Continuing his remarks, Governor Pritzker emphasized that federal claims portraying Chicago as a dangerous war zone were exaggerated. “They want mayhem on the ground. They want to create the war zone so that they can send in even more troops. Now they’re claiming they need 300 of Illinois National Guard. Well, we didn’t need them before they showed up,” he said.
Pritzker criticized the use of tear gas and smoke grenades, arguing that these tactics were contributing to an image of conflict rather than improving public safety. “He’s saying that, you know, Chicago is a war zone, none of that is true. They’re just making this up. And then what do they do? They fire tear gas and smoke grenades, and they make it look like it’s a war zone,” he stated.
The governor’s comments highlight ongoing tensions between local and federal authorities over law enforcement operations in Chicago, with Pritzker calling for a more measured approach that targets criminals without endangering or intimidating residents.
