Darkness before the light?
Things in Minneapolis keep getting worse and if you ask me, there is little difference now between ICE and the guards in Tehran.
I want to sit and shake my head, wonder how the hell we got here. I also want to go sit in the back of the closet and hide behind the clothes.
Instead, I will do what I don’t want to do but know I have to do: I will keep fighting in the ways in which I can.
My school watch is wondering if we should go stealth, meet only in person, or continue with an open chat for our organizing. The ICE grapevine has let us know that they are trying to infiltrate our safety groups who are just making sure kids and families get to school and get home safely.
Really, ICE?! You come stand on this corner in 10 degree weather and see how dangerous we are. We don’t antagonize. We don’t chase cars. We stand watch, ready to whistle and video. That’s it.
Urgent Messages
I just got this message from Indivisible Chicago and they’ve never sent out anything remotely like this in terms of tone and urgency. So take heed and please share.
Our first job is to stay safe. Our second is to protest (march, call reps, get your neighbors to join in, post actual facts on social media, etc.) when we can and help those even more directly affected when we can.
This is being relayed urgently from Indivisible Chicago:
Today, we witnessed yet another murder by ICE and Border Patrol. This was the latest in escalating violence that has led to - first the murders of Silverio Villegas González, Keith Porter and Renee Nicole Macklin Good - and now the murder of Alex Pretti. All because the community is standing up to the kidnapping of our neighbors off the street by the Trump regime. All because we won’t stand idly by and allow our country to devolve into tyranny. Join Indivisible Chicago as we take to the streets and demand ICE OUT OF EVERYWHERE and an end to the fascist ICE and CBP violence.
CHICAGO: EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO DHS EXECUTION IN MINNEAPOLIS
Indivisible Chicago is supporting the emergency protest that has been called for by CATA (The Coalition Against the Trump Agenda) and CAARPR (Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression Coalition) in response to the latest murder by ICE and Border Patrol.
We must put an end to the racial profiling, violence, abductions and intentional cruelty that we witnessed in Chicago during the Fall and are seeing at an even greater scale in Minneapolis now. We demand that ICE and CBP get out of ALL communities. We must put a stop to the unconstitutional actions of a wanna-be-king and his regime.
WHEN: Sunday Jan 25 @ 1PM
WHERE: Ida B Wells & Michigan Ave, Chicago
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The actions by ICE and CBP first in Chicago and now in Minneapolis are all part of the plan of the Trump regime to create violence and terror in cities across America. We believe that we are reaching a pivotal time and our response matters more now than ever.
No Funding for ICE and CBP
One immediate thing we can do is demand that the Senate refuse to fund ICE.
The House passed an appropriations bill to fund ICE through September 30 by a vote of 220-207. The bill would increase funding to ICE and CBP and give them the ability to expand their war against cities like Chicago and Minneapolis with no accountability. Seven Democrats voted Yes. The bill will now head to the Senate with a vote expected Wednesday. It will require Democratic votes to make the 60 vote threshold to pass, so it’s critical for Dems to be united.
Tell your senators to rein in ICE right now. Congress has to pass the appropriations bill by January 30 to keep the Department of Homeland Security funded, which means Dems have leverage to include provisions that rein in ICE and freeze its budget. Call Senators Durbin and Duckworth and demand that they oppose the House Bill and use their leverage to protect our communities from ICE. Senator Duckworth has announced her opposition to the bill yet that could change so please keep calling her office. (More info here)
Prepare for Further Action
In addition to the violence of ICE and CBP – Trump has threatened to take the further step of sending active duty military troops to support his attacks against our cities by invoking the Insurrection Act. This terror - of which Trump has recently written - is an excuse to invoke the Insurrection Act and bring the military to bear on Minneapolis. Once Trump takes this next step, there’s little to stop him from doing the same in Chicago and across America.
That’s why it’s essential we respond immediately and powerfully should Trump invoke the Insurrection Act. If Trump invokes the Insurrection Act we will plan with our partners an immediate response. We are asking that you be prepared for this…will be calling for a rapid response rally and march. Also, we know we must do more to prepare for the return of CBP to Chicago. How powerfully we are able to respond depends on you. Please forward this email to a friend who is ready to take action and ask them to join us at Indivisible Chicago and then join us in the streets.
Stay safe and warm.
And yes, still keepin’ the faith,
—Jill
Wild times. You are doing a brilliant job of redirecting our misery into possibility. Thank you.