Democratic Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Tuesday that she will not “allow Trump’s troops” into her city, as 14 more people were shot in gang violence.
Mayor of Chicago Lori Lightfoot speaks at the U.S. Conference of Mayors 88th Winter Meeting in Washington, U.S., January 23, 2020. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts
“Under no circumstances will I allow Donald Trump’s troops to come to Chicago and terrorize our residents,” Lightfoot tweeted.
Under no circumstances will I allow Donald Trump’s troops to come to Chicago and terrorize our residents.
— Mayor Lori Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) July 21, 2020
The Trump administration is poised to send 150 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents to Chicago, according to numerous reports. But it is not yet clear whether the force will be agents from DHS or other federal agencies. (RELATED: Chicago Mayor Cites COVID-19 For City’s Escalating Murder Rate)
President Donald Trump said Monday he wants to send federal forces to “Democratic cities” to quell riots and reduce lawlessness.
The federal-municipal debate continues as 14 people were shot near a funeral home Tuesday night in Chicago’s South Side, The New York Times reported.
During a funeral, a car reportedly drove by and someone in the vehicle began shooting. There was return fire from one or more people in the group, The Times reported, noting that police found 60 shell casings at the scene of the crime. The wounded are being treated at local hospitals.
Lightfoot responded to the tragedy in a Wednesday morning tweet that called the attackers “cowardly gunmen” and described the incident as “a horrific mass shooting.” (RELATED: Chicago Mayor Heard Calling Police Union Leader A ‘Clown’)
While families were mourning at a funeral in Auburn Gresham, cowardly gunmen opened fire, wounding 14 in a horrific mass shooting. @Chicago_Police are canvassing for evidence and street outreach teams have been deployed to provide trauma and victim support services for residents.
— Mayor Lori Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) July 22, 2020
Shootings killed 18 people over the last weekend in June in the city — including two children and a teenager, establishing a trend that has continued throughout July.
A resident stands inside of police tape as Chicago police secure the scene of a shooting in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood on July 21, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
The mayor has been sparring with the Trump administration over Chicago’s lost lives. During her July 16 daily press briefing, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany referred to Lightfoot as a “derelict mayor” who “should step up and ask for federal help because she is doing a very poor job at protecting her streets.”
Lightfoot responded by tweeting, “Hey, Karen. Watch your mouth.”