The federal government is choosing to send troops into Chicago rather than focusing on the real threats to our families’ safety and well-being. Our Nation is grappling with the tragedy of yet another school shooting in Minnesota, a cost-of-living crisis and a deterioration of due process. The state of Illinois has worked on Smart crime fighting policies, mental health services addressing trauma and economic strife and that is where the focus of our federal taxpayer dollars should be spent and not wasted on efforts to traumatize families in our communities.
As a former United States Marine, and a proud public servant in addition to having my son currently serving in the United States Navy and other family members and friends who have or are serving, the safety of Illinois is a top priority. Myself and all who have served in uniform took an oath to protect our freedoms and uphold the values of democracy.
My grandfather came to the United States from Poland when he was 17; my stepfather came to the United States when he was six from Czechoslovakia. We are a country that embraces immigration.
I find the idea of the deployment of the National Guard into Chicago without the consent of State leadership and against federal law underscores the fabric of our democracy, providing a false sense of security at the risk of our Constitutional freedoms. Our founders made clear that the military must never be used as a political weapon against our own citizens. I was on active duty during the 1992 LA Riots – and that was a singular coordinated crisis with local law enforcement in conjunction with the governor of the state and the Department of Defense. That is not what we are seeing today.
Yesterday, the official social media handle of the president sent out an AI-generated image and declared that his illegal renaming of the Department of Defense to the Department of War would carry out deportations without due process or regard to the liberties and rights that is sacred in our Constitution. The Constitution that I and every individual who has or is wearing the uniform of our Country took an oath to defend.
—Office of State representative Stephanie Kifowit