Maggie Sivit
@msivit.bsky.social
820 followers 380 following 130 posts
✏️ Engagement editor at @injusticewatch.org ⌛️ Previously digital and engagement producer at WBEZ 🇨🇺 NAHJ member 📬 [email protected]
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Reposted by Maggie Sivit
heathercherone.bsky.social
“This is not the first time Trump has tried to have a Black man unjustly arrested. I’m not going anywhere.”

“I will not back down. Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power. What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?” @wttw.bsky.social
Donald Trump Says Brandon Johnson, JB Pritzker ‘Should Be in Jail’
Trump’s comments, posted to his social media platform, came a day after 200 Texas National Guard troops under the command of federal officials arrived at a military facility near Joliet over the vehem...
news.wttw.com
Reposted by Maggie Sivit
dlknowles.bsky.social
Good reporting on the South Shore raid from South Side weekly here.

Confirms one thing I was told but didn't put in my own piece because I didn't have a second source and it seemed too insane: border agents segregated arrested residents by race

southsideweekly.com/federal-agen...
Federal Agents Storm South Shore Building, Detaining Families and Children
Families were woken by flashbangs and helicopters as hundreds of federal agents raided their homes. Days later, neighbors are still searching for the missing.
southsideweekly.com
Reposted by Maggie Sivit
jackjenkins.me
Gonna be thinking about this lede for a minute.
(RNS) — Last month, the Rev. David Black stood in front of a Chicago-area U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility and spread his arms wide. Adorned in all black and wearing a clerical collar, the pastor looked up at a group of masked, heavily armed ICE agents on the roof and began to pray.

“I invited them to repentance,” Black, a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), said in an interview. “I basically offered an altar call. I invited them to come and receive that salvation, and be part of the kingdom that is coming.”

But when Black began to lower his arms a few seconds later, the agents responded to his spiritual plea by firing pepper balls, or chemical agents that cause eye irritation and respiratory distress, video footage shows. One struck Black in the head, exploding into a puff of white pepper smoke and forcing him to his knees. Fellow demonstrators rushed to his aid, and as the pastor rubbed his face in pain, the agents continued to fire.

“We could hear them laughing,” Black said.
msivit.bsky.social
There’s a lot of urgent news to pay attention to right now, especially in Chicago. But if you have a few min and you do any of the following, please consider taking our survey:
♦️ Read IW investigations
♦️ Follow IW on social media
♦️ Subscribe to our newsletter
♦️ Use our judicial election guide
injusticewatch.org
Every question in our survey will help our editorial, engagement, and operations teams make decisions about what they do. It takes about seven minutes to complete. Help shape our future work. buff.ly/MG6mbcv
A graphic reads "You read, follow, or share our work. Now help guide what we do. Fill out our survey. Enter to win $100 + a custom portrait. Two winners every week for a month."
Reposted by Maggie Sivit
peternickeas.bsky.social
I've never seen such escalation and use of force toward ends I just could not see. There was no real property destruction, no pushing into the neighborhoods to make arrests, very little obstructing of traffic. Saw chemicals and bangs deployed down streets the feds were not facing and did not travel.
msivit.bsky.social
She seems to have a Bluesky account but has only posted once. This message came from her newsletter
Reposted by Maggie Sivit
thetriibe.com
NEW — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker just announced today that “In the coming hours, the Trump Administration intends to federalize 300 members of the Illinois National Guard.”

This comes about a week after Pritzker first mentioned plans to deploy 100 troops. We wrote about that in the article below.
CHICAGO – Today, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker released the following statement following a request the Illinois National Guard received from the Trump Administration’s Department of War: ​ 

“This morning, the Trump Administration’s Department of War gave me an ultimatum: call up your troops, or we will. It is absolutely outrageous and un-American to demand a Governor send military troops within our own borders and against our will. ​ 

