President Donald Trump's threats to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago sent ripples through America's third-largest city as many residents defended their home against Trump's escalating rhetoric toward its violent crime, including claims it is a “killing field.”

The threat of federal troops stirred a mix of fear, frustration and defiance for residents as they pointed to historic drops in violent crime. Groups constantly pressing for police reform said sending troops who lack training in de-escalating violence or any knowledge about the nuances of neighborhoods still grappling with violent crime would undo progress made in recent years.

The Chicago Teachers Union passed out flyers to people dropping children off at school across the city on Friday morning. The flyers advise people of their rights in the event of an encounter with ICE or other law enforcement.

At Henry Nash Elementary School, union representatives as well as Mayor Brandon Johnson spoke to press.

"In this time we have to stand together, we have the pull together," union representative Sylvelia Pittman told the Associated Press. "We don't need troops. We don't need the National Guard here. We need funds that are going to help us be able to help our communities."