ICE + Militarized police are in Chicago: 6 things you can do right now
This post was written by Local 1215 member Diana Rocha.
I’ve been asking myself this question, “What am I supposed to be doing?” – on a personal level, as an everyday library worker, and as a union member. First – living through multiple genocides, and, currently, through ICE taking neighbors, patrons, babies from their beds. The city where we live and work is being terrorized and it can be easy to feel powerless, especially as we keep showing up for our patrons, communities, and dear Chicago. It’s clear that it doesn’t matter right now if you are an alleged “criminal” immigrant, a resident, a U.S. citizen, or journalist.
People are being taken – snatched and deported, detained, or disappeared. Checking social media for daily ICE reports is part of my morning routine as much as my commute to work. It’s not normal. If this were happening by the hands of anyone other than the government, we would call it human trafficking. Instead, it is happening at the hands of the government, and, often, for the profit of prison companies. I’m not sure what they’re calling it now.
6 things you can do right now
- Print out KYR zines and handouts in English, Spanish, and other languages relevant to your location and have them easily available. Ask your branch manager about setting up a table or display near an entryway where these materials can live to be freely taken. Some printable signage in various languages also available.
- ICIRR handouts (multiple languages): https://www.icirr.org/fsn
- Printable signage + KYR cards (multi languages): ilrc.me/protect
- Zines (English/Spanish): ACLU Arizona
- City of Chicago IMRR Resources: (English) Shortened Resource Guide 01-23-2025
- Create whistle kits with branch funds or 3D printers!
- Have available branch funds? Buy a bunch of whistles and bags. Small (snack size) zipper bags will do. $25 can get you a lot of whistles. Bag the whistle up with relevant zines.
This is 100% a program and can even be a passive program, so make sure to count it as one in Biblio – “Grab and Go: Know Your Rights.” We are building literacy in our so-called sanctuary city through making available Know Your Rights literature, connecting to resources like the ICIRR Family Support Line, and providing tools to amplify the voices/sounds of our patrons.
- Whistles (purchase suggestion): 100 Emergency Plastic Whistles
- Whistles (purchase suggestion): 100 Metal Whistles
- Whistles (3D print): Printables
- Whistles (3D print): Thingiverse
- Whistle Zine from Pilsen Arts Community House (multiple languages): Resources for Whistle Warriors
- How to identify ICE – English (Spanish in progress, check back later!): How to Identify ICE
- Talk to your fellow co-workers about what is within your rights during ICE visits, inside or outside the branch, and share other resources to stay in-the-know. Practice / role play scenarios. Share info lit. Management has passed down directives for how branches/CPL locations should respond to ICE visits.
Check out tips for talking to your colleagues about ICE response, published by Library Freedom Project here: Anti-ICE Resources for Academic Library Workers - Approach your patrons and offer them Know Your Rights materials. These materials can include KYR about police stops in general, rights during protests, as well as immigration rights and ICE visits. We know people of all status are being unlawfully detained, including right here in Chicago.
- KYR @ Protests: ACLU – KYR
- KYR @ Police Stops: ACLU Arizona
- Offer the ICIRR Family Support Hotline during every program and interaction at the desk. Remind people it’s good to program into their phones. Put up signs with the phone number in different areas of the branch.
- Wallet card: Family Support Network & Hotline | ICIRR
- Signage: ICIRR + Eyes on ICE
- Get text alerts from ICIRR Eyes on ICE about verified ICE activity – https://icirr.quorum.us/campaign/ileyesonice/. Be better able to share information and, potentially, respond to ICE in your community. Share this link with patrons, too.
- IL eyes on ICE flyer (English + Spanish): Eyes on ICE text alerts
If you experience push-back to any of the library-related actions above at your branch, let the union know!
want to do more?
- Attend a Migra watch training – learn how to do good reporting. Held regularly by Pilsen Unidos por Nuestro Orgullo (PUÑO)
https://bit.ly/migrawatchtraining - Bring zines/etc to Little Free Libraries, and other drop-off points.
- Volunteer for ICIRR Court Watch (a few hours a month) – email icirrcourtwatch@gmail.com
- Attend rapid response trainings to connect to others doing work in your neighborhood.
- Create a neighbor-to-neighbor network in your neighborhood
- Donate to organizations like Street Vendor Association, providing critical support.
- More ideas in Block Club: Look For The Helpers: How Chicagoans Are Supporting Their Neighbors Amid ICE Raids
- Follow + boost local rapid response and community defense groups on social media – Note: Facebook has started shutting down some groups that have been reporting on ICE
This is not an exhaustive list – don’t see your area? Search Google or Instagram. For the latter, start with these accounts:
Illinois
ICIRR @icirr_il
Southwest
Southwest Rapid Response: @southwestrapidresponse
Brighton Park Neighborhood Council: @bpncchicago
South
Chicago Far South Rapid Response: @chicagofarsouthrapidresponse
Southeast Side Rapid Response: @serapidresponse
West
La Villita (Little Village) Se Defiende: @lavillitasedefiende
Berwyn-Cicero Rapid Response Network: @berwyncicerorapidresponse
Northwest
Northwest Side Rapid Response: @northwestsiderrt
North
Protect Rogers Park: @protectrp_
Photos of whistle kit zines are from Pilsen Arts Community House.