COALITION STATEMENT

Standing Together to Protect Our Cultural Spaces and Communities

The Chicago Cultural Alliance and its member institutions are deeply concerned by the increasing reports of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity targeting immigrant communities across the country. These actions, often carried out in or near places of community gathering, risk undermining the trust and safety that cultural spaces are meant to provide.

Cultural institutions are more than venues for exhibits and events—they are homes for history, belonging, and healing. For many communities, they are lifelines: trusted places where stories are preserved, identities are affirmed, and connections are made across generations. These spaces should never be used to intimidate or target the very people they were built to serve.

As an alliance rooted in and led by these communities, we are committed to supporting our members through moments of uncertainty and fear. We understand the rising anxieties many are facing, and we stand ready to listen, convene, and advocate.

We recognize that these threats do not exist in isolation. They are connected to broader efforts to silence marginalized voices, defund cultural work, and sow fear where there should be celebration and solidarity. In response, we affirm the essential role that culture plays in building just, inclusive, and resilient communities.  

The Chicago Cultural Alliance is committed to:

● Providing our members with tools, resources, and communications support
● Advocating for the protection of cultural spaces as vital civic and community institutions
● Amplifying the voices of communities most directly impacted
● Partnering with allies to strengthen our collective response  

Together, we will continue to create, convene, and care for our communities. The strength of our cultural ecosystem lies in our collective commitment to inclusion, dignity, and belonging—and that is something we will always protect.