From the Illinois League of Women Voters, a “non-partisan” organization:
The LWV of Illinois has a small taskforce to help our members take action if and when federal troops are deployed to our state. While a shared resource is being compiled, please see the information below that you can share with your members. Please also reference the press release sent on Friday regarding LWVIL’s position on military deployment. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t6liTh9p1URg9Bn5wLt_hKDKgLpu0nos/view?usp=sharing
INTENSIVE DEPLOYMENT OF ICE AGENTS IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS:
The LWV of Illinois has a small taskforce to help our members take action if and when federal troops are deployed to our state. While a shared resource is being compiled, please see the information below that you can share with your members. Please also reference the press release sent on Friday regarding LWVIL’s position on military deployment. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t6liTh9p1URg9Bn5wLt_hKDKgLpu0nos/view?usp=sharing
INTENSIVE DEPLOYMENT OF ICE AGENTS IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS:
- The US Dept of Homeland Security has indicated that an intensive deployment of ICE agents will be stationed at the Great Lakes Navel Base in North Chicago.
- There has been evidence of a build up of resources at the base and eye witnesses of equipment being sent to this location.
- LWVIL’s immigration partner, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant Rights (ICIRR), is establishing a phone tree that will allow it to rapidly mobilize grassroots protests and rallies in Chicago within 24 hours of when agents appear on the streets. LWVIL will send a notice to members as soon as we receive word of protests/rallies. Please watch your emails and League In Action alerts for details.
- The planned meeting place for the protest is at the intersection of Michigan Ave and Ida B Wells.
We are recommending the following:
- Alert your members to stand ready to respond
- Activate rapid response teams
- Distribute Know Your Rights Materials
- Create a call tree of your own to activate interested members about protests
- For communities on or near train lines, plan to meet up and with others and commute via train to the event. Remember that while other LWV Leagues will be present, finding them in a crowd can be problematic. We recommend a buddy-system to ensure our members’ safety.
- Create your signs now. Simple messaging for an ICE deployment can include:
- No to ICE
- Respect Due Process
- Due Process is a Right
- The ACLU is having a virtual town hall on September 3 at 12:00 noon. Please see registration for this event here. [Sorry this is up too late.]
- See LWV’s recommendations for safe and peaceful protests. Members are discouraged from engaging with the military. https://www.lwv.org/league-management/advocacy-litigation/protest-safety-guidance
- Please also note that “peaceful protest” protections under the Cook County State’s Attorney have been revoked by the newly elected State’s Attorney. We encourage members not to engage with law enforcement and to refrain from language or actions that are targeted at officials and which might be construed as intentionally inciteful or as an assault to their person or position.
