Her comments came amid heightened tensions in Chicago between demonstrators and law enforcement. Last weekend, six people were shot – one fatally — 240 people were arrested and roughly 20 police officers were injured, the Associated Press reported. On Friday, the current Chicago Police Board president, Ghian Foreman, accused officers of hitting him with batons while he was going for a walk near a protest.

In response, Lightfoot enforced a curfew and called for the firing of officers who hid their badge numbers, and for the firing of an officer who gave the middle finger to protesters. Speaking with NPR, Lightfoot said the issue of police violence went beyond unions. She also pointed to the culture of policing.

Chicago Mayor Says Police Union Is ‘Extraordinarily Reluctant To Embrace Reform’ : Live Updates: Protests For Racial Justice : NPR