be in attendance after facing backlash for failing to respect the grieving family's request. 

According to the New York Post, the family asked that any and all politicians steer clear of the service. CBS News reported that Johnson previously said he would be there with Chicago Police Department (CPD) Supt. Larry Snelling, but in a video posted earlier in the week, Chicago Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 President John Catanzara said the fallen officer's family asked that Johnson and Governor JB. Pritzker not attend.

Catanzara said this had also happened with the funeral for CPD Officer Luis Huesca, who was shot and killed back in April. He said, "Governor Pritzker rightly immediately acknowledged that and said he would not attend, and honored those family wishes. Mayor Johnson did not. Repeatedly, Mayor Johnson's team and sadly, the Chicago Police Department, tried to convince the family that the mayor was needed and obligate to be at this funeral as part of the honors package."

Catanzara said this was not true. The mayor did not end up going to Huesca's funeral, but Catanzara said the mayor's pattern of insisting on attending a fallen officer's funeral is now repeating itself. In the video, he said, "Well, here we are again. With another fallen hero, another funeral, and another family who has been very clear — they do not want the governor or the mayor to attend. Thank you Governor Pritzker, for acknowledging it and respecting the family's wishes.

Shame on you, Mayor Johnson, for not either publicly acknowledging it, or calling the family directly, extending your condolences, and telling them you will honor their wishes and not attend the wake or funeral." Catanzara said it was not he or the union who was asking Mayor Johnson not to attend, and he was "simply the messenger for the family."

On Friday, November 15th, members of the FOP and close friends of Officer Martinez gathered outside the Chicago Lawn (8th) District police station and reiterated the point, speaking out in solidarity. Martinez's own family members did not attend, but the group in front of the police station relayed the message directly to Mayor Johnson that the family does not want him to go to the funeral. 

Close Martinez family friend George Barzydlo said, "Enrique Martinez's family called me up this evening and said they cannot do this. They definitely do not want the mayor at any of the functions for Enrique, plain and simple." Martinez's family said that the mayor's policy for public safety placed Martinez and many officers in harm's way. Edith Huesca, the mother of fallen Officer Huesca, said, "Change the policies that put them at risk."

She added, "If the mayor really wants to honor, in this case, Enrique Martinez's family, he must respect the family's wishes." Also joining the group outside on Friday night was Officer Carlos Yanez Jr., who was seriously wounded in the 2021 shooting that killed his partner, Officer Ella French. He said, "This mayor better not show up. That's so disrespectful." It should be noted that Mayor Johnson was at the hospital the night Martinez was killed and did not offer condolences to the family directly.

In a statement, Johnson said he would not attend the funeral of Martinez at the request of the family. He said, "The family of Officer Enrique Martinez continues to be in my prayers as they prepare to lay him to rest. I heard from the family and am honoring their request and will no longer plan to attend the honors funeral services. This has been an emotional two weeks for the loved ones of Officer Martinez, the Chicago Police Department, and the city of Chicago. We all want to do right by Officer Martinez and give his family and the CPD family space to grieve. The focus must remain on Officer Martinez, his loved ones, and the CPD as our city continues to honor his ultimate sacrifice and legacy of service."