Broadview mayor accuses Evanston mayor of ‘helping to fuel the agitation’ by joining ICE protest
Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson accused Evanston Mayor and congressional candidate Daniel Biss of “helping to fuel the agitation of an already tense situation” by joining protests outside the western suburb’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility.
Biss staunchly denied the accusation. He was among several congressional candidates who said they were teargassed outside the facility, according to their social media accounts. Two rivals in the 9th District, Bushra Amiwala and Kat Abughazaleh, also documented the chaotic scene — and Abughazaleh is seen in a social media video being thrown to the ground by a federal agent.
But it’s only Biss who was criticized by the Broadview mayor, specifically because he’s a fellow mayor.
In a statement, Thompson said Biss’ presence made a tense situation worse, “which could endanger our police officers, firefighters, demonstrators themselves, and the surrounding Proviso Township communities.
“He has lacked the decency and respect to call me or to notify my office when he comes to my community to engage in provocative campaign activities at the ICE facility. He should know better. He’s a mayor,” Thompson said. “Broadview would be better served by the presence of Evanston police officers helping to bolster our small force to protect demonstrators rather than a candidate creating Instagram videos and giving media interviews boosting his campaign. This is not the leadership that we need in Congress.”
Biss refuted the accusation — and urged Thompson to instead join the protest.
“The only people endangered right now are our neighbors being abducted off the street and the peaceful protesters being teargassed by masked federal agents,” Biss said in a statement. “I encourage the mayor of Broadview to join the many protesters, advocates, and elected officials in standing up to ICE — instead of facilitating their illegal, immoral and dangerous tactics.”
U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, who is running for the U.S. Senate, is also heading to the ICE facility, her campaign said.
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