W E D N E S D A Y
October 23, 2019 Vol. 39, No. 12 ONE DOLLAR @oakpark @wednesdayjournal
JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest
Huskies edge York Page 41
Trustee feels heat over radio spot Community members slam Moroney at Monday’s board meeting By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter
Oak Park trustee Dan Moroney faced community ire over his recent appearance on “Morning Answer with Dan Proft & Amy Jacobson,” a right-wing radio show (WIND-AM) where he discussed fellow Trustee Susan Buchanan’s recent board meeting rant, which caused Buchanan to become a target of vitriolic internet harassment. In front of a packed board room, 18 people addressed the board — Moroney in particular — in non-agenda public comments at the Oct. 21 meeting. Only one comment was made in his defense. Many called on Moroney to resign, while others demanded he apologize for appearing on the show and further stoking the national attention Buchanan’s outburst generated. “We are less safe because of a decision made by Trustee Moroney to inflame an already volatile situation not once, but twice,” said Steve Krasinsky. “Instead of distancing himself from See MORONEY on page 15
Photo by Paul Goyette
BORDER CROSSING AND CRYING OUT: Activists and clergy from Chicago and Oak Park, including Rev. Alan Taylor, of Unity Temple, far left, and Rev. Ira Acree (center), who pastors on the West Side, traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border last week. Now back, they’re condemning the “atrocities” related to the country’s immigration system.
Local leaders see border ‘atrocity’ close up Clergy, activists visited U.S.-Mexico border, call for end to Trump immigration policy By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter
A coalition of community activists, lawmakers and clergy from Oak Park, Chicago and other areas traveled to the Mexican city of Matamoros last week to witness what many who were interviewed about the trip described as a human rights atrocity at the U.S. southern border. “People are being forced into really
dangerous conditions,” said Moni RuizVelasco, the executive director of PASO West Suburban Action Group, an immigrant rights organization. “That part of Mexico is designated by the U.S. State Department as presenting the same level of risk and violence as Afghanistan and Syria, because of the murders and kidnappings,” said Ruiz-Velasco, of Oak Park. “In that area, people have no running water and no shelter. The only food they
have is what is brought across the border from the U.S. side by volunteers.” In December, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of President Donald Trump’s administration, implemented what’s called Migrant Protection Protocols. The initiative essentially denies people seeking asylum entry into the United States, forcing them to wait in Mexico, See CLERGY on page 15
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