dan orkin
@danorkin.bsky.social
Chicago enthusiast. Mediocre (but passionate) banjo player.
Silly music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Drag5FNFGZVOJS3RxQ5vY?si=7rQDSbVoQ2u7LE2t3nxpCg
Silly music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Drag5FNFGZVOJS3RxQ5vY?si=7rQDSbVoQ2u7LE2t3nxpCg
Im playing in a Last Waltz tribute show this weekend and was rewatching the film, so much of it is The Band being like ”the road is a young man’s game, we’re all too old and haggard for that now“ and you look it up they were all like 32. Anyway shows on Saturday in bucktown, come on out.
November 20, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Im playing in a Last Waltz tribute show this weekend and was rewatching the film, so much of it is The Band being like ”the road is a young man’s game, we’re all too old and haggard for that now“ and you look it up they were all like 32. Anyway shows on Saturday in bucktown, come on out.
the news you can use framing of this is just so so bleak
Chicago may experience less tear gas use as Operation Midway Blitz winds down. Cold and wet weather reduce effectiveness, while wind adds unpredictability.
Wind, cold temps can change the impact of tear gas and pepper balls, experts say
chicago.suntimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 3:23 PM
the news you can use framing of this is just so so bleak
Reposted by dan orkin
“Early morning Thursday, November 13, Felix and his family’s life as they know it was turned upside down. Felix, a dedicated father and husband, was taken by ICE while he was with his young daughter on their way to school. For the past 15 years, Felix has lived in Chicago with his wife and child..”
Donate to Stand with Felix's Family: Urgent Support Needed, organized by Amanda Guillaume
Early morning Thursday, November 13, Felix and his family’s life as … Amanda Guillaume needs your support for Stand with Felix's Family: Urgent Support Needed
www.gofundme.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:54 AM
“Early morning Thursday, November 13, Felix and his family’s life as they know it was turned upside down. Felix, a dedicated father and husband, was taken by ICE while he was with his young daughter on their way to school. For the past 15 years, Felix has lived in Chicago with his wife and child..”
We can definitely be optimistic about this news but can’t forget that they’ll still have some presence, and especially can’t abandon the movement we have started building in defiance of what they have done so far.
Border Patrol boss Greg Bovino and other federal immigration agents could be leaving Chicago this week, reports say. blockclubchi.co/4qT41qx
November 11, 2025 at 3:31 PM
We can definitely be optimistic about this news but can’t forget that they’ll still have some presence, and especially can’t abandon the movement we have started building in defiance of what they have done so far.
It's all a game to them. They terrorize communities, tear families apart, and inflict untold damage wherever they appear, and it's all a fucking game.
Sadistic, marauding fascist monsters having a tourist moment. “The photo op came after agents tear-gassed a Little Village street and were spotted in the area numerous times. At the Bean, one agent shouted, ‘Everyone say, “Little Village!”’”
Border Patrol Agents Pose At The Bean For Apparent Photo Op
The photo op came after agents tear-gassed a Little Village street and were spotted in the area numerous times. At the Bean, one agent shouted, "Everyone say, 'Little Village!'"
blockclubchicago.org
November 10, 2025 at 4:07 PM
It's all a game to them. They terrorize communities, tear families apart, and inflict untold damage wherever they appear, and it's all a fucking game.
Dick Durbin‘s constituency includes communities currently, actively being invaded and terrorized by the administration he’s about to embolden.
November 10, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Dick Durbin‘s constituency includes communities currently, actively being invaded and terrorized by the administration he’s about to embolden.
Reposted by dan orkin
My latest is a love letter to Chicago. "I see you stumbling through the stubborn, awkward rhythm of showing up, again and again. I see you fighting alongside people who sometimes frustrate and confuse you, and defending neighbors you may have never met, because you know they’re all your people."
In Chicago, We Run Toward Danger Together
"Faced with unrelenting state violence, Chicagoans have refused to be cowed," says Mariame Kaba.
organizingmythoughts.org
November 8, 2025 at 2:46 PM
My latest is a love letter to Chicago. "I see you stumbling through the stubborn, awkward rhythm of showing up, again and again. I see you fighting alongside people who sometimes frustrate and confuse you, and defending neighbors you may have never met, because you know they’re all your people."
