Chicago’s escalating crime crisis was thrust back into the spotlight after Governor J.B. Pritzker, Mayor Brandon Johnson, and other Illinois Democrats staged a press conference condemning the prospect of federalizing the National Guard. The officials framed the idea as an attack on the city. Pastor Corey Brooks, however, says their rhetoric ignores the daily reality of unsafe streets.
Brooks, founder of Project H.O.O.D. and senior pastor of New Beginnings Church, told Chicago’s Morning Answer that the event was “deplorable.” He argued that calling federal assistance an “attack” on Chicago was deeply misleading when communities across the South and West Sides continue to suffer from shootings, robberies, and mob assaults. “We are living in a city that is under siege,” he said, adding that too many leaders are more focused on opposing Donald Trump than ensuring public safety.
Brooks acknowledged that the National Guard would only provide a temporary fix, standing on corners rather than transforming lives. But he insisted that immediate help is needed to calm the streets. Long-term change, he argued, must come from community groups that work with residents directly—organizations like Project H.O.O.D. that focus on changing mindsets, instilling responsibility, and creating opportunities.
On the question of violence interrupters, Brooks noted that every profession has “bad apples,” including activists who misuse their role for politics or personal gain. But he defended the concept overall, pointing to many credible workers who have turned their lives around and now provide a positive influence in high-crime neighborhoods. He stressed the importance of measuring outcomes with data to determine which programs are truly effective.
Brooks warned against complacency and the normalization of violence. Despite official claims of progress, he said residents across the city do not feel safe. “Anyone who does not want to be concerned about the safety of individuals should not be an elected official,” he declared.
Looking beyond Chicago, Brooks announced his next effort to highlight community renewal: a yearlong, 3,000-mile walk from New York to Los Angeles. The journey begins September 1 in Times Square and aims to raise $25 million to expand Project H.O.O.D.’s work, pay off its community center, and build a school. “The National Guard can stand on corners,” Brooks said, “but it’s organizations like Project H.O.O.D. that stand in the lives of people to transform them.”