Chicago Ald. Julia Ramirez Assaulted At Asylum Seeker Protest

CHICAGO — A Chicago Alderwoman said she was assaulted Thursday morning after she and an aide arrived at a protest in the Brighton Park neighborhood over winterized tents for migrants being housed there, police said.

Ald. Julia Ramirez, 12th Ward, issued a statement on Thursday saying that she and her aide were forced to leave the protest after they said they were surrounded by protesters at the event. Residents were there in opposition to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plans to put up winterized tents for migrants.

Ramirez said that her aide was hospitalized after the incident but that she had declined medical attention.

In the statement, Ramirez said she showed up at the neighborhood protest, which opposed the temporary housing at 38th Street and California. She said that residents had contacted her office asking that she attend the protest to hear the concerns of people living in the neighborhood. Ramirez said that her office is considering the use of a vacant lot for the winterized tents to be erected but said that plans for the space were still in the process of being finalized.

However, within minutes of her arrival at the event in the 3800 block of California, she said that it became clear that having a constructive conversation about the housing was not going to be possible.

Ramirez and the aide were surrounded by angry protesters, she said, before Chicago Police intervened and put the alderwoman and her aide into a squad car, which got the pair out of the area. Video footage shot by NBC 5 showed Ramirez having to be removed by her aide and Chicago Police after being surrounded by local residents.

“I understand residents are fearful and have concerns about the city’s plan. I have the same concerns. I’m a born and raised resident of Brighton Park,” Ramirez said in the statement issued by her office. “I ran for Alderwoman so that I could be in a position to address the years of disinvestment in my community. I hear my residents and want them to know I will always advocate for their safety and ensure our communities have the resources they deserve. I also respect everyone’s right to peacefully protest, however, violence and hate is not the answer.”

Ramirez said that she hoped to continue to address residents’ concerns in the future and to “build bridges” in a humane and compassionate way. She also called on the Mayor’s office to offer more transparency and accountability in dealing with neighborhoods where migrants are being housed.

“My administration supports the rights to peaceful protest and free speech, but this type of action against a public servant is unconscionable,” Johnson said in a statement. “Any violent act against an elected official in our city is unacceptable and must be condemned in the strongest terms.”