Crying Out for Justice: We Are The Help We’ve Been Looking For
Does not wisdom call
and understanding raise her voice?
On the heights, beside the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;
beside the gates in front of the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries out:
“To you, O people, I call,
and my cry is to all who live.
Proverbs 8:1-4 (NRSVUE)
If you have been wondering what you can do to make a difference, amid the swell of violence and anxiety of this time, we invite you to specific efforts of community preparedness to protect vulnerable neighbors. According to the witness of colleagues in other states, and here in Wisconsin, federal agents have targeted people regardless of citizenship, immigration status, documentation, or alleged violations of law or statute. These actions are sudden, overwhelmingly violent, and traumatic. People with black or brown skin are disproportionately targeted; as are women, children, and people who appear isolated.
We repeat: faithful people acting in organized ways, in community are the help that is needed.
If you have watched many of the videos of ICE encounters in recent days, you may have noticed crowds of people blowing whistles. This simple tool has been used to notify community volunteers of ICE presence, encouraging people to gather in order to witness and document what is happening. A set of short tweets can let your neighbors know that ICE or other federal agents are in the area, while longer, sustained tweets signal that agents are attempting to detain someone. Both serve as a call to form a crowd, to record what is taking place, and to protect our neighbors.
Imagine that every church had a bucket of whistles and trained its members, with more available for distribution to anyone who walked through their doors. What signal would this send to vulnerable people in our neighborhoods? Might this help our congregations communicate God’s Love for all our neighbors? Sharing whistles and what they mean can help us answer the call of Wisdom, to be present “on the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads,” and wherever else agents of violence and separation threaten our communities.
Resources:
Where to get whistles: Anywhere you can. 3D printing instructions here. Free 'Penne' Whistles (email: lbstudio312@gmail.com)
How to use whistles (Zine): WI Whistle Zine with folding instructions
How to use whistles (Poster): How Whistles Work Poster
Wear your whistle all the time (zipper pull, keychain, on a lanyard…)
Assemble a whistle kit (a great service project activity for youth or other small groups)
Ideas: Put up posters in local restaurants, leave zines in little free libraries, host whistle kit packing parties, organize neighborhood ICE watch, train people on how to record.
Tell people about the whistle code: Short tweets - ICE is in the area, Long - ICE is detaining someone. Get vulnerable people to safety. Show up, get loud, record.
Organize people to participate: This only works if people know what to do and agree to be part of keeping neighbors safe. This is not a solo project!
Other printables from Pilsen Arts & Community House
