A few hours into the 79th Street Renaissance Festival on Saturday, Chicago comedian Damon Williams took the stage, delivering a timely message between jokes: “Keep the troops downtown. We don’t need them.”

The Auburn Gresham event was one of many taking place this weekend as the city braced for anticipated increased operations by ICE and a possible deployment of National Guard troops. It also followed a Truth Social post by President Donald Trump , warning that the city would be impacted by the “Department of War” — as Trump has proposed rebranding the Department of Defense.

But rather than giving into fear, the festivalgoers were happily watching live entertainment, sampling food, patronizing vendors, participating in family activities and enjoying carnival rides. And they enthusiastica

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