Chicagoans Refuse to Be Cowed in the Face of Unrelenting State Violence

Last week, a jury in Washington, D.C. refused to convict a man who became a folk hero when he threw a sandwich at a federal agent. In New York City, Zohran Mamdani won a brilliantly executed mayoral race against sexual harasser and primary loser Andrew Cuomo. In Chicago, a federal judge called out Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino for lying during a deposition, and again ordered ICE agents to limit their use of force in the Chicagoland area. It’s important to celebrate victories — to raise a glass, to exhale in relief, to crack a smile, or even laugh out loud, because finally, something has gone right. But these days, wins and losses unfold rapidly, and pivoting from one feeling to the next can be a challenge. When you’re living in a state of emergency — hypervigilant and raging against i