Today, October 19, 2023, there was a protest held in Brighton Park in reaction to the Mayor’s proposal to set up a temporary shelter at 38th and California to house the influx of asylum seekers to our city. Alderwoman Julia Ramirez and her staffer chose to attend the protest, in a good faith effort to hear people’s concerns and respond to them. However, Ald. Ramirez had to be escorted away from the location by police after being physically assaulted. Her staffer was also assaulted, and ended up in the hospital.

Welcoming new arrivals requires a high level of city and community collaboration, smooth and comprehensive systems and procedures, which have been lacking since our new neighbors have arrived. Understandably, many residents have anxieties about how our city’s resources can provide for everyone– established community members and new migrants alike– when so many of us are already struggling. Many people feel like their voices are not being heard, and went out today in protest to express their concerns. Ald. Ramirez went out to listen, but was met with violence. This violence does not achieve anything except more divisiveness and chaos. Violence against our neighbors and leaders will not help our communities reach solutions and moves us further away from ensuring that everyone’s needs are met.

We condemn the violence against Ald. Ramirez and her staffer.

We join community calls for greater transparency from the Johnson administration. Our community has long been divested from and decisions have long been made for us, without us, by previous aldermen and mayors alike. We call on Mayor Johnson to fulfill his campaign promises of co-governance, transparency and investments in our communities.

We call on Mayor Johnson to follow Ald. Ramirez’s lead in engaging our communities, as she canvassed Brighton Park to talk to residents directly shortly after learning about the Mayor’s plans. We call for more support and resources to alderpersons who seek to collaborate with community in this way. We call on our neighbors to meet these alders with mutual respect, and without resorting to violence.

We stand with Ald. Ramirez and commend her bravery and efforts at transparency and problem-solving. We are heartbroken and furious that her willingness to hear her constituents’ concerns put her in harm’s way. We believe that residents and elected representatives of our city can work together to take care of our people, including protecting our newest residents through this period of adjustment. We believe we are better than the demonstration of hatred that we experienced today.