FIGHT THE POWER — The Weekly Opine

Trump moving on Chicago may turn out to be a bridge-too-far turning point. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

On the frontline vs. ICE

It wasn’t until earlier this summer that I became aware there is an ICE detention facility in the neighboring village of Broadview. Situated a mere 12.5 miles from downtown Chicago, and less than 10 minutes from where I live, it was a no-brainer for me to, at some point, wander over to take photos of the building for future opine use. In no rush, I had not gone over to check out the facility.

But then Trump announced he would attempt to quell violence in Chicago (violence already in sustained reverse compared to prior years) and simultaneously increase ICE deportations of migrants in the Chicago area. Hence, the nearby ICE center came into sharper focus. News reporting earlier this week pointed to this weekend as the time when Trump’s “Brownshirts” would intensify efforts to round up brown people. Renewed protests decrying the kidnapping of migrants and American citizens were expected to take place throughout Chicagoland beginning Friday.

Chicago’s big, legacy media were on scene Friday morning. So was The Weekly Opine. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

So, I decided to head over early Friday morning to capture “beauty” shots of the ICE building. I wasn’t expecting to encounter protesters at 7:45 a.m. As a journalist, I was in for a pleasant surprise.

Approaching the building, about a block away, I was met by a heavy local police presence and the requisite barricades. There was no place to park. Fortunately, I had my media credential with me (along with copies of my birth certificate and social security card). Flashing my credential, I asked an “Officer Friendly” where media parking was. He directed me to turn around and then park along a “No Parking” area with other media cars and SUVs. It saved me from parking much further away, across a busy street, with what would have been a long walk back to the protest area.

Many of Chicago’s mainstream media were in attendance – WGN-TV, Fox 32, ABC7, CBS2, NBC5 – along with a variety of independent media, bloggers, vloggers and podcasters. And helicopters circling overhead. The Weekly Opine felt right at home.

ICE blocked

After recording a short self-video introducing myself and the location, I settled in. A group sang songs as people joined in. Others milled about chanting. I decided to find someone to interview. After looking the crowd over, I approached an older man and without hesitation he agreed to speak with me.

(L) Me in front of the ICE detention center. (R) Daniel gave a great interview. (Photos credit The Weekly Opine)

Daniel appeared to be at least in his upper-60s, easily could be in his 70s. He was thoughtful and was the type of informed voter we need more of. With enough Daniels, Trump/MAGA would never have been elected. Daniel and a small group have been coming to the ICE facility for 19 years on Fridays, offering support to people being detained by ICE. He is satisfied with the response from Illinois officials regarding Trump’s bullying and believes the key is getting out the vote in 2026 and 2028. But he fears Trump and Republicans will steal the election.

Finished interviewing Daniel, I eased back and forth among the crowd of about 200 people. After about 30 minutes, I decided to leave. Walking across the driveway entrance to the ICE facility, I struck gold. Four women quickly sat down in front of the driveway as a black ICE SUV approached. The vehicle intended to enter the driveway. The women sat firm. This started a brief standoff. Local police asked the women to clear a path for the vehicle. The women did not move an inch. What began as a handful of women sitting defiantly quickly grew to dozens of protesters sitting, kneeling and standing, refusing to budge as they sang “We shall not be moved!” This went on for five minutes.

Local police standing in front of the ICE vehicle face protesters who refused to give ground. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

When the ICE SUV began slowly backing up cheering and clapping rose up from the crowd. Resistance does work. As the SUV turned around and slinked away, it was blasted with chants of “ICE is scared!” along with obligatory F-bombs. Satisfied, I returned to my car and drove home.

3 days of resistance

Friday was Day Three of my resistance this week.

On Wednesday, I called the U.S. Capitol to speak with the office of a congressman I know from my time serving on a board at Indiana University. The congressman wasn’t available, so I gave his staff member an earful requesting that Rep. Jefferson Shreve (R-Ind.) vote “yes” regarding the discharge petition to release the Epstein files. I implored Shreve to stand up for Epstein’s victims and not protect pedophiles. In other words, Shreve should demonstrate he knows right from wrong.

ICE vehicle drives away from detention center after being turned back by protesters in suburban Chicago. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

Thursday, I called the three House Republican representatives from Illinois, Mike Bost, Mary Miller, and Darin LaHood, with the same demand. And I called America’s top fake Christian, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and left the same message.

ICE, the Epstein files, and the stunning, absolute derangement displayed by RFK Jr. during his appearance before the Senate this week are enough to make you dizzy.

RFK Jr. is giving Trump stiff competition for the title “World’s Most Dangerous Person.” If this was doubles, (a relevant analogy since the U.S. Open tennis tournament is ongoing), the duo of Trump/RFK Jr. would be the number one seed in a comparison of which combo is most dangerous to the world. Trump/RFK Jr. is the most dangerous pair, more so than Putin/Xi, more so than Kim Jong Un/Putin, more so than Netanyahu/Trump.

Keep fighting, keep resisting…