Chicago's top cop defended his decision on Saturday to skip President Donald Trump's speech at the International Association of Chiefs of Police's annual conference.
The IACP conference kicked off on Saturday at the McCormick Place, and goes through Tuesday. Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson said he looks forward "to hosting America's police chiefs and collaborating on the best ways to keep our cities safe in the upcoming week," but he will not hear the president's speech.
"With some of our communities under seige, it just doesn't line up with our city's core values, along with my personal values," Johnson said.
Trump is scheduled to speak at the conference during his visit to Chicago Monday, a White House official confirmed. Johnson said he gave approval to officers who wish to attend the President's speech.
At a news conference on Saturday, Johnson added, "we need immigrant communities to trust our police department."
"We do not them to fear us then to flee us," he said. "Oftentimes they won't report crimes, because they fear they may be revictimized. So, I think just personally for me, I just have to take that into account... and represent the way I think I should."
Trump is also slated to take part in a fundraiser on Monday, marking his first visit Chicago as president.
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He previously visited the city twice as a candidate, first in March 2016 for a rally he ultimately canceled over safety concerns, prompting clashes between the thousands of protesters and supporters who had gathered inside the University of Illinois-Chicago Pavilion for the event.
