CHICAGO – Workers along with community, advocacy and faith groups rallied in Chicago on Labor Day in protest of President Donald Trump, who has threatened to send National Guard troops into the city to help fight crime.
What we know:
The “Workers Over Billionaires” demonstration, organized by the Chicago Federation of Labor and others, began at 11 a.m. Monday at the Haymarket Memorial, located at 151 N. Desplaines St.
The event included a speaking program followed by a march to several West Loop locations that organizers say “have ties to the Trump agenda and its dismantling of workers’ rights.”
Scheduled speakers included local and national labor leaders, elected officials—including Mayor Brandon Johnson—community leaders, and Rev. Jamal Bryant.
What they’re saying:
Johnson gave almost a four-minute speech in which, some of the time, he used to criticize Trump and demand the president not send troops into Chicago to help deter violence.
“No federal troops in the city of Chicago! No militarized force in the city of Chicago. We’re going to defend our democracy in the City of Chicago! We’re gonna protect the humanity of every single person in the City of Chicago!” Johnson shouted. “God bless the greatest freaking city in the world, Chi-Town. No troops in Chicago! No troops in Chicago! Invest in Chicago!”
Organizers say the gathering was intended to show “working people standing together demanding a city, state, and country that puts ‘workers over billionaires.’”
From the looks of it, hundreds of people joined the protest.
Johnson signed an executive order on Saturday that he claims protects Chicago by holding the Dept. of Homeland Security accountable and establishes Chicago’s Police Department as having tactical command of city streets.
Alderman Raymond Lopez, 15th Ward, said the mayor’s decree is a “performance piece” and believes nothing will stop Trump from taking action.
“What I think we had is a collection of missed opportunities where at any point Brandon Johnson could have picked up the phone and called Donald Trump and said, ‘Hey, hold on (on) the immigration. Let’s see if we can work together,'” Lopez said.
The backstory:
Trump has threatened to send National Guard troops to Chicago to combat crime.
RELATED: Trump threat to send National Guard to Chicago gets pushback: ‘A terrible idea’
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson strongly oppose the move, calling it illegal and unconstitutional. Pritzker said Trump is “searching for any justification to deploy the military in a blue city.”
Johnson pointed to a 32% drop in homicides this year, including the lowest April homicide numbers since 1962, as evidence the city is making progress without federal intervention.
Still, some voices in Chicago support Trump’s plan. Businessman and former mayoral candidate Willie Wilson argued, “Anybody that comes in to help save life … I welcome it.”
RELATED: D.C. mayor says Trump’s crime plan is working as he eyes Chicago next
Dig deeper:
A new poll from the group M3, sponsored by a conservative organization called Law and Order PAC, found that 65% of residents oppose sending the National Guard into Chicago.
The poll surveyed 668 Chicago voters. Of the respondents, 42.5% were white, 31% were Black and 12.3% were Hispanic, according to M3.
Meanwhile, Pritzker this week said he believed Trump’s true motive for sending in troops was much darker in nature.
“This is a part of his plan to do something really nefarious, which is to interfere with elections in 2026,” the governor said. “He wants to have troops on the ground to stop people from voting, to intimidate people from going to the voting booth.”
RELATED: Chicago military base considered for ICE operation, reports say
Trump retorted Thursday on his Truth Social Network, “Governor Pritzker had 6 murders in Chicago this weekend. Twenty people were shot. But he doesn’t want to ask me for help. Can this be possible? The people are desperate for me to STOP THE CRIME, something the Democrats aren’t capable of doing. STAY TUNED!!!”
The Source: The information in this article was obtained from the Chicago Federation of Labor and previous FOX 32 reporting.