UPDATE: Award-winning author and activist Sara Paretsky has issued a stark warning about the escalating militarization in Chicago, particularly targeting immigrant communities. In an urgent interview with Judy Cox, Paretsky described alarming actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that threaten not only individual freedoms but the very fabric of democracy in Donald Trump’s America.
Just today, Paretsky shared her eyewitness account of ICE operations in the South Side of Chicago, a racially diverse area with a significant Hispanic population. She reported an incident where agents deployed tear gas and pepper balls to raid an apartment complex, causing chaos and trauma. “Babies were wrenched from their mothers’ arms and left naked in the streets for hours,” she stated, drawing parallels to the atrocities of the 1930s in Germany and Spain.
The author, known for her VI Warshawski novels, emphasized the chilling atmosphere in her neighborhood, where Black Hawk helicopters circle overhead. “It’s not Syria—we’re not dealing with bombs—but it’s pure intimidation,” she asserted. The urgency of her message comes as the administration has restricted civilian drone use, further escalating tensions.
Paretsky believes that this militarization serves a greater political purpose: to undermine free elections in the coming year. “The administration knows the MAGA Republicans would be voted out,” she warned, attributing the push for militarization to Russell Vought of the Heritage Foundation. Vought’s Project 2025 has mobilized thousands of volunteers to target organizations promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, threatening critical funding for programs that serve low-income communities.
The impact of these actions is severe. Paretsky highlighted troubling cuts to essential services, such as a vaccination program in Sudan and life-saving treatments for children with cancer in Malawi. “It is a great grief to see what is happening,” she lamented, pointing out that these policies primarily affect the most vulnerable.
In light of this crisis, Paretsky is donating proceeds from her latest book to support reproductive rights campaigns in Illinois, one of the few states with robust abortion provisions. “About 40% of the women having abortions here come from out of state,” she noted. Many seek care for serious health complications, often facing exorbitant hospital bills.
As resistance grows, Paretsky has joined a rapid response unit, rallying Chicagoans and citizens nationwide to take action. “More and more people are seeing the danger we are in and the damage being done,” she said. Reflecting on her family history, Paretsky drew a poignant connection between past atrocities and current events, urging immediate action.
“We have to be in the streets and we have to protect people,” she declared, invoking the spirit of activism necessary to combat the ongoing threats. “I have to believe we will prevail, and I hope it will be in my lifetime,” she concluded, leaving readers with a call to action at this critical juncture.
As these developments unfold, the urgency for community mobilization and awareness grows ever more crucial. The situation in Chicago serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing challenges to democracy and human rights across the nation. Share this article to spread awareness and join the conversation on this pressing issue.
