Group To Protest McDonald CEO's Texts On Fatal Child Shootings

CHICAGO — A protest is scheduled Wednesday at McDonald's headquarters in the West Loop in response to texts from the company's CEO to Mayor Lori Lightfoot about the fatal shootings of two children in Chicago.

Texts from Chris Kempczinski to Lightfoot were released as a result from a Freedom of Information Act inquiry filed by Michael Kessler, a Vancouver man requesting records as part of an inquiry into a Portland, Oregon, police matter, and Lucy Parsons Labs, a nonprofit transparency organization.

In the messages, Kempczinski said the parents of 13-year-old Adam Toledo and 7-year-old Jaslyn Adams "failed" their children.

"[T]he parents failed those kids which I know is something you can't say," the fast-food CEO wrote. "Even harder to fix."

Jaslyn Adams was shot and killed while sitting in a McDonald's drive-thru, and Adam Toledo was shot and killed by a Chicago police officer during a foot chase in Little Village.

A spokesperson for Lightfoot characterized the comments as victim blaming.

"As the Mayor has said previously, families do everything they can — moms, dads, grandparents — to love and support their children, and tragedies can still happen," the Mayor's office said in a statement. "Victim shaming has no place in this conversation."

In the text exchange, Lightfoot did not challenge Kempczinski's remarks, but called the shooting a "terrible tragedy," and offered to reach out to the drive-thru team from the day of Jaslyn's shooting.

Read the entire text exchange below:

Kempczinski: BTW... I have a new mobile number. My last one for compromised and the animal rights and union activists bombarded it with calls. Nice seeing you today. Thanks for coming to McDonald's HQ. Let me know if I can be helpful.

Kempczinski: p.s. tragic shootings in last week, both at our restaurant yesterday and with Adam Toledo. With both, the parents failed those kids, which I know is something you can't say. Even harder to fix.

Kempczinski: Chris K

Lightfoot: Thanks, Chris. Great to see you in person. Such a great work space, and your folks were terrific. I said to Joe I would be happy to reach out to the operator to offer support. He and his team members have got to be traumatized. Terrible tragedy. Thanks again, Chris. MLL

Kempczinski apologized after the texts went public, saying his words were "wrong and lacked the empathy and compassion I feel for these families."

The protest will be held Wednesday at noon McDonald's headquarters in the West Loop. According to a Little Village Community Council Facebook post, the group will meet in Union Park and march to the headquarters. Representatives from the Fight for 15 movement, which advocates for a $15 minimum wage, will join them.