By rssfeeds-admin Johnson signed an executive order establishing the “Protecting Chicago” initiative, a cross-departmental directive that his office says will work to protect the constitutional rights of Chicagoans, amid the potential deployment of troops to the Windy City.
“We have received credible reports that we have days, not weeks, before our city sees some type of militarized activity by the federal government,” Johnson said. “He could change his mind. He could reverse course. In fact, I encourage him to do that. Still, we take these threats seriously, and we find ourselves in the position where we must take immediate, drastic action to protect our people from federal overreach.”
The signing took place at 12 p.m. Saturday.
According to the mayor’s office, the order demands that President Trump stand down from threats to deploy troops in Chicago, and affirms that the Chicago Police Department will remain a locally controlled agency.
The initiative, which will also establish campaigns to inform residents in the city about their rights, will utilize legal action in an effort to prevent “any attempts to systematically violate the rights of Chicagoans.”
“The City of Chicago will do everything in our power to defend our democracy and protect our communities,” the mayor said. “With this executive order, we send a resounding message to the federal government: we do not need nor want an unconstitutional and illegal military occupation of our city. We do not want military checkpoints or armored vehicles on our streets and we do not want to see families ripped apart. We will take any action necessary to protect the rights of all Chicagoans. Protecting Chicago is the next step in the work we have been doing to defend our city from federal overreach and illegal action.”
The order also reminds Chicagoans that Chicago Police Department officers must have on their issued uniforms and cannot wear masks to help distinguish CPD from federal agents.
It is the latest effort by Johnson to halt any attempts by the president to mobilize troops in the city, something Trump signaled could be a possibility in recent weeks.
City and state leaders have stood together denouncing any potential plans to bring troops to Chicago, describing the effort as a military operation of fear and division.
They say that the Trump administration’s crackdown to address crime in Chicago and neighboring communities should be handled differently and deployed in a way that builds trust, not fear.
Concerns regarding the next steps grew this week after it was confirmed that federal immigration agents would be present at Naval Station Great Lakes, which is a major US Navy training installation in North Chicago.
The Trump administration has not released specific details about its plans for Chicago and the surrounding areas, but on Friday, the Associated Press reported that an operation that could start as early as Sept. 5, would last about 30 days, a Department of Homeland Security official confirmed.
Another U.S. official said the timing for what could be a sustained immigration enforcement effort resembling this summer’s operations in Los Angeles is awaiting final approval.
Both officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss plans that had not been made public.
Johnson spoke to reporters after signing the executive order. His comments can be viewed in the video below.
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