Hours after thousands in Chicago took to the streets to join in Mexican Independence Day celebrations, a dead rat and a “threatening,” derogatory note referring to undocumented immigrants as “vermin” were left in front of a Chicago alderman’s office.
About 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Chicago police officers responding to a call for service in the 5600 block of North Western Ave., discovered a dead rat had been placed at the doorstep of 40th Ward Ald. Andre Vasquez’s office. A handwritten note containing “derogatory statements” was also placed on the door, police said.
A message to community members from Vasquez posted to Facebook described the note as “threatening” and said that it, among other things, “referred to undocumented immigrants as vermin.”
“In this current political climate, we take these threats seriously, and are working with the Chicago Police Department to investigate,” Vasquez’s message said. “In the meantime, the 40th Ward Office will remain open. We are and will always be steadfast in our commitment to serving 40th Ward neighbors and supporting the rights of the immigrant community.”
The incident comes amid the backdrop of the Trump Administration’s immigration enforcement campaign known as “Operation Midway Blitz,” which federal officials say began last week across Chicago and Illinois.
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