LINCOLN SQUARE — A useless rat and word calling immigrants “vermin” had been left on the doorstep of Ald. Andre Vasquez’s (fortieth) Lincoln Sq. workplace Sunday night time, police and the alderman mentioned.
About 7:30 p.m. Sunday, police had been notified of the useless animal and a handwritten word containing “derogatory statements” in entrance of the fortieth Ward workplace, 5620 N. Western Ave., police and Vasquez’s workplace mentioned.
The word was taped to the workplace’s door and referred to undocumented immigrants as vermin, amongst different issues, in response to Vasquez’s assertion.
“On this present political local weather, we take these threats significantly, and are working with the Chicago Police Division to analyze,” Vasquez mentioned in a press release emailed Sunday to neighbors. “Within the meantime, the fortieth Ward Workplace will stay open. We’re and can at all times be steadfast in our dedication to serving fortieth Ward neighbors and supporting the rights of the immigrant neighborhood.”
Vasquez was not instantly obtainable for remark Monday morning.
Nobody is in custody and detectives are investigating, police mentioned. Police didn’t instantly reply questions on whether or not the incident was being investigated as a hate crime.
As chair of the Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Vasquez has been a proponent of “know your rights” initiatives within the metropolis and a vocal critic of the Trump administration’s actions in Chicago.
Over the weekend, Vasquez and his workers inspired Chicagoans to point out help on the annual Mexican Independence Day Parade in mild of the latest immigration enforcement effort dubbed Operation Halfway Blitz that’s creating concern, nervousness and outrage in Chicago’s immigrant communities.
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