Statement from SEIU Local 1 President Genie Kastrup on Trump’s Threat of National Guard Deployment to Chicago

Following Trump’s threats of deploying the National Guard to Chicago, SEIU Local 1 President Genie Kastrup released the following statement:  

“Donald Trump’s threat to deploy the National Guard to Chicago is an overstep of power and fails to solve the real challenges our city faces, further harming working families. Chicago doesn’t need soldiers in our streets – we need investment in our people.

Trump’s militarization puts Black, Brown, and immigrant workers in danger. It ignores the root causes of violence and instability in our communities: poverty, unemployment, underfunded schools, and disinvestment in social service programs – something Trump directly contributed to when he slashed over $1.2 trillion from Medicaid and SNAP.

SEIU Local 1 rejects this dangerous and unnecessary escalation and will continue organizing across the Midwest to resist Trump’s anti-immigrant, anti-worker agenda. We are proud to be part of Hands Off Chicago, a broad coalition of labor, community, and advocacy organizations united in our commitment to protect our city through nonviolent action. No soldiers in our streets.”