Reposted by dan orkin
I've noticed that there isn't much talk here about the current internecine war that is unfolding on the right, spearheaded in large part by Nick Fuentes, Tucker Carlson, and Candace Owens after the assassination of Charlie Kirk. I know this shit is insane and feels bad. But this is a mistake (1/)
November 8, 2025 at 12:59 AM
I've noticed that there isn't much talk here about the current internecine war that is unfolding on the right, spearheaded in large part by Nick Fuentes, Tucker Carlson, and Candace Owens after the assassination of Charlie Kirk. I know this shit is insane and feels bad. But this is a mistake (1/)
From what I've seen on the local parent facebook group, this was a teacher at a Spanish immersion daycare and she was pulled out of the building in front of children and parents. I cannot even wrap my head around this depravity.
Federal agents pulling a woman out of Rayito Del Sol, a daycare by Lane Tech high school
November 5, 2025 at 2:56 PM
From what I've seen on the local parent facebook group, this was a teacher at a Spanish immersion daycare and she was pulled out of the building in front of children and parents. I cannot even wrap my head around this depravity.
Reposted by dan orkin
Hell is not hot enough. If you’re not yet tapped into your local mutual aid or rapid response group, today is as good a day as any to plug in.
this morning, ICE went into a Spanish language immersion daycare and took a teacher from the building in front of screaming and crying kids and parents at dropoff and the daycare had to shut down for the day (near Lane Tech, where they were yesterday). Really hoping today's "theme" is not "daycare."
November 5, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Hell is not hot enough. If you’re not yet tapped into your local mutual aid or rapid response group, today is as good a day as any to plug in.
Reposted by dan orkin
For those in the Windy City, check out this amazing Mutual Aid Map from Community Kitchen Chicago.
www.communitykitchenchicago.org/mutual-aid-map
www.communitykitchenchicago.org/mutual-aid-map
Mutual Aid Map — Community Kitchen Chicago
www.communitykitchenchicago.org
November 4, 2025 at 5:08 PM
For those in the Windy City, check out this amazing Mutual Aid Map from Community Kitchen Chicago.
www.communitykitchenchicago.org/mutual-aid-map
www.communitykitchenchicago.org/mutual-aid-map
Good sharable resource from Logan sq mutual aid, if you are in the area.
October 30, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Good sharable resource from Logan sq mutual aid, if you are in the area.
I live close to the Logan Square block mentioned in this article, and it absolutely breaks my heart to think that some of the thousand+ kids we see at our door every year are having their halloween stolen from them this year.
Indoor trick-or-treat events. Candy dropoffs. Neighbors patrolling with whistles.
This is how Chicagoans are helping kids have a safe and ICE-free Halloween this year: blockclubchi.co/47qJSzi.
This is how Chicagoans are helping kids have a safe and ICE-free Halloween this year: blockclubchi.co/47qJSzi.
October 29, 2025 at 3:03 PM
I live close to the Logan Square block mentioned in this article, and it absolutely breaks my heart to think that some of the thousand+ kids we see at our door every year are having their halloween stolen from them this year.
I made this post on the local Logan Square facebook page about ways to help with food insecurity in the neighborhood with the loss of SNAP benefits next week. Sharing here for the benefit of anyone in the area that happens to follow me here:
October 27, 2025 at 8:54 PM
I made this post on the local Logan Square facebook page about ways to help with food insecurity in the neighborhood with the loss of SNAP benefits next week. Sharing here for the benefit of anyone in the area that happens to follow me here:
My friend Vivi works for CPS as an advocate for students experiencing housing insecurity. If you're looking for an extremely direct way to support vulnerable families in Chicago, consider her gofundme:
www.gofundme.com/f/support-fa...
www.gofundme.com/f/support-fa...
Donate to Support Families Impacted by Immigration Detentions, organized by Viviana Ortiz
Hi everyone. My name is Viviana and I work at a school on the West S… Viviana Ortiz needs your support for Support Families Impacted by Immigration Detentions
www.gofundme.com
October 27, 2025 at 5:47 PM
My friend Vivi works for CPS as an advocate for students experiencing housing insecurity. If you're looking for an extremely direct way to support vulnerable families in Chicago, consider her gofundme:
www.gofundme.com/f/support-fa...
www.gofundme.com/f/support-fa...
Reposted by dan orkin
I will tell you that the folks working the ICIRR Hotline are the real deal and saved these kids.
PUT THIS NUMBER IN YOUR PHONE AND CALL IF YOU SEE ICE IN ILLINOIS: (855) 435-7693
PUT THIS NUMBER IN YOUR PHONE AND CALL IF YOU SEE ICE IN ILLINOIS: (855) 435-7693
October 21, 2025 at 4:16 PM
I will tell you that the folks working the ICIRR Hotline are the real deal and saved these kids.
