Mitch McConnell announced that Trump would sign the negotiated budget deal and then immediately declare a state of emergency to circumvent Congress and get additional funds for hist racist wall, and that’s exactly what happened. This is in defiance of the checks and balances put in place by the Constitution and, given that there is no emergency, is not a legal action.

While we know that this will be challenged in courts, that could take a very long time and we do not want to sit idly by waiting for the courts to act. Indivisible Chicago is part of a coalition of progressive groups, including immigration rights activists, who are joining a nationwide protest of the president’s actions.

Trump has declared a state of emergency, so we will rally at Federal Plaza at noon on February 18th. We will be joined by groups all across the nation, demonstrating to the world that we will not sit on the sidelines while the president does and end-around the constitution in a blatant power grab.

Please dress appropriately for the weather as we are expecting a cold day.

On Wednesday, February 20th, we’re going to back to court to support Thedford Garber Law in their lawsuit against Sheriff Tom Dart’s inexcusable behavior in refusing to release people from jail that judges had ordered released while awaiting trial. Join us in supporting this class action lawsuit and defending bail reform from Sheriff Dart’s attacks! Please arrive before 8:30am to ensure you have passed through security and are seated in court before proceedings begin.

Last year, CCBF worked with Thedford Garber law to support Taphia Williams. After we paid Ms. Williams’ $5,000 bond, Sheriff Tom Dart refused to release her into electronic monitoring for more than three days, citing his disagreement with the judge’s decision. In February 2018, Dart announced the implementation of unilateral reviews by his office for people whose bond conditions he found unsatisfactory in interviews with the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune. Under that practice, Sheriff’s Office employees detained individuals even after their bonds had been paid or they are otherwise eligible for release in order to conduct additional discretionary reviews of their current charges and background.