Nearly 130 Illinois officials, including Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, signed onto a letter condemning a recent federal indictment charging six people that includes local officials who protested outside of an immigration processing facility in suburban Broadview.
Among the signatories are state Rep. Hoan Huynh, who last week accused federal agents of pointing a gun at him and staffers, and Ald. Jessie Fuentes (26th), who is suing federal agents for handcuffing her at a Humboldt Park hospital when she asked for a warrant after one of her constituents was detained. Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, has faced chemical agents while protesting at the Broadview ICE facility, was also among those who signed onto the letter.
The letter comes a day after federal prosecutors in Chicago announced — and faced swift criticism for — grand jury indictments alleging six people conspired to impede a federal officer in Broadview during a Sept. 26 protest outside the ICE facility in the southwest suburban town.
Among the charged are congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh, 26; Catherine Sharp, 29, who is running for a Cook County Board seat and serves as chief of staff to Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th); Brian Straw, 38, an Oak Park trustee; and Michael Rabbitt, 62, a 45th Ward Democratic committeeperson. Also charged are Andre Martin, 27, and Joselyn Walsh, 31.
The letter signees say the charges follow a “disturbing national pattern” that includes the indictment of U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver in New Jersey, charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey, as well as “dozens of others who have challenged the Trump administration.”
“Federal prosecutors are being weaponized to punish political opponents and silence dissent,” the letter reads. “The politicization of our justice system crosses a fundamental line that should alarm anyone who cares about democracy and the rule of law. This is not what democracy looks like, and we cannot accept it as normal.”
White House officials deferred comment to the U.S. Department of Justice, which didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
The letter also includes signatures from 30 members of the Illinois General Assembly, 11 from the Cook County Board and 24 members of the Chicago City Council, as well as others.
The signees of the letter say they “stand with” those charged as well as “every resident who speaks out against what this administration is doing to our communities.”
“Masked ICE agents have transformed everyday life for thousands of our constituents,” the letter reads. “Parents won’t send their kids to school, workers are choosing to stay home, and families are skipping doctors’ appointments for fear of being picked up off the street. Nothing about this makes our communities safer.”
An initial appearance and arraignment for the group charged in the indictment has been set for Nov. 5 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Heather McShain.