Note found with dead rat at Alderman Andre Vasquez's Chicago office in 40th Ward targeted immigrant community, he says
A Chicago alderman is sharing more about what he's calling an "unacceptable act."
Ald. Andre Vasquez, who represents the 40th Ward, says a letter and a dead rat were placed in front of his office on North Western Avenue in the Arcadia Terrace neighborhood.
The letter, he says, specifically targeted the immigrant community.
"It expressed really, some hateful sentiments toward our undocumented population referring to them as vermin, saying they wanted them to leave the country to lower their taxes," Vasquez said.
Vasquez says he first received the call from Chicago police on Sunday evening. When he arrived at his 40th Ward office, police were still on the scene. Video shows the alderman speaking with investigators. Vasquez says the threatening note was taped to the door.
"When you work in a government office, you tend to get complaints, varying degrees of escalation. This is definitely something that's been unprecedented," Vasquez said.
Vasquez acknowledged the current political climate, saying he and CPD take the threat seriously but that this incident puts into perspective the fear that undocumented immigrants are facing right now in their daily lives.
"I think about the folks out here who are undocumented and scared to go outside and even get the groceries because federal agents are everywhere," Vasquez said.
Adam Davila was in the neighborhood for an appointment. Born and raised in Chicago, he says threats like this one are counterproductive.
"These kinds of things aren't helping. They're just making it worse," Davila said.
Instead, Davila and Vasquez believe the power of community is the key to fostering connection and understanding in a politically charged climate.
"Let's start helping each other. Let's give a hand to the neighbor and stuff. You know, people don't do those type of things anymore, and that's why society and people are the way they are now," Davila said.
"Right now, everyone is left to their own devices, literally their algorithms, reinforcing whatever biases they have, as opposed to talking to neighbors they may not agree with and really being able to identify how we all have a shared community we can benefit from," Vasquez said.
In the meantime, Vasquez says the 40th Ward office remains open and they are working with Chicago police to investigate the incident.
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