Pushback has continued to grow in recent weeks regarding a proposal for a migrant shelter in the Roseland community on Chicago's Far South Side.
On Sunday afternoon, residents joined community activist for a rally at West 115th and South Halsted streets, where the city has proposed a tent city for migrants, similar to one planned in Morgan Park.
"The fact is in the Roseland community, there's crime, there's violence, there's gangs, it's through the roof here...and we need to protect our own people. before we take care of people coming from the outside," said community activist Patrick Gibbon.
The site, which previously served as home to a Jewel-Osco, was supposed to be turned into a housing development, residents said.
"It was gonna bring money, it was gonna bring retail, it's gonna bring jobs... so how you going to come and impose it the tents over here and this already been up and running?" resident Anthony Wilson questioned.
At a meeting in September, 21st Ward Ald. Ronnie Mosely, which represents the community, listened to residents concerns about the proposed tent city. In a statement, the alderman expressed his disappointment over the plan and said his "ward will not tolerate the prioritization of a crisis over our needs and voices!"
The Chicago City Council could vote to approve the site's purchase at its meeting on Monday. If approved, construction plans may be accelerated.
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"If you can't take care of your own, then we don't deserve to be a sanctuary city for outsiders," said Gibbons.
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