* Click here and here for some background. Governor JB Pritzker…
Today, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker released the following statement following a request the Illinois National Guard received from the Trump Administration’s Department of War:
“This morning, the Trump Administration’s Department of War gave me an ultimatum: call up your troops, or we will. It is absolutely outrageous and un-American to demand a Governor send military troops within our own borders and against our will.
“In the coming hours, the Trump Administration intends to federalize 300 members of the Illinois National Guard. They will pull hardworking Americans out of their regular jobs and away from their families all to participate in a manufactured performance — not a serious effort the protect public safety. For Donald Trump, this has never been about safety. This is about control.
“This demand follows unprecedented escalations of aggression against Illinois citizens and residents. Yesterday, Kristi Noem’s and Greg Bovino’s masked agents threw chemical agents near an elementary school, arrested elected officials exercising their First Amendment rights, and raided a Wal-Mart. None of it was in pursuit of justice, but all of it was in pursuit of social media videos.
“I want to be clear: there is no need for military troops on the ground in the State of Illinois. State, county, and local law enforcement have been working together and coordinating to ensure public safety around the Broadview ICE facility, and to protect people’s ability to peacefully exercise their connotational rights. I will not call up our National Guard to further Trump’s acts of aggression against our people.
“In Illinois, we will do everything within our power to look out for our neighbors, uphold the Constitution, and defend the rule of law.”
…Adding… White House confirms the President has authorized deployment…
…Adding… Joint Statement from Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago and The Civic Federation…
“Chicago has assembled a broad coalition of public, private, and civic stakeholders who have been working collaboratively in a ‘one table’ approach to try to make our city safer over the last several years. We are making meaningful progress through these collective efforts.
National Guard troops on our streets, like those reportedly being ordered here by the federal government, have the potential to sow fear and chaos, threatening our businesses’ bottom lines and our reputation. We believe there’s a critical role for federal partnership and support to enhance public safety in Chicago. But to be helpful, it is vital that it be coordinated, responsive to our city’s particular needs, and integrated with our ongoing efforts on the ground. It also needs to be conducted in a way that is respectful of the civil liberties and constitutional rights of all who live here.”
…Adding… House Speaker Chris Welch…
The greatest threat to peace in Broadview, in my district of which it is a part, and in our entire state is Donald Trump. Under his orders, agents have battered citizens, detained legal residents, terrorized families, and deployed chemical munitions in our communities. There is no crisis in Illinois that requires these unprecedented, illegal, and grossly inhumane acts against our own people. The promise of an even more militarized presence only shows that Trump’s agenda was never about safety and certainly never about justice. This is about unchecked power that is endangering all of our communities and our democracy as we know it. We will continue to fight in the courts. We must continue to fight with every tool of our democratic process. And we must continue to pray for peace and civility in our communities and across our state.
…Adding… Now it’s Texas…
Today, Governor JB Pritzker released the following statement after the Illinois National Guard was informed that the Texas National Guard is preparing deployments to Illinois:
“This evening, President Trump is ordering 400 members of the Texas National Guard for deployments to Illinois, Oregon, and other locations within the United States. No officials from the federal government called me directly to discuss or coordinate.
“We must now start calling this what it is: Trump’s Invasion. It started with federal agents, it will soon include deploying federalized members of the Illinois National Guard against our wishes, and it will now involve sending in another state’s military troops.
“I call on Governor Abbott to immediately withdraw any support for this decision and refuse to coordinate. There is no reason a President should send military troops into a sovereign state without their knowledge, consent, or cooperation.
“The brave men and women who serve in our national guards must not be used as political props. This is a moment where every American must speak up and help stop this madness.”
…Adding… Attorney General Kwame Raoul…
Attorney General Raoul is firmly committed to upholding the Constitution and defending the rule of law. Our office will not hesitate to take legal action in the event of any unlawful deployment anywhere in Illinois.
* Related…
* Sun-Times | Pritzker calls on state agencies to investigate feds’ treatment of children at South Shore raid: “Military-style tactics should never be used on children in a functioning democracy,” said the governor in the statement. “As more details emerge, I am appalled by the reports of excessive use of force against children as well as the many innocent bystanders who were punished simply for residing in that building.” Pritzker said the two state agencies will contact families and children impacted by the raid to gather information. If they receive allegations of suspected abuse or neglect by federal agents, the governor said the state will move to hold the agents accountable, which could include “collaborating with local law enforcement as necessary.”
* Time Magazine | ‘Military-Style’ ICE Raid On Chicago Apartment Building Shows Escalation in Trump’s Crackdown: Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker accused the federal agents of separating children from their parents, zip-tying their hands, and detaining them in “dark vans” for hours. Videos show flashbangs erupting on the street, followed by residents of the apartment building—children among them—being led from the building. Photos of the aftermath show toys and shoes littering the apartment hallways, evidence of those pulled from their beds by the operation that included FBI and Homeland Security agents.
