CHICAGO — Instead of critiquing police, Supt. Eddie Johnson on Wednesday invited Black Lives Matter and other activists to join the force and make a difference.
"Instead of protesting the police, fill out an application and become one," Johnson said Thursday. "Then you can really be on the front lines effecting change."
Johnson's remarks were made as he announced the hiring of 970 officers to help fight growing crime in the city.
Activists throughout the city have called the hiring increase shortsighted, saying it doesn't do anything to address the root causes of crime and will not help communities who feel threatened by the police.
"Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the Chicago Police Department and the City Council are incapable of solving the conditions that produce street crime in Chicago," Black Lives Matter Chicago said in a news release.
"The causes of crime and intra-communal violence exist because of the conditions of poverty that Rahm Emanuel has exacerbated for Chicago," the statement reads. "What more policing will accomplish is more violence, more lockups and more trauma for our already suffering communities."
On Thursday evening, Emanuel plans to detail his "comprehensive" plan to fight crime, including addressing unemployment and increasing resources to minority youths.
Black Lives Matter said other city policies are undermining its efforts to clamp down on crime, such as the mayor's decision to close public schools and mental health facilities. The group also blamed the city for income inequality between its white and minority populations.
"The hiring of more police means the mayor and his administration have no plans to address the conditions of poverty, lack of affordable housing, food insecurity, underfunded schools, lack of access to health and unemployment," Black Lives Matter said.
The group did not immediately respond to Johnson's suggestion that its members join the Police Department.
Other activists have taken to social media to sound off on the city's decision to hire more police:
The answer to violence isn't more police, or getting guns off the street! It's the lack of investment in urban communities! Systemic neglect
— Your Favorite Singer (@JaymalGreen) September 17, 2016
More cops in Chicago! Oh yea, that's the answer - not jobs, $ for education or deconstructing #systemicracism pic.twitter.com/WQs2BCQziU
— TED WINN (@officialtedwinn) September 21, 2016
Less schools + mental health clinics but more cops? I want better options and real solutions #NoMoreCops come on #Chicago https://t.co/LibLMXiFPx
— stevieeven|totaljams (@totaljams) September 21, 2016
Over 1/2 of black Chicagoans 20-24 are unemployed. It's insulting to me that we add 1000 cops before addressing that https://t.co/wKhWxYTbdN
— wikipedia brown (@eveewing) September 21, 2016
Chicago laid off 500+ teachers this summer & now plans to hire 500 cops in the next 2 years. This ain't what the city needs.
— jewels 🕊 (@YungJeanRalphio) September 21, 2016
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