( NewsNation ) — Community activists and elected officials called for the firing of Chicago police officers allegedly tied to the Oath Keepers, WBEZ Chicago reports .
Last May, a group of aldermen asked the city to release records of an investigation involving police officers’ alleged ties to extremist groups. Chicago police declined to take disciplinary action against the officers identified in the records, and now there are calls for Mayor Brandon Johnson to establish a civilian task force to examine extremism within CPD.
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The Oath Keepers are a far-right, anti-government militia that played a key role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol in Washington.
Elizabeth Rochford, a 17th Police District Council member, told WBEZ she’s heard from neighbors and constituents who are afraid that an Oath Keeper is patrolling their communities.
“I feel afraid of officers who might be tied to any extremist group, both for myself but more so for the Black and Brown neighbors as well as anyone from marginalized communities,” Rochford said. “I hope that my fear and that of the community is taken seriously and there is swift action on these matters.”