Open Letter to the City of Joliet's Mayor and City Council

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 Dear Mayor and City Council Members,


First, I am writing for you to vote in favor of the Proclamation Declaring October 24, 2023, as United Nations Day.  Please do something right to show that Joliet is a world city.

But the irony is not lost on me, as I saw an angry mob of "concerned citizens" spewing xenophobic and nationalistic hatred at last week's Joliet Township meeting. Mayor D'Arcy fed into the frenzied mob with the request that the Joliet Township Supervisor retract his application for the grant.  And to my disappointment, the crowd that bullied you all and the Township into submission won.

I have lived in Joliet for 23 years.  I love this city, and I know almost every inch of it. Since the age of 19, I have been a human rights activist, both domestically and internationally, and to see my fellow citizens (supposedly) so hateful and falling for lies and bigoted about the humanitarian crisis was a shock to me. A city that prides itself on diversity has become something that I didn't recognize in my 23 years of living here.  The Latin community thrives more than in my original hometown in Kankakee.  My mother is an immigrant from Panama. The attacks and anger of many in that crowd were not just at migrants but at my community in general.  Those were the people sitting behind me, kicking my chair. One ended up finding me on Facebook and started stalking me. Why? 

And Mayor D'Arcy's performance was not representative of me and the majority of people in this city. I have to tell you that the loudest voices were the minority, not the majority. In politics, the mouths that are open get fed.  But those of us quiet will be at the ballot box in 2025 and 2027.  

Then as if that was not disappointing enough.  The Herald News reported that you all knew about this. Or the City Manager know?  And that D'Arcy was interested in the grant monies for himself?  Then you have a few Council Members stating that we should proclaim the City of Joliet a "Non-Sanctuary City" or "Not a Sanctuary City"?  Do you all even know what that means? It means using our police force to become agents of ICE.  Did you know that?  Or are using the term in ignorant bliss to get the bigots to cheer you all on?  

I do not mean any disrespect to any of you, but I am angry at the news that you all possibly knew, that D'Arcy might have wanted the grant for the city.  And now, well, I think some of you could use a lesson in human rights.  

I hope you vote for the United Nations Proclamation, but I hope most of you open your eyes to the bigotry that is on full display. I hope you all understand the true meaning of the United Nations, and what the Declaration of Human Rights really means. If not, feel free to contact me for lessons.

Yours in Joliet,
Jamie E. Wood (she/her)
(City DIstrict 3, Kendall County)

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