Carbondale Reporter

According to a July 18 ABC Chicago report, Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 7 President John Catanzara Jr. sent a letter to President Donald Trump asking for help in establishing law and order in Chicago after Black Lives Matter protestors clashed with police in front of the Grant Park statue of Christopher Columbus.

“These politicians are failing the good men and women of this city and the police department,” Catanzara wrote in his July 25 letter to the president, adding that he would be willing to sit down any time to discuss bringing civility back to the streets of Chicago. 

Chicago's Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot called the letter a political stunt, according to media reports.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot

Trump planned to send 150 federal agents to the city, raising concerns from more than 60 elected officials who signed a letter to Lightfoot and Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart expressing their fears that federal agents would only antagonize protestors, NBC Chicago reported on July 27.

“President Trump has repeatedly demonstrated both his callous disregard for Black, indigenous and immigrant lives and his increasing inclination toward fascism and authoritarianism,” the letter stated.

Illinois state Rep. Dave Severin (R-Benton) would like to see politics be put to the side for the sake of public safety.

“My concern is that constituents are safe, that we do what we need to do for that to happen,” Severin said in a statement. “Some people are happy that the president has called in support. Other people are upset, but the bottom line is that we need to find a way for Chicago to be safe and also for the whole state. Of course, the concern is Chicago and I'm anticipating seeing the progress, what's going to happen and how long it's going to take. It's not just Chicago that the president is working on and concerned about. There are several cities across the United States, and safety for the constituents, citizens, businesses and organizations is the bottom line so that people will be able to move about freely.”  

On July 28, the Press Herald reported that House Judiciary Committee Democrats criticized U.S. Attorney General William Barr for an aggressive federal response to Black Lives Matter protestors in Portland, Oregon. Severin said he hopes the assistance the White House sends to Chicago does not follow suit.  

“There were 14 people shot at a funeral a week ago in Chicago,” Severin told the Carbondale Reporter. “I would like for people to be able to move about freely and not be afraid. Right now we're dealing with the coronavirus. Let's be concerned and work through those things instead of having all the violence, having to look over our shoulder, and being afraid in our neighborhoods or wherever we might be moving about. I'd also like to see progress made where law enforcement works together in Chicago with the assistance that's brought in so that people can work together. That's what I'm looking for.”

As widely reported last week, Lightfoot had two Christopher Columbus statues quietly removed overnight due to public safety concerns.

“The bottom line is you always have politics and stuff that plays into it,” Severin said. “Unfortunately, I believe that has a lot to do with it but I also believe that we all want to see safety in our city, and Chicago is an awesome city. We want to see it flourish and be successful. I live 300 miles south of Chicago, representing the Southern part of the state, but I'm concerned about the whole state.”