With President Donald Trump’s ICE agents and troops headed for Chicago under the pretext of cracking down on crime, even though crime is down in Chicago, Father Michael Pfleger and Reverend Stephen J. Thurston, II, warned people to carry their ID at all times.
Having once been detained by ICE agents, Pfleger recalled advice Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul recommended—ask agents three things while videotaping them: “What’s your name? What’s your badge number? And why are you detaining me?” By law, Pfleger said, the fully masked ICE agents are supposed to provide you with answers.
Pfleger also said Raoul urged people to videotape the ICE agents while asking those three questions, which he said is not against the law.
Pfleger, who made his remarks before beginning his Friday, August 29 peace march, also said there were to be two civil rights training classes so people would know not to react to the aggressive ICE agents who he said will get in your face to get a reaction.
“Don’t react,” warned Pfleger. “That is what they want you to do. I know because it happened to me down at the ICE Center when we were protesting. A guy came up to me and got up in my face while another ICE agent was taking pictures of me,” recalled Pfleger.
“He was dressed all in black. Nothing showed on him but his eyes and his nose. I kept asking him his name, badge number, and he would not speak to me. He just stayed up in my face the whole time.
“They want to push us to reacting. We are non-violent. Non-violence is still the most powerful tool there is,” said Pfleger, an ardent follower of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who took non-violence to another level during the height of the civil rights movement.
“We don’t want to create fear. We want to create preparedness,” explained Pfleger. “We can’t be caught off guard, particularly our young people. We got to prepare them. Don’t go out without your ID and make sure your car is all in order.”
He was referring to having your driver’s license and making sure state and city stickers are in order. Otherwise, Pfleger said, ICE agents will detain you and tow your car.
On Saturday, August 30, Rev. Thurston spoke during the Rainbow PUSH Coalition broadcast and announced the free “Prophetic Resistance” training classes that were held Tuesday, September 2, at the Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church, 600 W. Fullerton Parkway, and Thursday, September 4, at Rev. Thurston’s Church, 754 E. 77th St.
Thurston called on pastors to attend the two days of “prophetic resistance” training on Chicago’s North and South sides.
“Now is the time to equip yourself and your congregation with the tools to organize and stand against Trump’s presidential abuse of power. Let’s unite, build power and defend our communities together,” he stated.