Thank you to everyone organizing in Charlotte. As we saw in Chicago, you can send them packing, and we know similar efforts are already underway in Charlotte. In Chicago, neighborhood groups held “Know Your Rights” trainings so residents understood what to do if ICE appeared. Volunteers distributed plastic whistles and other noisemakers to alert neighbors and bring witnesses when agents were nearby. Rapid-response teams and community patrols coordinated through encrypted apps and social media to monitor activity and support families in real time. Legal-aid networks connected detained immigrants with attorneys and helped families understand their options. The city even issued policy protections, including an executive order barring the use of certain city-owned properties for federal immigration enforcement.
There are also simple, lawful ways communities can help: business owners can choose not to serve ICE agents food or allow them to use the restroom; hotel and restaurant staff can ask to see a judicial warrant before granting access to private areas; and bystanders can legally record ICE activity, as courts have repeatedly affirmed the public’s right to do. Even small acts (sharing verified information, checking on neighbors, and staying alert) can help keep communities safer.
Stay informed, look out for one another, and remember to protect your friends, loved ones, and community!
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