Local Chicago clergy members share harrowing accounts of brutality they experienced during a recent protest at the Broadview Immigration facility. Rev. Michael Woolf was arrested by state and county police, along with 19 others, as part of a clergy-led protest aimed at providing counseling to detainees.
The pastor spent seven hours in custody, claiming his body bore the marks of physical abuse inflicted upon him by law enforcement during the arrest. During his Sunday sermon at Lake Street Church of Evanston, Woolf referred to Jesus Christ, whose actions were deemed "criminal" under state accounts, drawing a poignant comparison between the prophet's treatment and that of undocumented immigrants detained at Broadview.
Woolf stated that seven hours of detention was only a fraction of the suffering endured by those imprisoned in Broadview, describing their experiences as "torture." He emphasized that even if perpetrators are willing to show such cruelty openly before public eyes, the same level of brutality is likely applied behind closed doors to immigrants confined within the facility.
In his sermon, Rev. Woolf also addressed the broader societal issue of enhanced federal immigration enforcement prevalent in Chicago and nationwide, stating that there was a pressing need for collective action towards achieving a better future without this oppressive system. He highlighted the importance of maintaining hope as a means to drive positive change.
Furthermore, clergy member Pastor Luke Harris-Ferree expressed outrage over Mayor Katrina Thompson's characterization of protesters as "out-of-towners" who "chose their fists," claiming it was inaccurate and misrepresented events on the ground. Harris-Ferree also shared that despite his own brief time in Broadview, Rev. Woolf had previously endured pepper ball attacks by state and county police.
The Cook County Sheriff's Office reported four officers were injured during the protest; however, officials have yet to respond with concrete measures aimed at rectifying issues raised regarding the application of the TRUST Act.
The pastor spent seven hours in custody, claiming his body bore the marks of physical abuse inflicted upon him by law enforcement during the arrest. During his Sunday sermon at Lake Street Church of Evanston, Woolf referred to Jesus Christ, whose actions were deemed "criminal" under state accounts, drawing a poignant comparison between the prophet's treatment and that of undocumented immigrants detained at Broadview.
Woolf stated that seven hours of detention was only a fraction of the suffering endured by those imprisoned in Broadview, describing their experiences as "torture." He emphasized that even if perpetrators are willing to show such cruelty openly before public eyes, the same level of brutality is likely applied behind closed doors to immigrants confined within the facility.
In his sermon, Rev. Woolf also addressed the broader societal issue of enhanced federal immigration enforcement prevalent in Chicago and nationwide, stating that there was a pressing need for collective action towards achieving a better future without this oppressive system. He highlighted the importance of maintaining hope as a means to drive positive change.
Furthermore, clergy member Pastor Luke Harris-Ferree expressed outrage over Mayor Katrina Thompson's characterization of protesters as "out-of-towners" who "chose their fists," claiming it was inaccurate and misrepresented events on the ground. Harris-Ferree also shared that despite his own brief time in Broadview, Rev. Woolf had previously endured pepper ball attacks by state and county police.
The Cook County Sheriff's Office reported four officers were injured during the protest; however, officials have yet to respond with concrete measures aimed at rectifying issues raised regarding the application of the TRUST Act.
. It's totally unacceptable that our government can be this cruel & heartless towards people just trying to do good 
. Rev Woolf, I'm sending you all my love & support 
! And Luke Harris-Ferree is right too, those officers who got hurt during the protest deserve some serious accountability 
. It's unbelievable that police would resort to physical abuse on innocent people, including clergy members who were only trying to provide counseling and help. The comparison to Jesus Christ's treatment is so striking - it's a powerful reminder of the humanity we're losing in our immigration policies.
It sounds like police were totally out of line, and it's not fair that they got away with it without being held accountable. 
. I mean, come on, you're protesting for people's rights and humanity! We need more empathy from our leaders, not less.
. It's time for us to stand up and demand change, especially from our law enforcement.
We need concrete measures to make sure police are treated fairly and humanely, too. This stuff needs to be addressed ASAP! 
... we gotta hold our leaders accountable for treatin people with dignity & respect 
. I mean, seven hours in custody? That's a long time to be held without access to medical care or basic human rights. It's especially concerning when you consider that Rev Woolf had visible marks on his body... it's hard not to wonder what other forms of abuse might have occurred behind closed doors 
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... so sad man Rev Woolf went thru so much 
and what's with all these police brutality cases lately? 
I cant even imagine how scary it must be for those detainees 
I also dont get why people are making a big deal about the protesters being out-of-towners 
like isnt that the point of having protests to speak up for what ur passionate about? 
But seriously, it's time for some real action on this TRUST Act stuff. We need concrete measures and accountability from our law enforcement officials, pronto! 
. Those undocumented immigrants are already going through a tough time being in detention, they don't need that kind of brutality added on top 
. We need to do better as a society and work towards creating a more just system #JusticeForImmigrants #EndPoliceBrutality #BeTheChange
! Mayor Thompson's got to get her facts straight before she starts throwing shade. All I know is that Rev. Woolf and Pastor Harris-Ferree are speaking truth to power, and we should all be listening 
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. And yeah, Pastor Luke Harris-Ferree is right on point about the TRUST Act... it's time for some real changes to happen 
... 7 hours in custody for rev woolf? that's insane 
... the TRUST Act was suppost to protect immigrants from abuse, but it looks like its just a joke 
... clergy members are talkin about hope & positivity, thats what we need more of 
. We need to amplify the voices of those who are fighting for change #ChangeNow #FairnessForAll. And can we talk about how Mayor Thompson's comments were completely outta line? Out-of-town vs victim? Not a good look, mayor 
. I'm so grateful for people like Rev. Woolf & Pastor Harris-Ferree who are willing to take a stand against injustice #ClergyAgainstInjustice #CommunityFirst.