Foxx joined Rev. Jesse Jackson at Rainbow PUSH headquarters on Saturday to address the criticism. She said her criminal justice efforts were once celebrated in Chicago and are now "being attacked because of one case and one celebrity."
"I think we have to ask ourselves what is this really about? I've been asking myself for the last two weeks, 'What is this really about?'" Foxx said. "I will tell you this is personal, it's personal."
The Chicago Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and the police chiefs associations called for her resignation after holding votes of no confidence last week. The vote took place more than a week after Foxx's office dropped all charges against Smollett. FOP President Kevin Graham said the move undermined the public's faith in the criminal justice system.
Foxx said she was "undaunted by the events of the last two weeks."
"I'm committed to serving my term and, should the people have me, continuing forward," she said. Foxx took office in December 2016.
Foxx welcomes outside review of Smollett case
The FOP protested Foxx last Monday and called for her to resign for failing to follow through on charges that used significant police resources. The union has also called for a federal investigation into Foxx's involvement in the Smollett case.
The protests came a week after her office dropped 16 felony charges against the "Empire" actor, who agreed to forfeit $10,000 in bail and do community service.
Foxx has previously said she welcomes an "outside, nonpolitical review" into how her office handled the Smollett case. She had separated herself from decision-making in the case in mid-February out of "an abundance of caution."
She repeated her invitation for a review Saturday.
"I am again availing myself to an independent review of how we handled this case because it is owed to the public," she said.
Despite the last few weeks, Foxx said she still stands with her law enforcement partners.
"I have never, will never, speak ill of our partners in this work," she said. "I believe in their ability to do good work, I support them, I always have."
US Representative race plays a factor in resignation calls
Supporters of Foxx also spoke out Saturday.
"The FOP is the sworn enemy of black people," US Rep. Bobby Rush told CNN affiliate WBBM-TV. "They want to keep African Americans in total disarray."
Foxx said the calls for her resignation are "disheartening."
"When we get in these positions somehow goalposts change," she said.
The FOP and the the police chiefs associations insisted, their issues with Foxx did not start with Smollett.
"This is not just about Jussie Smollett," Kevin Graham, FOP president, said. "This is about many cases in the Cook County system that have gone unprosecuted, or having charges reduced."
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