How Chicago's grassroots networks are countering ICE presence
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Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photos: Octavio Jones/AFP via Getty Images
It's not just politicians. Some local businesses and individuals are showing their resistance to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol officers in Chicago.
The big picture: From grocery shopping to sharing alerts about ICE's presence, some Chicagoans have stepped in to help immigrants who are too fearful to leave their house for work, school and grocery shopping.
Zoom in: Organizations such as Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) and The Resurrection Project (TRP) are utilizing their organizing expertise to funnel responses in a coordinated way, TRP's Andrew Herrera tells Axios.
- That includes verifying reports that come into ICIRR's "Eyes on ICE" hotline (1-855-435-7693) that takes in calls and texts about ICE sightings.
- If the sightings are still current and relevant, ICIRR distributes texts in English and Spanish.
- ICIRR also hosts "know your rights" trainings and has provided templates for how other groups can bring these trainings to their area.
State of play: Grassroots groups and individuals are using social media to amplify opportunities where volunteers or support are needed.
- Roxana Delgado regularly posts links to groups looking for donations and volunteers on her Instagram account, including a request for the Street Vendors Association of Chicago, which has many vendors too scared to work.
- The group Sin Titulo is looking for volunteers to drop off groceries for immigrants who are staying indoors.
- Belmont Cragin United is one of many groups handing out whistles that community members have been blowing when they spot officers.
What they're saying: "Many friends have signed up to help kids getting to and from school safely," Elise Fernandez, who lives on the North Side, tells Axios. "Tons of rapid response trainings, grocery shopping/drop-offs happening everywhere."
Context: Local businesses have also been offering ways to help, especially when their employees are directly affected.
- Bagel Miller Bagels in Lincoln Square announced last weekend it was doing online orders only because some of its staff were too fearful to come in because of potential ICE activity.
- "We can't ask anyone to risk their safety just to serve bagels," the business posted on Instagram.
- A group of West Side small business owners, including Scratch Goods, All Together Now and Play, issued a warning to ICE to not use their parking lots or harass their staffs.
Ald. Andre Vasquez said more than 700 people showed up last weekend for a training at Mather High School. "We were not anticipating that big of a crowd, and the amount of folks who wanted to get involved, who signed up to volunteer, who want to help create this network to make sure we defend, protect and support our neighbors that need it in this moment, just seeing you all there moved my soul."
- Vasquez's office is hosting an event Friday for small businesses that are looking to help.