Donald Trump Has Made Chicago a Target. But Residents Are Rising Up.

Despite the aggressive tactics of the feds, Chicagoans are responding peacefully.

Illustration by Riley Levine

Here’s what we know: About a quarter-million Chicagoans showed up for No Kings Day rallies in the city on Saturday.

Here’s what we don’t know: How many people the feds have arrested or detained in this city. We don’t know how many they’ve arrested anywhere. ICE no longer shares data with Americans. The online data portal is no longer updated. Private groups are trying to piece together the facts, but dishonest press releases from the government are meant to reinforce their power, rather than to share facts with the public.

The Trump administration’s opacity hides its lawlessness. Recall that some 1,800 migrants held in that terrible prison camp in the Florida Everglades simply disappeared. Efforts to find out what happened to these men continue, but the government will not cooperate. According to the Miami Herald, lawyers cannot find their clients. Disappeared. In America.

On our streets — our streets — Americans citizens have been tased and had our necks knelt upon like George Floyd. We’ve been held outside in the rain in our underwear, we’ve had the doors to their homes blown off, we’ve had to watch as armed men in camo gear zip tie our children. U.S. citizens. We are not being protected by our government; we are being attacked.

ProPublica found more than 170 American citizens held in captivity. Not for crimes. But on suspicion that we might not be Americans. While in detention, reporters found incidents where Americans were kicked and dragged and otherwise abused. Many were not allowed to contact their families or their attorneys for more than 24 hours.

Americans are also held when ICE accuses us of impeding their work. But in example after example, those accusations are lies. When the evidence is finally heard, ICE’s claims don’t hold up. In fact, more often than not, if you take a picture when ICE is aiming a gun at you, you are the one that gets arrested.

Chicago Is Ground Zero

This is America today. And right now, ground zero is Chicago. One man was murdered by ICE here. Others have been shot. Many have been gassed or shot with non-lethal ammunition. Cars have been rammed by ICE vehicles. A priest attacked and mocked by federal agents. ICE claims to have arrested more than 1,500 people here. Those claims cannot be verified.

Last week a judge’s enjoined ICE from attacking the press and protestors without cause or warning. Ignoring her order, without warning or provocation, ICE agents against tear-gassed protestors and the press. That led the judge this week to order ICE to wear body cameras going forward.

The government, using its Palantir software, has the ability to identify and arrest those who are violating their visa status and who have committed crimes. Instead, it is choosing to attack the whole city.

Chicagoans are not having it. We are doing what we can to protect each other. By now, most of us know what rights we still have, and how to assert them. We are documenting the occupation. Reporters are embedded with protesters. The truth is coming out.

And the truth is, that despite the aggressive tactics of the feds, Chicagoans are responding peacefully. I see this everyday. Now even the New York Times is reporting it. “Residents have begun forming volunteer groups to monitor their neighborhoods for federal immigration agents,” the reported, “Others honk their horns or blow whistles when they see agents nearby.”

The video evidence leaves no doubt. Armed ICE agents in camo gear and masks can be seen throwing tear gas canisters at peaceful citizens guilty of nothing except bearing witness and taking pictures.

Instead of a city subdued, Trump faces a city determined to be free. Instead of city eager to believe his lies he faces a city determined to make sure the truth comes out. And, as government violence escalates and Chicagoans continue to resist, Americans everywhere are inspired.

This may be the city where American fascism dies.

Edwin Eisendrath hosts “It’s the Democracy, Stupid” on Lincoln Square and “The Big Picture” on WCPT820 AM/ Heartland Signal. You can follow him on BlueSky at eisendrath.net and Substack at “It’s the Democracy, Stupid.” Read the original column here.

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