PEORIA, Ill.—Activists spoke out at the Peoria City Council meeting Tuesday, Jan. 13, urging Mayor Rita Ali and council members to keep residents safe in the event that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) brings its brutal enforcement tactics to Peoria.
Hind Abi-Akar, former city council candidate and member of Peoria for Palestine, spoke first when the council opened the floor for public comment.
She alluded to the murder of Renee Good by ICE agents last week in Minneapolis. “If agents of the federal government can murder a 37-year-old woman in broad daylight,” Abi-Akar said, “they can murder you, and anyone here.
“Even if Trump and his vice president and his Secretary of Homeland Security all claim…that Renee Good was trying to kill the agent, who acted in self-defense, they could make up the same lie about you and about anyone here,” she said.
Abi-Akar implored the council and Chief of Police Eric Echivarria to take action to protect Peorians from ICE activity should the agency increase its presence here.
“Madam Mayor, council members, Chief Echevarria: What are your plans to protect us if or when ICE attacks the citizens of Peoria?” she asked. “What is our safety net?
“We need you,” Abi-Akar said. “We need your leadership.”
Speaking next was Peoria resident Estrella Diaz.
“I know that you think I’m worrying or whatnot,” Diaz said, “but the time for worrying is now. They’re attacking U.S. citizens and I think we should really, really pay attention.”
In addition to her concerns about ICE, she also voiced opposition to the city contracting with Axon Enterprise. Axon markets gear like Tasers and body cameras as well as evidence management software for law enforcement.
“That company is the same company that works with Homeland Security, DHS,” Diaz said. “And they also work with Israel who, as you know, uses them for surveillance, and they are able to use that data to track Palestinians”
Diaz pleaded with the council to heed her call. “The things that we were worried about are starting to happen now,” she said. “So please look into this.”
Darcie Cady, who organized a vigil in remembrance of Good at the intersection of Main and University in Peoria last Friday, was next to address the council.
“I coordinat[ed] with community constituents, leaders, fellow advocates and creat[ed] an event, a vigil, in honor of Renee Good as well as other victims of ICE-related violence,” Cady said. “It was over 200 people coordinating with less than 24 hours to state their concerns…a beautiful showing of love and support.”
Cady called out the lack of response from Ali and the council. “That’s what the community did,” she said. “But I feel like it was deeply lacking from leadership.”
At the vigil, Cady said a group of mothers asked her what they should do if ICE shows up at their kids’ schools. “They were looking at me as if I was one of you,” Cady said to the council members.
After the meeting, the activists had more to say.
“I feel that each and every one of us can be a victim,” Abi-Akar said. “Because we see, really, I feel, indiscriminate attacks by ICE.”
Abi-Akar also mentioned ICE recruitment tactics. “The way they are recruiting is terrifying,” she said. “They are recruiting people who have a specific mindset that all the rest of us are somehow not good for the country.”
People’s World published an article last year detailing how ICE is using Nazi-esque propaganda as a recruiting tool.
“When you are guided by a very narrow narrative and very narrow set of beliefs, you will consider everyone an enemy,” Abi-Akar said.
“I was really fortunate to see the community come out in unity and solidarity,” Cady said. “That’s also what inspired us to come out tonight, there were so many people, particularly parents very concerned for their children.
“Something that’s an important takeaway is these parents have children who are natural-born citizens, and yet the fear that’s been instilled by what we’re seeing all across the country leading up to Renee Good’s murder has shown us that everyone’s life is in jeopardy,” she said.
Both Cady and Abi-Akar showed cautious but reserved optimism that the mayor and council would heed their call.
“I always try to remain hopeful,” Cady said. “I hope that there is continued dialogue.”
“I am hopeful,” Abi-Akar said, “But not very much.”
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