National Guard To Mobilize In Chicago Ahead Of Chauvin Verdict

CHICAGO - Gov. JB Pritzker today announced that he was mobilizing troops of the Illinois National Guard to deploy to Chicago ahead of the verdict being released in the trial of Derek Chauvin.

The mobilization came at the request of the City of Chicago and Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Pritzker activated 125 National Guard members, who will begin deploying to the city beginning Tuesday, April 20.

The guard members will mostly be used to help support officers of the Chicago Police Department. The announcement noted that their official duties will be to "carry out a limited mission to help manage street closures and will not interfere will peaceful protestors exercising their First Amendment rights."

"At the request of Mayor Lightfoot, I am activating members of the Illinois National Guard to support the city in keeping our communities safe," Gov. Pritzker said. "It is critical that those who wish to peacefully protest against the systemic racism and injustice that holds back too many of our communities continue to be able to do so."

Mayor Lightfoot emphasized the fact that the mobilization of guard members was simply a precaution, and was not occurring because of any known threat.

"While there is no actionable intelligence at this time, we want to be fully prepared out of an abundance of caution," said Lightfoot.

Chicago is already facing heightened tensions after video was released last week of the deadly police shooting of 13-year-old Adam Toledo in the Little Village neighborhood.

The Illinois State Police will also be sending additional troops to the Chicago area in order to support both the guard members and Chicago police officers. All law enforcement officials will be outfitted with masks and additional personal protective equipment.

Chicago is one of a number of cities being put on higher alert in anticipation of possible violence arising from the upcoming verdict of the Derek Chauvin trial. CNN reported that the US Army was preparing to mobilize National Guard members to deploy to Washington DC.

In Minneapolis, where the Derek Chauvin trial is being held, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz declared a state of emergency and also requested additional law enforcement help from Ohio and Nebraska.

After closing arguments in the three-week long trial were completed today, the jury began its deliberation. It is unknown how long the deliberations will last, but Judge Peter Cahill told the jurors to "plan for long and hope for short."

Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, was charged with unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the May 2020 death of George Floyd. Chauvin placed Floyd under arrest after he was accused by a store clerk of paying with a counterfeit bill. Chauvin soon forced Floyd to the ground, and in the now-widely circulated video, Chauvin can be seen kneeling on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes, despite Floyd pleading numerous times that, "I can't breathe."

The video of Floyd's death sparked widespread outrage across the United States and the world, leading to a series of protests this past summer and reinvigorating the Black Lives Matter movement.

*Update*

In the aftermath of Derek Chauvin being found guilty of all three charges, Gov. JB Pritzker released a statement commending the verdict.

"My heart goes out to the family of George Floyd, who deserve to have him alive today," Pritzker said in a statement. "This verdict marks an important milestone on the journey to justice, but the fullest measure of progress is how we deliver accountability, safety and meaningful change."

Mayor Lori Lightfoot also released a statement regarding the verdict.

"I want to commend the jury, the prosecution and the people of Minnesota for their invaluable work to hold Mr. Chauvin accountable for his crimes," Lightfoot said on Twitter. "George Floyd's death sparked a pivotal movement for Americans fighting to end systemic racism."