CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO/AP) -- With Election Day just around the corner, Illinois is getting prepared for potential unrest, especially in Chicago.
Governor Pritzker announced he has deployed Illinois National Guard troops to Chicago to prepare for potential election-related civil unrest.
Pritzker was asked about the action Monday during his daily COVID-19 briefing in Chicago. He downplayed the move and noted the Guard similarly reported to Chicago earlier this year in case of violence during protests.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we’ve made sure that our National Guard is simply in a state of readiness,” Pritzker said. “We did this back during the few days before the ruling around Breonna Taylor."
Pritzker said Illinois State Police are also prepared to assist cities and counties where things could escalate on Election Day. He didn't say whether state police would adjust patrols or make other changes for Election Day and its aftermath.
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“We want to make sure that cities, counties that call upon us for help from the state of Illinois, that we have those resources available to them.”
He did not say how many troops or what equipment was dispatched. Spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh didn't respond to questions posed after the briefing.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot did not request assistance. When asked, spokesman Patrick Mullane pointed to a tweet from the city's Office of Emergency Management and Communications, which said the city did not seek deployment.
“The city has not made any calls to deploy the National Guard in Chicago,” the tweet said. “Similar to past emergency preparedness plans, the state has stationed personnel at McCormick Place to be ready to respond if needed, however, there are currently no plans for them to be deployed.”
Governor Pritzker also urged the state to be patient and smart when it comes to the results.
“Look at a variety of news outlets if you’d like, but be wary of claims you see on social media,” Pritzker said. “Foreign actors posing as Americans are producing disinformation, such as fake videos or fake official statements, hoping that you will repost it.”