Brandon Johnson appears to call for insurrection against federal government

Speaking at a Workers Over Billionaires rally on Labor Day, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson called for city residents to be prepared to "defend this land" against the Trump administration, saying that the city "will defend this country."

Johnson told the crowd, "No federal troops in the city of Chicago, no militarized force in the city of Chicago. We’re going to protect the humanity of every single person in the city of Chicago." 

He later added, "Are you prepared to defend this land, this land that was built by slaves, a land that was built by indigenous people, a land that is built by workers. Are you prepared to defend this land? The people united will always prevail."

"I need you all to stand firm, to stand strong if this president decides to continue to break this constitution. It’s gonna be the labor movement that stitches it back together, the labor movement that brings white folks, black folks, Asians, it brings brown folks together.

"This is the city that said keep hope alive, the city that birthed yes we can, and the city that will defend this country," he added.

Just days prior, Johnson signed an executive order that said the Chicago Police Department will "remain a locally controlled law enforcement agency" and urged Trump to "stand down" from sending in National Guard troops like he did with Washington, DC, per The Hill. The order also prohibits Chicago police officers from collaborating with federal agents or military personnel on immigration enforcement or patrols.

Over Labor Day Weekend, 54 people were shot and seven killed in the city. In the wake of the violence, Trump wrote, "Chicago is the worst and most dangerous city in the World, by far. Pritzker needs help badly, he just doesn’t know it yet. I will solve the crime problem fast, just like I did in DC. Chicago will be safe again, and soon."

Following Johnson’s comments at the rally, commentator Matt Walsh wrote, "1) This is treason. Brandon Johnson should be arrested, charged, convicted, and then given the requisite punishment for a capital offense. 2) Chicago was not in any sense built by "slaves and indigenous people."

Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk wrote, "Is the wildly unpopular Mayor of Chicago Brandon Johnson calling for an insurrection against the federal government? This is quite literally how you get the National Guard to show up in your city, Mr. Mayor. This communist clown should be prosecuted for inciting violence."