Monday, December 1, 2025

Faithful whistleblowers resist ICE in the U.S.











When Dan and Emily Coyne attend Sunday services at their church in Evanston, Il, they bring their Bibles — and their whistles. 

The Bibles are so they can follow along with sermons. The whistles are so they can blow them to warn their neighbors if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are in the area. 

“They’re with us all the time,” said Coyne of the whistles that he and his wife, Emily, carry with them to Reba Place Church. 

The church, which is part of Mennonite Church USA, is located in an area targeted by ICE to round up and deport undocumented people. The operation, called Midway Blitz, has resulted in the detentions of over 600 people since September. 

“The whistles are a non-violent way to resist,” said Dan, saying people blow three short blasts to warn that ICE agents are in the area and three long blasts when people see agents in the process of trying to detain someone. 

Read my column about the Coynes and how other people of faith are resisting ICE in the U.S.

Photo above: Dan and Emily Coyne outside their church.

 

 

No comments:

Post a Comment