I have watched for years now as Chicago bleeds black people and displaces the poor. This trend predates the current mayor Rahm Emanuel’s tenure. What the election of Emanuel has done is to super-charge a process of gentrification and urban removal that has been happening for years.

La Casita in 2011 (photo by Brett Jelinek)

The latest betrayal of the brown and the poor came on Friday evening when parents and children were interrupted during an Atzec dance class by police officers and demolition trucks.

photo by Vivi Arrieta (8/16/13)

La Casita, a library and community center adjacent to Whittier elementary school, has been a contested site for years. In 2010, parents and community members staged a 43-day sit-in to save it from demolition. This protest predates the Occupy movement. Chicago Public School (CPS) officials wanted to replace La Casita with a soccer field that would serve Cristo Rey, a nearby private school.

The parents won their fight. CPS promised to keep the center open and leased the building to the parents for $1 a year. Alderman Danny Solis committed to securing funds to renovate the space. You can learn more about the 2010 struggle to save La Casita here.

Then on Friday evening, without any warning, the cops and bulldozers arrived. Parents issued frantic calls to supporters to defend the building. Protesters spent the night keeping vigil, hoping to ward off the demolition. There was fear and fury.

“CPS is a liar, nothing but liars. They made a promise, and now they creep in in the middle of the night. Why now? Why at night? So no one sees this betrayal, this hypocrisy,” community member Chris Gevanis told the Sun-Times Friday.

Yesterday morning, the wrecking crew arrived again. Desperate to save the space where his children felt safe and cared for, a father jumped in front of the bulldozer in a futile attempt to stop the destruction.

photo by Tracy Barrientos

Parents and community members implored the demolition workers not to raze the building.

Protesters formed a human chain to protect La Casita.

“Putting bodies on the line to defend the fieldhouse from CPS bureaucrats’ scheme to demolish the beloved community space literally under cover of darkness.” – photo & words by Christine Geovanis (8/17/13)

Ultimately ten people were arrested and the building was leveled. All that was left in the wake were tears, broken promises, outrage, betrayal, and rubble.

“They sobbed on the street for five minutes while watching the demolition. They also both spoke later at the evening vigil — and condemned the ‘grownups’ who destroyed their fieldhouse.” – photo & words by Christine Geovanis (8/17/13)

My friend Sarah Jane Rhee participated in and documented the 2010 sit-in at La Casita. On Saturday evening, she returned. Here are her words describing what she saw:

It was about 6pm when I got there, and there was just one mom, Angelica, who was bearing witness to this “crime scene” with Erin, a friend to La Casita who had stopped by after work. As heartbreaking as it was for me to witness this, I can’t even imagine what it is like for Angelica and the other parents and the students who lost their beloved Centro. Nevertheless, the struggle continues…

As always, Sarah took poignant photographs to document the event. She kindly shared them on her Facebook page and I am honored to share some here.

Erin, a friend of La Casita, lends her presence to Angelica, one of the Whittier moms who was part of the occupation in 2010 and the occupation in summer of 2011, whose 3 children have attended Whittier. (by Sarah Jane Rhee 8/17/13)

“Disinvestment in communities of color is a form of violence that the state perpetuates.” Sarah Jane Rhee, 8/17/13

by Sarah Jane Rhee (8/17/13)

La Casita parents, community members, and supporters have vowed to keep fighting. They want CPS to build a new community center and library in place of the one they’ve torn down. It is in this demand that we can find hope. Because the people who are most impacted by this act of violence are not resigned or defeated. They are sad to be sure. They are angry. But they are not defeated.

We should all be taking our cues from them and commit ourselves to continuing to resist even when it feels difficult or sometimes futile. It is silence that will destroy us. As long as we keep raising our voices, putting our bodies on the line, refusing to be cowed, and fighting for our own survival, we will lose some fights but we will ultimately win justice. I believe this is true. I have to. The struggle is a reminder that we are here; that we exist. It’s an affirmation that we are human. In the midst of a crisis, we all find our unique ways to contribute. There is something incredibly moving about that and yes, hopeful too. A la luta continua!

You can help support the ongoing resistance and organizing by donating funds. For more background on La Casita and the ongoing struggle, CTU has put together a good roundup.