"Welcome to "Movement Memos," a Truthout podcast about organizing, solidarity, and the work of making change. I'm your host, writer and organizer Kelly Hayes. Today, we are talking about Chicago, and what organizers here are up against as waves of federal agents continue to invade the Chicagoland area and attack our neighbors. After declaring war on the city of Chicago with an AI slop image styled after the film Apocalypse Now,"
"Donald Trump recently rolled back plans to send the National Guard to our city, blaming uncooperative officials and so-called "professional agitators" for making Chicago "hostile" to his vision. But while Trump is now redirecting his fascist military theatrics to Memphis, a major Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation is still being deployed in our city and the surrounding area. While ICE agents in Chicago are not being flanked by the National Guard, they are still causing a great deal of harm."
Chicago faces escalating federal interference as plans to deploy the National Guard were rolled back while large ICE operations continue across the city and suburbs. Federal rhetoric framed Chicago as "hostile" and blamed local officials and alleged agitators. ICE activity has included lethal force, as in the killing of Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez in Franklin Park. Local organizers emphasize that repression breeds resistance and call for solidarity, mutual aid, and community defense against raids and militarized tactics. Conversations stress the need to document abuses, support affected families, coordinate rapid response, and sustain political organizing to protect immigrant and community safety.
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