Chicago Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson on Wednesday appeared to compare recent immigration crackdowns by the Trump administration with the Confederacy during the Civil War.

The comment occurred during his weekly news briefing where he accused President Donald Trump of trying to silence dissent, and of threatening the constitutional rights of protesters who are pushing back on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity across the country. 

Protests have broken out in multiple major cities this past week over the ICE raids, with the largest riot occurring in downtown Los Angeles. But protests have also occurred in New York City, Chicago and Austin, Texas.

"This is what our country would look like had the Confederacy won," Johnson said. “This is not about policy; it’s about power. We have a president who shows complete disregard for our Constitution.”

Johnson also compared the recent ICE activity to terrorism, claiming Chicago residents are "absolutely terrified," and that the federal government is "imposing its will without checks and balances."

“[Trump] has taken over the courts, Congress remains silent, and people are terrified,” Johnson said.

The mayor also urged residents to stand up to the president, stating that it was a "necessary fight for all of us," but did not direct residents on how to oppose the administration, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

“Whether we use the courts or whether we continue to protest and raise our voices, dissent matters in this moment,” Johnson said. “It’s a war on our culture. It’s a war on our democracy. It’s a war on our humanity. 

"I am counting on all of Chicago to resist in this moment because, whatever particular vulnerable group is being targeted today, another group will be next…None of us are immune from this disease," he added.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.