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* Wednesday late afternoon press release…
Governor JB Pritzker is adding five counties to the existing disaster proclamation to aid local jurisdictions in efforts to keep communities safe. The following counties are being added: Lake, Peoria, Rock Island, Williamson and Stephenson. These counties represent 1) a threat for looting or destruction through planned protests, 2) home to critical infrastructure, or 3) where the state has received requests for state assistance or resources. To date, 15 counties are included in the current disaster proclamation.
On Sunday, the Governor activated 375 Illinois National Guard soldiers for State Active Duty to assist the Chicago Police Department in protecting the City of Chicago and its residents. The Guard’s role will be supporting the Illinois State Police and local authorities in enforcing street closures around the city.
An additional 250 soldiers were activated on Monday to join the state’s civil disturbance response efforts to address the needs of various jurisdictions throughout the state. These soldiers will represent a Quick Reactionary Force (QRF), staged at various Guard facilities throughout the state to await instructions from the Illinois State Police to help meet the needs of our local communities. These QRF teams will be staging in Chicago, Kewanee, Mt. Vernon, Peoria, Springfield and Scott Air Force Base.
In addition to the soldiers from the Illinois National Guard, personnel from the Illinois State Police, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and various mutual aid networks are aiding the requests of local governments. The State Emergency Operations Center is monitoring operations throughout the state and fulfilling requests from local governments. All personnel deployed for operations will be outfitted with personal protective equipment, such as face shields and masks, to address the threats of our current COVID environment.
On Tuesday, IEMA Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau announced ten of the 11 state-managed Community Based Testing Sites would resume COVID-19 testing operations. Additional security has been brought in to replace personnel that had been reassigned due to ongoing civil unrest throughout the state.
* Meanwhile…
The inclusion of Madison County in Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s emergency disaster declaration because of civil unrest in other parts of the state — specifically Chicago — caught local officials by surprise.
On Monday Pritzker announced a disaster declaration including Madison and eight other Illinois counties. But officials with the county, the sheriff’s department and Emergency Management said they had not requested any assistance.
* I asked the governor’s office for a response…
In order to mobilize the National Guard, a disaster proclamation has to be issued to authorize funding. The counties in the proclamation were included based on where possible criminal activity was indicated, home to critical infrastructure, or where we have received requests for state assistance and resources. Additional counties will be added as needed.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 9:46 am
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There is a similar confusion in Williamson County as was experienced in Madison. Unfortunately, it has led to wild rumors and speculation in Williamson County communities.
Comment by DownSouth Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 10:20 am
The Alton Telegraph front page had the “Why Madison County?” article right next to an article about protestors vandalizing and trying to burn down Ketchum’s Country Corner
Comment by Bob Loblaw Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 10:29 am
The protests are about issues of police brutality in places like Ferguson, NYC, Chicago, and Minneapolis. What are the mayors of those communities doing to directly address that issue?
Comment by Downstate Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 10:29 am
Not really sure what the Illinois National Guard is doing in Chicago. The numbers deployed aren’t overwhelming and the Guard seems to be spending much of their time in the parking lot next to Guaranteed Rate Field.
Comment by Practical Politics Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 10:34 am
When the proclamation was issued for Madison County a lot of the right wingers down here immediately claimed this was a power grab by the Governor. Their reflex is to resist anything they deem as Chicago. Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Comment by Highland IL Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 10:42 am
There was great confusion in Williamson County about this disaster proclamation with many wondering if the Governor knew something we didn’t. There have been two peaceful protests in the county though there have been rumors. Earlier this week, the local Target closed early for fear of protests. That evening, local law enforcement and an army of pickup trucks were in the parking lot likely to dissuade those who sought to do damage, if they ever existed at all.
Comment by JSI Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 10:44 am
=== The protests are about issues of police brutality in places like Ferguson, NYC, Chicago, and Minneapolis.===
Hmm.
… and yet “ANNA”… and all that means.
But, please, make it about “urban” issues.
Protests are in ALL 50 states, and globally.
Your “downstate” thinking is small to this issue.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 10:46 am
===much of their time in the parking lot===
Ever heard of a staging area?
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 10:48 am
I have heard of staging areas, but locals are saying that the Guard has not really been pressed into service. This has been on the radio broadcasts and talk shows aired in Chicago.
