The ILS Steering Committee has endorsed Jessica Biggs for Chicago School Board president, and Karen Zaccor for district 4A. See here for additional information. We meeting with candidates for district 2B on October 15 (see under Events) and hope to make an endorsement for that race shortly after. (We’re not making an endorsement for district 4B since Ellen Rosenfeld is running unopposed and she declined to complete the questionnaire we sent her.)
Category: Uncategorized
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Protect the vote!
On Sept. 28, Pete Hegseth ordered the Pentagon to interfere in U.S. elections on the pretext of defending against foreign actors. And we know that Trump has not ruled out sending National Guard troops or federal law enforcement to polling locations for the midterms. This is getting scary. If you’re interested in being a poll watcher in Wisconsin or Michigan, go here.
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Sanctuary Stories
“Sanctuary Stories” is a wonderful theatrical performance telling real immigrant stories. It will be at the Athenaeum Theatre from October 9 through 18. See here for info and tickets.
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Immigrant protection: one small step
ILS immigration committee chair Wendy Siegel (shown at microphone) gave testimony at the September 22 meeting of the Chicago City Council’s Committee on Contracting Oversight and Equity. She and members Noelle Clennon and Josie Raimond spoke in support of amending Municipal Code Chapter 2-92 by adding a new Section 2-92-587, entitled “Immigration Enforcement.” This new ordinance would essentially require city contractors to disclose any dealings with ICE and other federal immigration agencies. The measure passed both the committee and, the following day, the full City Council.
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CPD superintendent search
This article, from the Tribune, notes that “Chicagoans have broad demands as search for next CPD superintendent hits halfway mark.” One of the Chicagoans quoted is ILS member Noelle Clennon.
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Immigration Enforcement Disclosure Ordinance
The countdown to pass the Immigration Enforcement Disclosure Ordinance is happening now! This is the ordinance that would require any company contracting with the City of Chicago to disclose whether it has also profited from immigration enforcement work — including contracts with ICE or Border Patrol. It’s not a ban and doesn’t cancel any existing contract. It simply requires transparency. Please call your alderperson this week and ask them to vote “YES”. The ordinance will be called before the Committee on Contracting and Equity on September 22nd and if it passes, it will go to the full City Council the next day, on September 23rd!
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Midterm election toolkit
The Indivisible Chicago Alliance Comm Team (Laura Tanner, Megan Ramelli, and Madeline Baum) has put together an amazing “Toolkit” for the Midterms which include messaging and graphics. Everyone should familiarize yourself with this toolkit as it provides outstanding resources for all of our communications. Check it out here.
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Indivisible (almost) in the news
This past Sunday (Aug. 30), more than 50 volunteers from Indivisible chapters in the Chicago area braved the rain to travel to Benton Harbor, Michigan, and knock on doors. What made this outing special was a news team from MS Now tagging along—observing, video recording, and conducting interviews. Their coverage is available on YouTube here. They concentrate on the canvassing app most of us were using (Ground Truth, through Swing Left) and, surprisingly, don’t even mention Indivisible!
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New CPD Superintendent
The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) has begun the process of identifying candidates to serve as Chicago’s next Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.
It is critical that we let the CCPSA know what qualities and expertise we want the new superintendent to have, and what public safety and policing issues we want them to prioritize. Here’s how you can do that:
- Complete the Community Feedback Form
- Attend a Listening Session
The CCPSA was created to give communities a stronger voice in police oversight. Don’t miss this opportunity to make sure your voice is heard!
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What’s happening with the mayor’s “ICE on Notice” executive order?
City Council’s Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights hosted a hearing Friday, July 17, looking into Mayor Brandon Johnson’s ICE on Notice executive order and recent arrests of street vendors by Chicago police. Two ILS members, Wendy Siegel and Noelle Clennon from our immigration committee, attended and gave testimony. Noelle was quoted in this Block Club article about the meeting! We also heard from Heather Cherone, reporter for WTTW, that members of the public who want to report an illegal immigration action to CPD can follow the procedure here.