A series of gun attacks in Chicago over the Juneteenth weekend resulted in at least 7 deaths and 39 injuries. The incidents, which lasted from Friday evening to Sunday, brought the city's wave of violence back into focus.
Weekend violence
The Chicago Police Department recorded more than two dozen gun attack incidents over the weekend. According to the Associated Press, the ages of the victims who lost their lives ranged from 18 to 50.
On Friday night, two unidentified individuals opened fire on a crowd in Princeton Park on the city's South Side. Twelve people, eight men and four women, were hospitalized.
That same night, 29-year-old Mario Price died after being shot in the body and face in a drive-by shooting. A 70-year-old man standing nearby was shot in the leg but survived. The armed attacks continued on Saturday and Sunday, causing additional deaths and injuries.
Trump's reaction and call for federal aid
President Donald Trump criticized Governor J. B. Pritzker for not requesting federal aid in a statement on the Truth Social platform.
Trump said, "Too much death in Chicago. Why isn't Governor Pritzker asking me for help? I could make Chicago a safe city in ONE MONTH, and in ONE YEAR, one of the safest!"
The President highlighted the success of crime-fighting efforts in the capital Washington, D.C., saying, "D.C. went from being one of the worst to one of the safest cities in the USA."
Governor Pritzker's stance
Democratic Governor J. B. Pritzker has repeatedly rejected Trump's offers to send National Guard troops and federal officials.
At a press conference last year, Pritzker stated, "Mr. President, don't come to Chicago. You are neither wanted nor needed here."
The Governor added, "If this were any other country, we would have no trouble saying what this is - a dangerous power grab."
During a guest appearance on Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show in October, Pritzker mocked the idea that Chicago was experiencing a wave of violence.
