In the wake of the Trump administration’s wave of immigration arrests in Chicago, hundreds of protesters rallied in Little Village on Saturday, calling for community solidarity and raising awareness about immigrant rights.
“Our people are resilient, and they fight back. … When the worst of times hit us, we come together to support each other, and that’s what today is about,” said state Sen. Celina Villanueva, D-Chicago, a Little Village resident, at a news conference before the rally.
Protesters packed into La Villita Park to listen to community leaders and activists speak. Then they marched from the park around Little Village, chanting and carrying hand-drawn posters and holding up Mexican flags.
The rally was organized by 30 groups from across the city, with the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and the U.S. Palestinian Community Network as the main coordinators.
The Trump administration has carried out a blitz of operations in the Chicago area in the last two weeks in attempts to fulfill the president’s campaign promises to arrest and deport immigrants who are living in the country without legal status. Trump has claimed federal agents are targeting dangerous criminals, but attorneys working with detainees, and a review of known cases, show many of those arrested did not have criminal records.
Chicago officials say there have been more than 100 arrests in the city since Trump took office.
Mike Moreno, owner of Moreno’s Liquors in Little Village, said Latinos need to “stand in unity” and “fight for our rights.”
Since the arrests, customers have come into his business “crying and scared,” he said.
“It’s extremely disheartening to see what has been happening to families. I refuse to allow something like this to stop us as a people,” Moreno said. “We are stronger together.”
One protester, who declined to give her name due to safety concerns, has lived in Little Village for 30 years.
“Last week, 26th Street was empty. People were afraid to do the essentials — do laundry, go to school. The kids were afraid,” she said.
Through protest, the community “needs to stand up for each other” and give “voice to those who are suffering,” she said.
Cristina Baez, 50, from Glen Ellyn, carried a sign that read “We Deserve Respect. We have Rights. No to Deportations. No to Raids.”
“I have a family, husband, kids, and they are really scared about what happened with deportations,” Baez said. “We lived here for more than 30 years, and I don’t feel safe here.”
David Villegas, 37, grew up in Little Village and heard about the deportation threats on Spanish-language television and from loved ones. He felt “compelled to do something about it,” he said.
Despite the fear that came along with the immigration arrests, Villegas sees a “glimpse of hope” if people continue to organize.
“For me, [protesting] is being active, to help out with people who are doing this work,” he said.
Amparo Garcia, 35, is from Elgin but travels to Chicago every Saturday to engage with the city’s activists and posts about what she learns on Facebook.
The best way to respond to the raids is to raise awareness of immigrant rights, she said. Immigrants don’t have to open the door and can invoke their Fifth Amendment rights by remaining silent.
“We know that Little Village has been attacked by ICE agents. We want to let the people know that we are with them,” she said.
Contributing: Adriana Cardona-Maguigad, Elvia Malagón