“In the coming hours, the Trump Administration intends to federalize 300 members of the Illinois National Guard. They will pull hardworking Americans out of their regular jobs and away from their families all to participate in a manufactured performance -- not a serious effort the protect public safety. For Donald Trump, this has never been about safety. This is about control. This demand follows unprecedented escalations of aggression against Illinois citizens and residents. Yesterday, Kristi Noem’s and Greg Bovino’s masked agents threw chemical agents near an elementary school, arrested elected officials exercising their First Amendment rights, and raided a Wal-Mart. None of it was in pursuit of justice, but all of it was in pursuit of social media videos. ​ 

“I want to be clear: there is no need for military troops on the ground in the State of Illinois. State, county, and local law enforcement have been working together and coordinating to ensure public safety around the Broadview ICE facility, and to protect people’s ability to peacefully exercise their constitutional rights. I will not call up our National Guard to further Trump’s acts of aggression against our people. 

“In Illinois, we will do everything within our power to look out for our neighbors, uphold the Constitution, and defend the rule of law.”
Reposted by Maggie Sivit
unraveledpress.com
ICE reportedly opened fire on rapid responders on the southwest side this afternoon.

There are *very few* details on this available at this time. Treat all rumors with caution until verified.

This Sun-Times article cites a DHS statement that should be treated, as always, with extreme skepticism:
Shooting involving federal agents in Brighton Park under investigation
According to the Department of Homeland Security, a woman allegedly "boxed in" federal authorities, who opened fire.
chicago.suntimes.com
Reposted by Maggie Sivit
amyqin.bsky.social
There’s no medical staff or services at Broadview. No food preparation. No beds. That’s all by design because the facility was created for holds less than 12 hours.
@bylaurenfitz.bsky.social @adrianacardmag.bsky.social
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
A column chart showing the average time by days spent at the Broadview processing center spiking in June.
msivit.bsky.social
We spent part of the day hearing the sounds of a helicopter overhead, later learning people outside the grocery store we go to were teargassed. The elementary school across the street from Rico Fresh had to withhold recess for the rest of the day. Absolutely insane.
chicago.suntimes.com
In a video taken by a witness and shared with the Sun-Times, cars could be seen blocking the white, unmarked SUV before a masked agent rolled down his window and dropped the canisters. Smoke spread around the vehicle and passersby began to scream.
Masked federal agent throws chemical irritants outside Logan Square grocery store: 'My eyes are burning'
Video taken by several witnesses captured the moments where the agent can be seen dropping a canister from a white SUV.
trib.al
msivit.bsky.social
An update from Jessie Fuentes
A screenshot of an newsletter from Chicago 26th Ward Ald. Jessie Fuentes
Reposted by Maggie Sivit
blockclubchi.bsky.social
Federal agents handcuffed Humboldt Park Ald. Jessie Fuentes as she confronted them at a hospital. blockclubchi.co/3Wkje5V
Reposted by Maggie Sivit
pressfreedomtracker.us
Journalist Mario Guevara has been deported. He spent three-plus months in ICE custody after livestreaming a protest, before being flown out of the U.S. on Oct. 3.

In a recent post, he wrote: “My dedication to my work cost me my freedom.”
Spanish-language reporter arrested at Atlanta-area protest; faces deportation
Mario Guevara, a Spanish-language reporter who covers immigration issues, was arrested at an anti-Trump protest in Chamblee, Georgia, near Atlanta, …
pressfreedomtracker.us
Reposted by Maggie Sivit
lyndab08.bsky.social
I’m so struck by this video. A regular day in Logan Square in front of a grocery store and ICE pulls up and tear gassed people. Funston Elementary School is right across the street as well. This is a major corridor in Logan Sq. No concern for human safety

Video from: www.reddit.com/r/chicago/co...
Reposted by Maggie Sivit
peoplesfabric.com
Federal agents reportedly deployed tear gas on Armitage Ave around 11:50 a.m. this morning. This was reported outside Rico Fresh Market at Armitage and Drake.
Reposted by Maggie Sivit
dlknowles.bsky.social
Back in Chicago. The last time I remember seeing this many helicopters flying overhead I was in Kabul
Reposted by Maggie Sivit
lyndab08.bsky.social
“It felt like a war zone,” O’Loughlin said. “It feels like people don’t know the extent of what is happening unless it’s on Michigan Avenue.”

