“Put Them In Lightfoot’s Neighborhood”: Black Residents Revolt Over Chicago’s Migrant Housing Plan

Black residents revolted in Chicago over a plan to house migrants in their community telling failed Mayor Lori Lightfoot to put them in her neighborhood. Officials tried to deliver a presentation on placing the migrants in a shuttered school, but before city officials could open their mouths the residents told them to pound sand.

Audience members started yelling, “We don’t care. We don’t want them here. Send them back. Close the border.” One even had a sign that said, “Build the wall 2024.”

Other residents said, “What are they going to do during the day when I’m at work? Have they been background checked?” Residents said Black neighborhoods like theirs in South Shore could use the money being spent to house the immigrants.

“We don’t want them in this building. You can house the migrants on the North Side — try Lincoln Park,” said Natasha Dunn.

“They’ve got so many developments over there. People aren’t even living in those tall buildings. 

“They have access to resources. On their main streets they have jobs. We have no jobs in our community, and we have been fighting for jobs for decades. 

“So please tell me how is this fair?”

Rosita Chatonda said:

“We have the right to have access to this building as it was promised, as a community hub,” Chatonda said.

“This is why children out here are struggling with violence, because they have no support. We cannot give this building up. We empathize with those who’ve come here, but we have to look out for ourselves.”

“We are not inhumane to people’s plight. But we are looking at the reality of the world we live in and we think it’s irresponsible to take a people whose community is already in disarray and place additional people without resources,” said Brian Mullins of the Black American Voter Project.

“All of a sudden we have deep pockets for people who don’t pay taxes,” said one attendee. “I understand helping people, but you start with your own home.”

“I think it would be fair for every homeless immigrant that you bring in, that you scoop up a homeless here,” another attendee said.

City officials said: “As a welcoming city, Chicago continues to receive new arrivals and tend to their immediate needs. We are in the midst of a national humanitarian crisis and have been collaborating with City departments, Alderpeople, community-based organizations, and community leaders to identify temporary respite sites, including Chicago Park District and other public facilities, where new arrivals can wait for shelter placement.

“This is part of the City’s efforts to prepare for an expected influx of new arrivals.”

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere, of the Chicago Sun-Times, reported:

“During the public comment section we are hearing variations of “our property values will decrease”, “they are criminals/pedophiles/rapists/gang members”, “they’ll take our jobs”, and “if they have resources for this why not us”. All to roaring applause from the crowd.

“An 11-year-old boy has come up to the mic asking why don’t you put these people [migrants] into the Hispanic neighborhoods or Lightfoot’s neighborhood. The crowd started cheering and applauding pretty loudly to this line of questions.

An 11-year-old boy has come up to the mic asking why don’t you put these people [migrants] into the Hispanic neighborhoods or Lightfoot’s neighborhood. The crowd started cheering and applauding pretty loudly to this line of questions.

— Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere (@TylerLaRiviere) May 5, 2023