Comment by Practical Politics Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 11:02 am
===This has been on the radio broadcasts and talk shows===
Well then, it must be true. Sheesh. Stop posting that crud here.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 11:04 am
The Peoria Journal Star had a similar story. Here’s proof:
https://www.pjstar.com/news/20200603/illinois-national-guard-members-to-watch-over-commercial-areas-in-peoria
Comment by Tynie Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 11:44 am
“Your “downstate” thinking is small to this issue.”
OW,
My company is involved in repairing damage done by the looting. Another entity, with which I’m involved, had the neighboring building looted. We kept the operation closed on Monday, as a result, for the safety of the employees.
These protests are about police brutality against minorities. They are national in scope, because the problem is national in scope. The deaths, at the hands of the police, are happening in urban areas.
The federal government can’t make changes at the local police level. Only the city leadership can.
Comment by Downstate Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 11:47 am
=== My company is involved in repairing damage done by the looting. Another entity, with which I’m involved, had the neighboring building looted. We kept the operation closed on Monday, as a result, for the safety of the employees.===
Ok, but I addressed your thinking… you didn’t respond to that.
Like this…
=== These protests are about police brutality against minorities.===
Yeah, they’re taking down Confederate monuments “because the police”
Again, your simple thinking to this is just that.
What makes it global isn’t police brutality… it’s racism.
Since you are so involved in things cleaning up, it’s amazing you are missing that.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 11:51 am
“Peace through Strength”. It is often enough to know that a force is available without actually using that force. It is usually enough for the bad actors to know that the Guard is available without the Guard acting like an occupying army. If the Guard is generally not being used, then its a good thing and the civilian police have the situation under control.
Comment by A Jack Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 11:56 am
=the Guard seems to be spending much of their time in the parking lot next to Guaranteed Rate Field.=
Hopefully that’s where they spend all of their time while in Chicago.
Comment by Pundent Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 12:27 pm
Scott County, IA, has had trouble, including a couple of deaths in Davenport. To my knowledge there have been no issues in Rock Island County. There is a BLM protest scheduled for tonight in Davenport. The declaration seems preventative in this case.
Comment by RIJ Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 12:58 pm
The protests have kept plywood board up companies busy installing barriers and covering windows on the North Side and in the suburbs. Protesters have blocked streets in Evanston, Skokie, and Glenview. Police presence kept things in order and rerouted traffic, but several branch banks curtailed their normal business activities when protesters occupied their parking lots and blocked drive up banking lanes.
Merchants boarding up included liquor stores, groceries, a car parts store, etc.
No need for media coverage. I saw this myself.
Comment by Practical Politics Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 4:11 pm
=== The protests have kept plywood board up companies busy installing barriers and covering windows on the North Side and in the suburbs. Protesters have blocked streets in Evanston, Skokie, and Glenview. Police presence kept things in order and rerouted traffic, but several branch banks curtailed their normal business activities when protesters occupied their parking lots and blocked drive up banking lanes.===
You get around an awful lot for a state …on “lockdown”
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 4:14 pm
@Oswego Willy:
The local branch bank nearest my home shut its doors completely since COVID-19 lock down began in March. Since that time, I have had to drive to other branches.
My car travel was elongated today due to several branch banks closing hours early on account of the protesters. At one bank, some of the protesters were in the parking lot across the street (blocking the drive up and ATM lanes) from a major intersection that their friends had blocked. Eventually, I found a bank branch that was further removed and had still had its drive up windows open.
My singular victory today was getting my hair cut by the barber for the first time in almost three months. All of us in the barber shop were masked.
Comment by Practical Politics Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 4:26 pm
- Practical Politics -
So you’ve been inconvenienced?
What are you saying?
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 4:34 pm
@Oswego Willy:
Slightly. I wasted about an extra forty minutes driving around various bank locations, but who hasn’t been inconvenienced recently unless they are in easy commuting distance of the state border and cross over?
Maybe it is easier in Kane County. Simple weekly errands like shopping for groceries take longer than was the case in early March. Sometimes, the shelves are stocked. Sometimes, the shelves are empty.
I am somewhat surprised that the protesters are still in Cook County after almost one full week.
Some of my friends had to shelter in place earlier in the week due to protests (nearer the Loop) which took over the streets.
Comment by Practical Politics Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 4:52 pm
=== Slightly.===
So that’s it? Ok.
===Kane===
I’m in Kendall.
Good luck to you. Stay safe.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 4:59 pm