In San Francisco, California, community members have started distributing whistles as a way to communicate and organize against ICE deportations. Activists initiated this effort to provide locals with a means to respond to federal immigration enforcement actions. The system involves a simple whistle code: three short whistles signal that ICE is nearby, while a single long whistle indicates that someone has been taken into custody.
The nonprofit Frameline, which is associated with the city’s LGBTQ+ festival, is launching “whistle stops” across San Francisco for residents to pick up free whistles and engage in protests against ICE. The organization cited inspiration from similar initiatives in Chicago.
Gabriela Siaton, a manager at the Roxy Theater, mentioned that their supply of whistles ran out quickly after they arrived. She expressed surprise at the whistle code, noting that while the community has been sharing updates on social media about ICE sightings, this new tool allows for a quicker response.
This trend seems to trace back to Chicago, where local anti-ICE groups have been holding meetings to distribute whistles effectively. The objective here is twofold: to alert immigrants and vulnerable community members to flee and to encourage neighbors to assemble and document any arrests that occur.
Interestingly, the use of whistles as a signal for community defense against assaults has a longer history, with LGBTQ+ groups employing them since the 1970s for protecting individuals from hate crimes. Allegra Madsen, Frameline’s Executive Director, mentioned their connection to this tradition of activism—from the Butterfly Brigade in San Francisco to organizing efforts in Chicago today.
