Across Chicago, a growing network of volunteers and local businesses — from coffee shops and bars to adult stores — has distributed thousands of whistles in a show of solidarity. Many of these efforts have come together at “Whistlemania” gatherings, where participants assemble whistle kits that include “Know Your Rights” information, the whistles themselves, and a zine explaining how to use them, according to the Chicago Tribune.
These kits have been shared widely across the city, reaching schools, shops, and even Little Free Libraries. Alongside the whistles, others have been spreading “Hands Off Chicago” posters, which have appeared in storefront windows and were carried during the recent “No Kings” demonstrations.
“My grandparents, on both sides, came (to the United States) for a better life, and why not fight back?” said Aguirre-Ávalos. “It’s the least I can do. They were able to give me this life, a better life, and why not use my privilege and my voice?”
In the Lincoln Square community’s Bowmanville neighborhood, volunteer Erin Tobes explained that the whistles serve as a rapid alert system. “A short blast means a confirmed sighting of a federal immigration agent, and a long hold is for when an agent is detaining someone,” she said. “Noise equals more visibility.”
Tobes added that the whistles also help volunteers recognize one another while working in neighborhoods, and that pamphlets handed out with the kits emphasize the importance of nonviolence. “It’s kind of an extra comfort,” she said. “It lets people know that they have a way of being heard if something were to happen, they have a way of calling out for help if they feel like they’re in a situation that becomes a little scary.”
She described the effort as deeply communal — a project powered by neighbors. Tobes distributes whistles with a friend near a local elementary school, while another resident has produced around 150 whistles using a 3D printer. “I think it’s so important for everyone in the community to feel seen and especially our vulnerable neighbors,” she said. “I want them to feel like the whole community stands behind them.”