Chicago Pastor Corey Brooks has sparked national attention by openly criticizing city leaders for allegedly downplaying the severity of the city’s crime crisis. Brooks, who leads the violence prevention group Project HOO.D., has called on President Donald Trump to deploy the National Guard to Chicago as a temporary measure to curb the growing wave of violence. In his recent comments, Brooks detailed that the city has already recorded 266 homicides this year, with 80% of the victims being Black boys. He condemned local officials for their refusal to acknowledge the scale of the violence, calling their claims that the situation is improving ‘outright lies.’
The pastor’s frustrations stem from his belief that city leaders, including Mayor Brandon Johnson and Gov. J.B. Pritzker, are more concerned with political gains than with public safety. Johnson and Pritzker, both Democrats, have publicly rejected Trump’s offer of federal intervention, with Johnson stating during a press conference that the city is being targeted for what and who its leaders represent. Pritzker warned Trump not to intervene, arguing that local leaders are in the best position to address the issues in Chicago.
Brooks insists that the violent crime is a deeply personal matter for his community, with families continuing to mourn the loss of young boys. He acknowledged that the National Guard’s temporary presence could bring a momentary lull in violence but stressed that sustainable solutions must come from grassroots organizations like his own. He urged the community to speak out and not let local officials dictate how the crisis is addressed. Brooks argued that silence is no longer an option for the people of Chicago.