By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – As the Illinois Freedom Caucus and Chicago Flips Red join forces to invite President Donald Trump’s crime cleanup efforts into Chicago, some residents say federal assistance is needed in the city.

At least eight people died and more than 50 were injured in shootings over the Labor Day weekend. Chicago Flips Red founder Zoe Leigh said the city needs help.

“One of the things that really bothers me is that it was six women that were shot and killed. One was ambushed by five gunmen,” Leigh said said during a virtual news conference Tuesday.

Shanta Baker said she has personal experience with losing loved ones to gun violence.

“I lost a real close friend. I lost him on his birthday. It was June 22nd. He was on 94th St. in Chicago, in the city,” Baker separately told The Center Square.

Devonte Gipson died on his 33rd birthday.

“Somebody just approached him and shot him,” Baker said.

Baker said she was not aware of any arrests in connection with Gipson’s death.

Asked if the federal government should send help, Baker answered in the affirmative.

“Honestly, we need it. The crime has been going, like, we have our shootings every day. I experienced a couple of them. Not just my friend, my big brother also passed away to gun violence, like, 2020,” Baker related.

Leigh said Chicago needs the federal government to intervene.

“We’re dealing with illegal alien criminals. We’re dealing with the cartel. We’re dealing with sex trafficking, drug trafficking. We’re dealing with human trafficking, and we need help,” Leigh said.

State Rep. Chris Miller, R-Oakland, asked why Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Gov. J.B. Pritzker don’t want the federal government to help make their communities safe again.

“The same things that worked in Washington, D.C. will work in Chicago. You know, the problem is, J.B. Pritzker’s got the worst case of Trump derangement syndrome that I have ever seen,” Miller said.

Miller said the governor is in a state of denial when it comes to Chicago crime.

Since Trump sent federal troops into Washington, D.C., Miller said over 1,000 arrests have been made, more than 150 illegal firearms have been seized, and violent crime is down 40% in the nation’s capital.