Whistle Project

 Whistle Packet Program: Marin County

“Whistlemania” started in Chicago when the National  Guard and ICE surge started there. When Trump announced his plans to send his goons to the Bay Area, several Marin residents us got together and started making whistle packets here.

Packets have been distributed at the farmers market, where the residents table every Sunday, in several schools and school districts, and at rallies and protests. Outreach to churches has begun and the packet makers offer to discuss the program following services and by attending meetings at churches. Outreach to businesses (such as coffee houses) is starting, and business owners are being asked to serve as distribution points for the packets.

A training video is available in both English and Spanish. The QR code with a link to the videos are printed on labels and put on the packets.

Included in the packet with the whistle and instructions is the Marin Rapid Response Network card and the Know Your Rights red card. Everything is in Spanish and English.

While the premise of the program is simple – Form a Crowd, Stay Loud – it’s important for those at risk to make their own decision about taking part. First and foremost, those in the immigrant community must be told precisely what the whistles mean. Three short bursts – ICE has been spotted. Prolonged blows – ICE is detaining people.

The whistle project is just one piece of preparations for the attacks happening to our immigrants whether undocumented, with proper papers or citizens. The county’s government leadership, Sheriff, local City Councils,  local police, and legal groups must be part of this necessary planning and preparation, of which the whistle project is an essential community  response piece.