29-04-2025
Dozens protest treatment of immigrants at Waukegan intersection; ‘People are afraid to leave their homes'
As thousands of demonstrators gathered in Highland Park a week ago, and Gurnee two weeks before that, to protest the perceived actions of the administration of President Donald Trump against immigrants, the Constitution and the rule of law, there were numerous chants of protest.
When dozens of protestors organized by the Sisters and Brothers of Immigrants in Waukegan held signs Saturday critical of the treatment immigrants are receiving from the Trump administration, the only sounds came from passing motorists honking their horns in support.
Brother Michael Gosch of the Clerics of St. Viator said the group is holding vigils in the Chicago area with signs to communicate its message, calling for the proper treatment of immigrants.
'Chanting can turn some people off,' Gosch said. 'We want to be here peacefully in the moment. We are advocating for comprehensive immigration reform.'
Gosch led a group of more than 50 people standing silently holding signs Saturday on all four corners of Belvidere and Green Bay roads in Waukegan, quietly communicating their message about immigrant rights.
'Where would America be without immigrants?' Gosch said. 'Unless you're a Native American, you're an immigrant or the descendant of them.'
Gathering in the parking lot of Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep a few blocks west of Green Bay, the group of Christian brothers, nuns, some students and other community members walked to Belvidere and Green Bay where they took positions on all four corners. They were there for an hour.
As drivers drove through and stopped at the intersection, they saw signs reading, 'Immigrants, Refugees Welcome,' 'Do Not Break Up Families,' 'No Mass Deportations,' 'Welcoming Immigrants Is a Civic and Faith Responsibility,' and more.
Since Trump took office for the second time on Jan. 20, Gosch said he has gone beyond what he did in his first term. In 2017, the group supported immigrant youths who came to the U.S. seeking asylum.
'I believe the Trump administration is demeaning immigrants and sowing fear,' Gosch said. 'People are afraid to leave their homes.'
A number of the protest participants came to Waukegan from all over the Chicago area. Sister Mary Popit of Waukegan was glad to see the organization's third vigil in her hometown. The others were in the Brighton Park neighborhood on the Southwest side of Chicago, and Arlington Heights.
Popit said Waukegan has a long history of immigrants. The 10th Street Corridor, now a home to many from Latin America, was once filled with enclaves of people from Slovenia, Lithuania and Poland. Before them, the immigrants in the city were from Ireland and Germany.
'I'm happy to have them come all this way to support the immigrants here,' Popit said. 'It's important we have these discussions.'
Brother Javier Medina came to the vigil from Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. He is studying to become a Catholic priest. He and Sister Kathy Salewski — she traveled from Joliet — held signs on the northeast corner of Belvidere and Green Bay.
'This is a justice issue,' Medina said. 'Being out here shows my support for people who are experiencing injustice. This is my mission to show solidarity to God and the country.'
Sister Delores Zemont, a Franciscan nun from Romeoville, also stood on the northeast corner of Belvidere and Green Bay with Christian Brother Chuck Fitzsimmons holding a sign reading, 'Sisters and Brothers Support Immigrants.'
Zemont said she is disappointed in the actions, attitudes and treatment related to immigrants coming out of Washington, D.C. Participating in the vigil, she said, is one way she can do something to raise awareness of the situation.
'I'm very bothered and disappointed by what the Trump administration is doing,' Zemont said. 'There are children in the area who are at risk. We want to make the people in Waukegan aware.'
