\u201cI pledge to defend my community against mass deportation!\u201d chanted 500 people in unison, during the Northwest Side Progressives meeting at Roosevelt High School on Nov. 16.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chicagoans are preparing to help their neighbors against President-Elect Donald Trump\u2019s Project 2025, the MAGA blueprint for action against immigration, abortion rights, environmental regulations and many progressive policies. Citizens and government officials, such as Alder Jessie Fuentes (26th<\/sup>), Alder Carlos Ramirez Rosa (35th<\/sup>), Senator Omar Aquino (2nd<\/sup>), and State Representative Lilian Jim\u00e9nez (4th<\/sup>), among others, outlined what local, state and federal actors can do to protect their communities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The meeting was hosted by United Northwest Side, an independent political organization working to improve government transparency, end environmental racism, increase affordable housing, attain fair wages, better education and make their neighborhoods safer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI came because, like many people in my neighborhood, I was concerned about the outcome of the elections, it wasn\u2019t what I was hoping for. I want to start focusing on things that I can do to take my own power back,\u201d said Heather Bannon, a volunteer at the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During this public meeting, citizens divided into 10 breakout groups concerning immigration, housing, community safety, environment, gender justice, democracy, education, economic justice, healthcare and international security. With motivation and energy, attendees promised to get to work to fight back against what they consider an oppressive administration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPeople!\u201d \u201cPower!\u201d \u201cPeople!\u201d \u201cPower!\u201d chanted the crowd along with the 8th<\/sup> district Cook County Commissioner Anthony Quezada. \u201cDue to the extremist nature of Trump\u2019s far-right administration and their project 2025 playbook, we must consider the safety and well-being of many communities,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Project 2025<\/a> is a conservative policy roadmap for the new Trump administration produced by the Heritage Foundation. The many proposals include mass deportation, weakening the FBI and Department of Justice, expanding non-renewable energy production, removing the Department of Education, and cutting government spending. Although Trump has distanced himself from the project, MAGA allies admitted<\/a>, after Trump won the White House on Nov. 8, that Project 2025 will be implemented, according to the Independent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Illinois and Chicago are heavily Democrat and already have many policies in place they say protect people, for example, the codification of reproductive health care<\/a> or sanctuary city<\/a> status. Government officials promised they would continue working toward policies already underway, such as the earn income tax credit<\/a> expansion, the child tax credit<\/a>, protecting the immigrant community, expanding Medicaid, TDVL<\/a> driver’s licenses, and the 1115 waiver.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re setting a model of what a blue wave could look like and what a progressive agenda needs to be,\u201d said Aquino. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The attendees sought to know how to fight back against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), especially in schools. The principal of Roosevelt High School, Daniel M. Kramer, testified that his students were traumatized by last week\u2019s election. Gayle Hammer, a teacher at DeWitt Clinton Elementary School, also expressed that some of her students feared Trump\u2019s policies. \u201cOne of my students was feeling sad because her parents told her they might have to move back to Venezuela,\u201d said Hammer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Schools are a safe space for students. ICE is not allowed inside, school administrators reminded the crowd. Moreover, the Chicago Police Department should not have any communication with immigration authorities, a benefit gained from the sanctuary city status. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTrump doesn\u2019t care about laws or politics, and they\u2019re going to go strong against immigrants,\u201d said Mildred Ponce de Leon, an attendee, \u201cso, do we have a plan to be there for those who will be rounded up?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Local community leaders, especially the ICIRR<\/a> and Palenque LSNA<\/a>, are designing a roadmap on how to fight against mass deportation and protect individuals vulnerable to expulsion. Rapid response teams, community defense committees and a family support hotline are set up and will be further developed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n