Speak Out-Stand Together

Seeing a mother shot dead on television as she turned her car away from ICE agents — then watching officials insist she had run over an agent — felt like a public act of gaslighting. The refusal of the Justice Department to investigate or to let local authorities pursue charges only deepens that shock. Is this truly the country we claim to be?

This piece isn’t politics; it’s about humanity. These aren’t hardened criminals being quietly processed at the border. They are neighbors — teenagers, longtime residents, people with appointments and children at home — yanked from cars, wrestled to the ground, and frightened into silence. In Chicago, Black Hawk helicopters landed on apartment rooftops, agents rappelled down and woke families in the night using flash bangs, children were zip-tied while they slept, resulting in zero criminal charges. When my 85-year-old Jewish white neighbor was stopped and detained on the way to a hospital appointment, it hit home: this is happening in our neighborhoods. It is happening in our backyards. It is time to speak up and act.

Below are practical, commonsense steps neighbors and community members can take to protect vulnerable people and strengthen the safety net around our streets and families. Keep consent, safety, and confidentiality at the center of every action.

-Secure important documents: Photograph IDs and passports and store encrypted backups. (Phones and cloud services offer secure options for quick retrieval.)

-Know the basics of legal rights: Learn what people are and aren’t required to do during stops, detentions, or home visits from authorities; share trusted resources.

-Build a safety plan together: Map exit routes, identify trusted contacts, set emergency meeting points, and agree on signals or codes to alert neighbors.

-Provide immediate needs: Offer food, water, chargers, transit money, or temporary shelter when it’s safe to do so. Small supplies matter in urgent moments.

-Check in regularly: Short calls or visits reduce isolation and let people know someone is watching out for them.

-Document incidents carefully: Note dates, times, descriptions, witness names, and preserve photos or videos in secure locations or with a trusted third party.

-Offer logistical support: Provide rides, childcare, or accompaniment to appointments and legal meetings when requested.

-Help with paperwork and language access: Assist with forms, translations, and navigating service systems — only with consent.

-Provide financial help: Pool community funds or run small fundraisers to cover immediate needs like medical care, relocation, or legal fees.

-Act as discreet witnesses and advocates: Accompany neighbors to interactions with agencies if they want support; help them contact local organizations that can offer legal or advocacy assistance.

These are practical, nonpartisan acts that protect people and reinforce community resilience. When neighbors stay informed, prepared, and ready to help — quietly, safely, and respectfully — we make our neighborhoods harder to terrorize and easier to protect. Speak with your neighbors about needs and boundaries; coordinate trusted plans; and hold steady to the simple truth: people in our community deserve safety, dignity, and help when they need it.