“They tore the whole building apart,” Szymanski said."
Armed Agents Raid South Shore Apartment Building Overnight Tuesday
The federal agents arrived in moving trucks and knocked down doors inside the apartment building, detaining as many as 40 people, witnesses said.
blockclubchicago.org
Reposted by Maggie Sivit
Reposted by Maggie Sivit
vimiller.bsky.social
Broadview Police have opened an investigation into an attack from federal agents on a CBS crew at Broadview, per BPD Chief Mills.
The following statement can be attributed to Broadview Police Chief Thomas Mills:

“The Village of Broadview Police Department has launched a criminal investigation into an allegedly unprovoked attack on a CBS Chicago TV news reporter’s vehicle on Sunday by a chemical munition fired from the direction of U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement detention facility. The victim declined medical attention. The Broadview Police Department expects the full cooperation of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security into our criminal investigation.”
Reposted by Maggie Sivit
mulchy.bsky.social
five of the 11 people arrested during last night’s protest outside the ice detention center in broadview, illinois, are still in federal custody, per a statement from the national lawyers guild of chicago.

nlg details indiscriminate violence directed at legal observers, protesters, and press.
NLG Chicago Denounces Continued Violence from Federal Law Enforcement and Attacks on Free Speech and Press in Broadview, Illinois.

On Saturday, September 27, 2025, National Lawyers Guild of Chicago (NLG Chicago) witnessed alarming and violent attacks on those assembled to protest at the ICE detention facility in suburban Broadview, IL.

CHICAGO - On Saturday, September 27, 2025, National Lawyers Guild of Chicago
(NLG Chicago) witnessed alarming and violent attacks on those assembled to protest at the ICE detention facility in suburban Broadview, IL. The pattern of law enforcement violence and targeted attacks persisted yesterday, with agents launching chemical agents and firing munitions at members of the press and people assembled to protest. NG Chicago has confirmed at least 11 arrests from yesterday, including one member of the press who was clearly identified as a journalist. As of Sunday morning, it appears 5 people remain in federal custody. This brings the total number of NLG confirmed arrests at the protests against the Broadview facility to twenty-eight (28), since September 19.
Twenty-two (22) people from those confirmed arrests have been released.

Yesterday, multiple Legal Observers were subjected to violence, as federal agents appeared to directly target Legal Observers who were actively documenting arrests and law enforcement actions. Agents used multiple chemical agents, launched kinetic grenades, and shot rubber bullets, mace, and pepper balls against those assembled. One Legal Observer was shot directly in the face with a projectile. Agents also menaced people by pointing firearms at them, including hand guns and a rifle. The agents' attacks were notably distinct from prior days in that officers went after people who were simply gathered to support the active protesters. Officers forcibly removed people sheltering from tear gas in vehicles, resulting in the separation of a child from family members who were bringing food in support of the protest. Agents fired weapons at specific protesters in direct response to their First Amendment-protected statements and snatched protesters' signs. Officers also confiscated tents used for shade, as well as food, water and first aid supplies, and people's bike helmets and other personal property, putting them in a dumpster in the restricted area. When some of those present tried to leave in their vehicles, agents blocked them and demanded to illegally search people's bodies and vehicles. According to Amanda Yarusso, a volunteer attorney with NLG Chicago, "Last night, our Legal Observers witnessed militarized federal agents deploy chemical weapons and fire projectiles at a crowd of people exercising their First Amendment rights. The violence was an indiscriminate, unprovoked, and illegal use of force.

These unlawful actions by federal agents demonstrate this administration's complete disregard of constitutional standards."
"NG Chicago will continue to provide legal support to individuals exercising their constitutional rights." said Yarusso.
Reposted by Maggie Sivit
peoplesfabric.com
Yes, arresting a journalist for doing their job is a big flashing red light. But I don't want people to forget the whole reason everyone is out there.

This is what I saw inside:

Four holding rooms. Two smaller rooms were being used for holding protesters. Two larger rooms held ICE/CBP captives.