Despite Chaos in PNW, Chicago Mayor Still Opposes Federal Forces in Windy City

In Portland and Seattle, chaos has been the new norm.

Large, peaceful protesting during the day has given way to chaos and anarchy at night, as agitators continue to work under the cover of the crowd to incite violence and bedlam.  The incidents have grown so ferocious that local authorities in parts of the Pacific Northwest have been forced to declare the gatherings as “riots”.

The escalation occurred after federal forces arrived in Portland and began snatching protesters off the street in unmarked rental vehicles, all while operating badge-less.  The stunning visual of these tactics incensed American freedom advocates, thus fueling the angst that was already running hot.

As this mayhem grew, President Donald Trump has said that he would be sending more federal forces into other American cities, naming Chicago outright in his plans.

Windy City Mayor Lori Lightfoot is no fan of this plan.

From an appearance on CNN this week:

Lightfoot said, “This is not about working with the Trump administration. For decades now in major cities across the country, FBI, DEA, ATF, those agents have been in our districts and work in concert with local law enforcement to help support a number of efforts, not the least of which is violence in our cities. So the opportunity presented itself under the management of the U.S. attorney here. I stress that because that’s unlike what we saw in Portland, where the Trump administration parachuted in these additional federal agents without consulting anybody locally and ignoring the local U.S. attorney.”

“Very different circumstance here in Chicago,” she continued. “I have drawn a very hard line. We’ll not allow federal troops in our city. We will not tolerate unnamed agents taking people off the street, violating their rights and holding them in custody. That’s not happening here in Chicago. So I have drawn a very, very tight line and made it clear to every federal authority that I’ve spoken with, and they understand that if they cross that line, we will not hesitate to use every tool at our disposal to stop troops and unwanted agents in our city.”

Lightfoot had previously waffled on the idea of federal troops on Chicago streets, intimidating earlier in the week that she might be amenable to working with the Trump administration’s forces.

That has apparently changed.