A Broadview village board meeting Monday night devolved into shouting and ended abruptly when the mayor tried to respond to harsh criticism from protesters upset over her handling of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility in the suburb.
The Broadview facility has become a de facto detention center where detainees are often held for days despite its not being intended to hold people for lengthy periods. Protesters have gathered outside the facility nearly every day since the Trump administration launched its aggressive deportation campaign in September.
Several protesters slammed Mayor Katrina Thompson and Broadview police during the public comment period, saying that by removing an aid tent and restricting protest hours, they weren’t protecting free speech and failing to work alongside protesters against ICE.
“Broadview had taken down the lone beacon of hope in that dark corner,” said protester Ian Parry of Wheaton. “You cleared out the last line of defense to roll out the welcome mat for the fascist regime.”
Broadview public works director Matthew Ames defended Thompson and Broadview police while calling some protesters “agitators.” Another speaker said protesters were “against America.” Some protesters heckled or made comments under their breath, and tensions rose in the room at times.
After public comment ended, Thompson addressed some of the commenters’ concerns, saying the aid tent had become unruly and protesters had stocked it with furniture and propane tanks. While pictures of the tent were shown on a projector, protesters shouted that the tent held bottles of water and lawn chairs.
“Another outburst and I will clear the chambers,” Thompson said, banging her gavel.
Seconds later, she ended the meeting and cleared residents and protesters from the room. Police ushered people outside as some shouted “pathetic” and “shame on you.”
“Mayor, have some dialogue with the people,” one protester yelled. “You can’t shut us out.”
Thompson and the rest of the village board sat motionless at the front of the room. In a statement Tuesday morning, Thompson said protesters only want free speech to apply to them, calling it a “one-way street.”
“They want their speech heard, and only their speech,” Thompson said. “When I turn to speak to Broadview residents, they heckle, they interrupt, they attempt to shut my speech down. But I don’t play that game. In Broadview we have respectful dialogue, not vulgar monologue. Still, they are welcome back. I respect free speech.”
The crowd spilled into the parking lot, where some arguments between protesters and other attendees broke out. Some accused protesters of being outsiders who hijacked the village meeting.
Rabbi Michael Yosef, who spoke during the public comment period and asked Thompson to remove the designated protest hours and allow public access closer to the processing facility, urged protesters not to engage.
“Can we focus on, truly, who is the enemy?” he said, weaving through the crowd. “The focus is ICE.”