PUT THIS NUMBER IN YOUR PHONE AND CALL IF YOU SEE ICE IN ILLINOIS: (855) 435-7693
PUT THIS NUMBER IN YOUR PHONE AND CALL IF YOU SEE ICE IN ILLINOIS: (855) 435-7693
Reposted by dan orkin
People who think this way
demonstrate that their political reality is confined to flame wars and memes. every serious chicago organizer I know marched. most had their critiques but didn’t let that stand in the way in the fundamental organizing principle of meeting folks where they are.
demonstrate that their political reality is confined to flame wars and memes. every serious chicago organizer I know marched. most had their critiques but didn’t let that stand in the way in the fundamental organizing principle of meeting folks where they are.
October 20, 2025 at 3:14 PM
People who think this way
demonstrate that their political reality is confined to flame wars and memes. every serious chicago organizer I know marched. most had their critiques but didn’t let that stand in the way in the fundamental organizing principle of meeting folks where they are.
demonstrate that their political reality is confined to flame wars and memes. every serious chicago organizer I know marched. most had their critiques but didn’t let that stand in the way in the fundamental organizing principle of meeting folks where they are.
Reposted by dan orkin
An astonishingly large crowd!
Chicago
Chicago
October 18, 2025 at 9:18 PM
An astonishingly large crowd!
Chicago
Chicago
October 18, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Reposted by dan orkin
So we need to talk about this a bit, because the story is more complicated.
First, YES, these are the same immigrants who were dehumanized by Abbott and who are now being dehumanized by Trump.
Second, YES, there was incredible community organizing that came together to care for these folks.
First, YES, these are the same immigrants who were dehumanized by Abbott and who are now being dehumanized by Trump.
Second, YES, there was incredible community organizing that came together to care for these folks.
I've recently been reminded that at least some of the immigrants that Abbot sent the Texas national guard to kidnap, are the same immigrants Abbott flew to Chicago in the dead of winter in flip flops and a t shirt to overwhelm the city. Instead Chicago residents clothed, fed and resettled them
October 16, 2025 at 1:52 PM
So we need to talk about this a bit, because the story is more complicated.
First, YES, these are the same immigrants who were dehumanized by Abbott and who are now being dehumanized by Trump.
Second, YES, there was incredible community organizing that came together to care for these folks.
First, YES, these are the same immigrants who were dehumanized by Abbott and who are now being dehumanized by Trump.
Second, YES, there was incredible community organizing that came together to care for these folks.
Reposted by dan orkin
There is something really beautiful about the way these rapid response and school watch networks are connecting people. Earlier today, my neighbor a few houses down and I realized we had been in the same group chat for weeks without even knowing it.
October 9, 2025 at 10:09 PM
There is something really beautiful about the way these rapid response and school watch networks are connecting people. Earlier today, my neighbor a few houses down and I realized we had been in the same group chat for weeks without even knowing it.
I saw a rapid response alert of an ICE vehicle in my neighborhood and went to the intersection about 20 minutes after it was first posted. By the time I got there, they were gone and in their place were at least three different locals in their cars, on stand by for when they came back.
As y'all have probably heard, there has been a lot of ICE activity on the North Side of Chicago today. At least four people were kidnapped by ICE in the Rogers Park neighborhood. Folks mobilized throughout the day to do ICE Watch and Rapid Response work.
October 9, 2025 at 9:58 PM
I saw a rapid response alert of an ICE vehicle in my neighborhood and went to the intersection about 20 minutes after it was first posted. By the time I got there, they were gone and in their place were at least three different locals in their cars, on stand by for when they came back.
pro tip: Rico Fresh has a very solid taco stand inside.
After federal agents smoke bombed a Logan Square street, area businesses are reporting slow sales and "fear in the air." blockclubchi.co/4h3k3tt
October 8, 2025 at 10:17 PM
pro tip: Rico Fresh has a very solid taco stand inside.
This is a good sound bite and all but also worth noting that while this interview was happening real people were being detained and kidnapped a few miles away where citizens were actually forcing feds to 'come through' them. Maybe start spending time there, gov?
If you come for my people, you come through me.
October 8, 2025 at 8:08 PM
This is a good sound bite and all but also worth noting that while this interview was happening real people were being detained and kidnapped a few miles away where citizens were actually forcing feds to 'come through' them. Maybe start spending time there, gov?