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In cities nationwide, including the Chicago area, protests erupted on Saturday in response to recent shootings by immigration agents.
This day marked a month since Renee Good was tragically killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, one of the multiple fatalities involving federal agents.
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Across Chicago, communities came together to pay tribute to individuals who have lost their lives at the hands of federal agents.
“This reflects the current climate we face with ICE and its assaults on our community,” expressed Cristobal Cavazos, executive director of Casa DuPage Workers Center. “The aggression and violence we’re witnessing are alarming.”
At Casa DuPage Workers Center in Wheaton, community members and volunteers gathered to construct and decorate altars dedicated to those who have died in federal agent incidents, as immigration enforcement continues across the nation.
“We’re creating some paper flowers, ‘papel picado,’ and doing paintings to not only keep their memories alive, but items that represented them and the fights they were doing before they passed,” Casa DuPage Workers Center volunteer Samantha Valdez said.
Among those who were honored include Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, and Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, who was killed last September in Franklin Park, Illinois.
The partner of Villegas-Gonzalez, Blanca Mora, also attended the event. In Spanish, through tears, she thanked the community for supporting her while her family grieves.
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On Saturday, the family of Renee Good also honored their loved one in Minnesota. Becca Good released a statement, saying in part, “Renee was not the first person killed, and she was not the last… their families are hurting just like mine, even if they don’t look like mine. They are neighbors, friends, coworkers, classmates. And we must also know their names. Because this shouldn’t happen to anyone.”
Over at Federal Plaza in downtown Chicago, demonstrators gathered to stand in solidarity with communities that have been impacted.
“ICE is attacking most vulnerable in our community,” portester Kasia Merlak said. “If we don’t stand up for them, If we’re not defending our neighbors, then can we even call ourselves good neighbors?”
The finished altars will then be moved to Franklin Park. They will be displayed in the same area where Villegas-Gonzalez was killed.
Also on Saturday, there was a big show of support for the owners of the Garfield Ridge coffee shop, “A Cup Of Joe.”
The Villarreal family has been vocal about their disapproval of ICE operations in Chicago. They say that’s led to harassment and a call for protests outside the business Saturday.
However, ABC7 crews found a long line of supporters.
In a statement, the Villarreal family said canceling their business for simply “expressing their right to freedom of speech is un-American.”
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