BCC NEWS Monday, Sep 04, 2023

Hi Community!

It's been a while since we've checked in with many of you. We've been busy at school board meetings, town halls, community meetings and everything in between— demanding the immediate support of our city and state governments to address the systemic racism that created the inequities that Black Chicagoans live with.

Last weekend 16 Black children were shot. Black unemployment rate is high and the literacy rate is low! Until the above disparities are addressed and Black residents are prioritized, we say halt housing migrants in or near Black neighborhoods that are still dealing with the impact of redlining, drugs, poverty, violence, and equitable public services.

Read on for updates.

ICE, ICE baby...

What's understood doesn't need to be explained, but still we must make clear that we are not against any individual human being. We are however, for uplifting Black Americans, equity for Black Americans. At present our government is not prioritizing Black Americans who should be first in line. It's unfortunate that this "migrant crisis" will disproportionately, negatively, affect Black people and Black communities. If we don't unite and fight back now, our future as a race will resemble that of the Native American— cast away, forgotten, plagued with crime and drug abuse.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A SANCTUARY CITY?

Sanctuary City - (in North America) a city whose municipal laws tend to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation or prosecution, despite federal immigration law.

Last Wednesday, on Aug 30, 2023, there was a town hall in Hyde Park regarding housing migrants at the Lake Shore Hotel. Many were in dissent and said we should call ice, whom Alderman Andre Vasquez countered, "it's not illegal to seek asylum."

Ald. Vasquez is kind of right. However, there are laws to follow when seeking asylum and many have not followed those laws. Our Federal government is currently able to act on calls about unlawful migrants. Migrants must comply with the Circumvention of Lawful Pathways.

All it means to be a sanctuary city, is that our local officials and local law enforcement will not enforce Federal immigration laws. Not that the Feds won't.

LEGAL GROUNDS FOR CALLING ICE

Under the “Circumvention of Lawful Pathways," which was published on May 16, 2023, anyone who enters the United States between ports of entry or presents at a port of entry without a visa or a pre-scheduled appointment, will be barred from asylum, unless they can prove they applied for asylum in another country during their transit to the border, and they were denied or meet other narrow exceptions. (USIC.gov)

ACT FAST!

The CLP law is currently being challenged with an appeal filed Aug 3, 2023 (East Bay Sanctuary v. Biden). The case is supposed to be fast-tracked which means we have limited time to act, depending on the outcome. Call NOW!!

Regardless of the information you may get that says we can't call ICE, please call anyway!!!!

HOW TO CALL ICE?

Phone #: 1-866-347-2423 (you can remain anonymous)

Reason(s): Violation of visa law per CLP, criminal acts or public safety threats. (Report any and all violations you have seen or experienced yourself.)

Location(s): Provide address of Chicago shelters and/or residential homes.

Sample Script: Hello, I am calling to report immigration violations under the Circumvention of Lawful Pathways. Migrants located at [enter shelter and/or residential address(es) here], did not possess a visa upon entry at the U.S.-Mexico border or did not have pre-scheduled appointment. They were bused here without any documentation checks. They are being issued driver's licenses and id's without any documentation. It is a public safety threat to not know the true identity and/or age of newly arrived persons in our country.

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The above is just a sample. Please include any other violations you are aware of-- drugs prostitution, sex trafficking, theft, vandalism, etc.

MAKE THE CALL! You can remain anonymous.

You can also submit your tip(s) online: https://www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form

SOS: Save Our School Campaign

On May 4, 2023, the City of Chicago held a town hall meeting to tell South Shore residents, 500 or more migrants would be housed in the old South Shore High School. The community was not having it! Even so, as we've seen around the city, community dissent is not enough to stop City plans.

That's why two community members acted immediately, filing a lawsuit against the City of Chicago and the Chicago Board of Education, on May 10, 2023.

We are aware that there are other groups and individuals with personal agendas and are acting as such. This lawsuit and the actions surrounding it, is a community issue, requiring the entire community to come together in UNITY, SOLIDARITY and COMMUNITY. We've held community meetings and invite all to join us in this fight. What we don't need, are people holding separate events, inviting the Mayor, or any other actions counter-productive to the goal. For too long have the powers that be laughed at our community, for the simple reason that we can't unite. Please, let's not prove them right.

South Shore residents, Natasha Dunn and J. Darnell Jones of The South Shore Park Neighbors Association have a pending lawsuit against the City of Chicago and the Board of Education, to prevent migrants from being housed in a building that was promised to the community and we have a large population who have to travel outside of their community to go to school. We want this school given to the community.

The case is currently ongoing and we have a court date of September 14, 2023. We paid 2,500$ to get the case going, but have no idea how long it will last. Of the 2,500$ we have raised just over 500$ in the Go Fund Me and another 1,000$ from neighbors— BIG THANK YOU, to those who have helped!! We NEED your support, we can't fight this battle alone. We are in this TOGETHER.

To support please make a tax-deductible donation to the Go Fund Me legal fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/south-shore-residents-legal-and-building-fund

Community Call-To-Action

We are calling for a moratorium on using closed public schools and public facilities, to house migrants, especially facilities that currently provide services for youth, seniors and those with disabilities.

• Taylor Park is OFF LIMITS. A couple of weeks ago we joined the community at Taylor Park to discuss the community's role in preventing Taylor Park from becoming a migrant shelter.

  • Taylor Park is on Chicago Housing Authority public land. Unless the city is offering to put Black families back, it cannot be used for migrants.

• Closed Schools are OFF LIMITS. No housing should be allowed in any closed or "phased out" public school, specifically South Shore High School.

Elected School Board News

In the elected school board law, there is a provision that allows for a committee for non-citizen parents. Therefore, we are calling for the state law to add a Black Student Achievement Committee, to address to address the longstanding racial inequities that our community has endured within the public school system. In collaboration with Illinois African Americans For Equitable Redistricting (IAAFER), we are advocating for an equitable elected school board map and a standing committee for Black student achievement. More info: Proposed Map, IAAFER Presentation

• Call your State Rep, alderman and senator to push them to support Black Student Achievement committee.

New Website

We have a new website! Please visit to learn more about our work and how you can get involved! https://bccillinois.org

Pass It On!

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