Donald Trump, who ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to descend on our city, boasts that he runs “the country and the world” and is the most powerful person on the planet who can do whatever he wants whenever he wants.
But we Chicago area residents, with the help of a Dolton-raised native, can show the world that there are ways to prick the balloon of bluster the president floats in.
We are inviting Pope Leo XIV to come home to the Southwest Side for an outdoor Mass at Marquette Park in support of the decent, hardworking immigrants — past and present — who were and are the very lifeblood of the city and surrounding suburbs. We believe 1 million Chicago area residents — fellow Roman Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and so many others, including secular-minded people — would attend.
Leo, who leads 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, represents everything the president is not. Trump exploits and inflames the worst fears and hatreds hidden in some human hearts. Conversely, the pope has earned love and respect because he represents revered traditions and institutions. Leo appeals to the best in people — their faith, their congregations and their communities. Leo may not have an army, but he can marshal a national and international force capable of resisting ICE and rolling back these assaults. With his kindness, Leo wields more power than Trump and can influence the world in ways that Trump can never imagine.
We do hope Pope Leo XIV takes us up on our offer. But as he mulls over our invitation, here are some other ways those of us who live here can help:
- Author and journalist Thomas Ricks recently asked on social media, “So why not order Chicago police or state troopers to trail Natl Guard and protect citizens from assault?” We ask the Chicago police to step up and protect those targeted by federal agents. After all, the words “we serve and protect” are emblazoned on the side of every city police vehicle.
- More citizens, including clergy and local leaders, should monitor the activities of ICE agents and document their actions.
- Fences should be built around all federal courthouses and facilities where ICE officials pass through. At these sites, ICE officials should present their IDs, have their photos taken (masks down, please) and have their names put through a database to check for criminal records.
Meaningful actions, in the context of a thoughtful and focused strategy, are important more than ever. Let’s keep it going.
Alec Harris, Dennis Ryan, Raul Raymundo and Yvonne Smith, leaders, United Power for Action and Justice
Thanks for the gift of food
Bless you, Manny’s Deli, and all the other Chicago-area restaurateurs, food pantry volunteers and donors for providing sustenance
and food for hungry people in our city.
And shame on you, Donald Trump and Republicans, for your completely cruel and unnecessary cutting of funds for the U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
You are taking food out of the mouths of children, families, the elderly, the disabled and veterans.
Thank you, Chicagoans for standing up to such inhumanity and for treating our residents with kindness and care.
As most people know, food is not just fuel — food is also love.
It is grandmas stirring pots of chicken soup; it is moms spreading peanut butter on sandwiches; it’s dads barbecuing chicken; teens planting seeds for gardens.
Whether it’s plates of spaghetti, bowls of rice, stacks of tortillas, baskets of tomatoes — food is life and love.
Thanks for bringing that home to our most vulnerable, Chicago.
Mary Jo Przygoda, Gurnee
Bummed over Bowman’s departure
My life grew smaller when Dale Bowman’s Wednesday outdoors page was cut. My heart is broken by his leaving. He was the biggest gem on the Sun-Times’ crown. Smaller gems have not been replaced. Please don’t leave his space unfilled.
Kevin Berg, Fox Lake
Make smokers pay for puffing on CTA
Your recent article “CTA’s smoking problem” was enlightening. Although I don’t have a solution, I do have a suggestion which may help to reduce complaints about smokers on the bus and trains. For those passengers who are issued citations by the Chicago police, if they have a Ventra card, their card should be flagged, the fine taken out of their balance AND their individual card be reprogrammed to charge double the going rate for one year.
Repeat offenders will be penalized for three years or more. It may just reduce this problem.
And for those offenders who shrug and simply no longer use a Ventra card to swipe in their fare, at least they will be inconvenienced by having to carry cash to pay the fare.
Ray Toczek, Portage Park
Cozying up to Trump administration doesn’t fly
Welp, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, way to be “Chicago’s Hometown Airline” by glad-handing with the vice president and senior Trump officials, who are cutting millions of Americans’ health care all while tacitly supporting the disappearance of hundreds of our neighbors off the streets of our shared “hometown.”
I hope selling out your last shred of decency will be worth it for better flight performance at Newark and a future JetBlue merger.
Brad Kruizenga, Ravenswood
