On June 12, a day racist groups planned to gather to support Arizona’s SB1070, there was a larger cry of opposition in Naperville, Ill., outside of Chicago.
Groups from Chicago and the surrounding area came together to organize a counterprotest to a Tea Party and Minutemen rally at Naperville City Hall.
Behind barricades set up by the city to protect the racists, over 100 counter protesters shouted, “Go home racists!” and “Power to the People! No One is Illegal!”
The counterprotesters were a cohesive group, while the other side of the barricade was not. Naperville mobilized scores of cops, who surrounded the counterprotesters the entire demonstration, and denied anti-racist protesters the use of amplified sound.
In fact, the cops only allowed free speech to the racist Tea Party and Minutemen rally.
Despite the cooperation of the police and racists, counterprotesters chanted loudly for over an hour, successfully drowning out the hate speech coming from the City Hall steps.
“The important fact is that we are here to show our militant support for immigrants. Since SB 1070 passed, along with the Obama administration’s escalation of attacks on immigrants, it has encouraged racists like the Tea Party in their organizing efforts. They must be met with determined resistance wherever they show their faces,” stated Jim Rudd, an organizer with the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism).
SB 1070 is set to go into effect July 29. It is crucial for the people to continue the fight to nullify SB 1070. Laws like this are set up to divide workers, who are natural allies in the struggle against racism. The growth of racism is a danger to all workers.
Join and help build the movement to stop SB 1070!
