Vigils, Protests Held In Western Suburbs As ICE Raids Loom

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — On Friday night, people throughout Chicago's western suburbs stood quietly during candlelight vigils to silently shout their protest against immigrant detention camps in the United States. Residents in Downers Grove, Naperville, Glen Ellyn, Oak Park, Elmhurst and surrounding suburbs joined the nationwide "Lights for Liberty Vigil" and held other protests against Trump's immigration agenda as Immigration and Customs Enforcement Raids loomed in cities throughout the country.

In Aurora, seven wooden crosses stood to represent each of the children who have died while being detained by ICE. The crosses were made by Aurora resident Greg Zanis, who has made crosses to commemorate tragedies throughout the U.S., including the Columbine shooting, the Las Vegas shooting, and the shooting at Henry Pratt Manufacturing in Aurora.

The crosses, which also made appearances at McHenry County's protest and Daley Plaza's rally for immigration reform Saturday, stood as a somber reminder of the young lives lost in detention camps, something that spurred many activists to come out Friday.

After the Lights for Liberty Vigil in Downers Grove State Rep. Anne Stava-Murray (D-81) shared photos of attendees and images of her own children, along with some thoughts as she reflected on the event.

"It's not lost on me that I was granted the simple pleasure of giving my children hugs during tonight’s Lights for Liberty Vigil; or that my children have access to soap, toothbrushes, a place to sleep, and someone who loves them to care for them. All children deserve these basics," Stava-Murray said.

Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL06) stopped by vigils in Glen Ellyn and Crystal Lake to show his support. Casten, who has been an outspoken proponent for immigration reform, called the current immigration policies, "cruel and ineffective."

Casten also made an appearance in Crystal Lake for another vigil later that evening.

At the Naperville Lights For Liberty Vigil, members of Indivisible DuPage led the crowd in a singalong that recalled the folk songs protesters shared in the 1960s. After singing "Lean on Me," "Imagine," and other uplifting songs, the crowd heard words from Indivisible DuPage member Karen Peck.

"Thousands of families have been torn apart," Peck said. She added,"This is systemized trauma. Dehumanization and abuse."

The Lights for Liberty Vigils, which were part of hundreds held throughout the U.S., were among several other events held over in and around Chicago over the weekend to mobilize opponents of Trump's threatened ICE raids. The raids, which were scheduled to start Sunday, failed to materialize in Chicago and elsewhere.

Nonetheless, Oak Park-River Forest High School teacher and Congressional candidate joined canvassers and members of Pilsen Alliance as they marched through Pilsen, going door-to-door to inform undocumented immigrants of their rights in the event of an ICE raid.

Clark also joined PASO, the West Suburban Action Project, which came out in full force at the Daley Plaza rally and later at an Abolish ICE protest in Broadview at the immigration detention center.

On his Facebook page Clark encouraged people to take action.

Clark shared a photo of those same seven crosses Zanis made in memory of the children who died in detention camps and wrote, "Our children are paying the price for debt that we as adults made by not fighting for true progress."

Read more:

Chicago Quiet As ICE Raids Begin Nationwide

Undocumented Immigrants In Chicago's Suburbs: 'A Better Life'

Watch Rep. Casten speak at the Glen Ellyn Lights For Liberty vigil: