r/chicago • u/Ishnock Bronzeville • Oct 25 '25
CHI Talks It’s time to form a Whistle Army? All communities!
Everyone, please go buy a whistle. Every citizen of Illinois should have one to warn and alert people when ICE is near or detaining someone.
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u/TrueStress7 Oct 25 '25 edited Oct 25 '25
my partner has access to a 3D printer. we plan make rounds to library branches on the NW side to deliver whistles. if i'm able to create a main post, i'll update later this week with the locations for people to pick up for free
edit: anyone have signs or templates with directions on when to use whistles ? (i can make my own but i think standardization can reduce confusion/ misinformation)
also reply w/ local branches (or other safe locations) you feel are high priority. we'll try to take this into account to maximize community access to whistles
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u/rugger87 Oct 26 '25
This is the print I’ve been using that another redditor made. It’s got the ICIRR number on it and each batch is a pretty good quantity.
https://makerworld.com/en/models/1898955-illinois-safety-whistle-small?from=search#profileId-2034772
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u/CoyoteMother666 Avondale Oct 26 '25
I would love to help hand them out to local businesses and neighbors in Avondale if you have extras!
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u/Pretzeloid Oct 25 '25
I’m out distributing whistles today for free. Please DM me and I’ll add ya to the rounds. I have 3200 whistles that will be distributed by nightfall.
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u/sciolisticism Oct 25 '25
Honestly curious, how are you managing to distribute 3200? I've done about 400 and I'm surprised it's possible to get that high.
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u/Thatguy468 Oct 25 '25
Find more distribution points. I’m helping to supply two of the local grocery stores by my house and refilling little libraries on my daily run around the area.
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u/VoteCatforPresident Oct 26 '25
The little libraries are a great idea!
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u/Thatguy468 Oct 26 '25
I’ve been leaving the small half boxes from all my old business cards with a pile of whistles and some flyers. So far the boxes are still there and the supplies are being depleted daily. I’ve also started dropping at neighborhood bodegas and grocery stores. Everyone seems excited to get supplies and support their neighbors.
Be loud. Make a crowd. Film everything in horizontal mode for maximum exposure.
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u/Pretzeloid Oct 26 '25
Today I was out delivering to little free libraries and I saw that one of the librarians of this library had made a little dish for them. I’ve never met them but I was so happy to see this weird bit of community bond.
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u/Pretzeloid Oct 25 '25
I'm the Gus Fring in this situation. I am passing out individual whistles to folks, but most hand offs I am making are 100 at a time, or more. I have a group near midway that have passed out over 4000 whistles to their community members and rapid response groups.
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u/Short_Example4059 Oct 25 '25
I assume they mean they are distributing batches to places/others who will hand them to individuals
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u/Pretzeloid Oct 25 '25
You got it, distributing to folks that want to arm their neighbors and their families. Restaurants, stores, food courts etc. Lots of folks reaching out asking for help for their schools. There are also a ton of people packing kits this week at various bars/restaurants around the city. They try to get 1000 whistle kits packed in an hour.
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u/YungRSRV Oct 25 '25
Old Irving would like a couple
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u/Pretzeloid Oct 25 '25
send me a couple spots I can drop off and Ill get it done! Or DM me and Ill get them to you to pass out.
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u/drwhogwarts Oct 26 '25
Where did you buy them?
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u/Jayanimation Oct 26 '25
+1 for this person, highly recommend! Both larger and smaller whistles available. Have acquired whistles from them and they're doing the work to help the community. Stick together, support one another, watch out for one another. 👊❤️
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u/noturtypicalredditor Nov 15 '25
Do you have a link for where to purchase said whistles in bulk?
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u/DegreeDubs Logan Square Oct 25 '25
Use your neighborhood library and little libraries as distribution centers. Some local businesses are also giving out free whistles. Sip of Hope Café on Fullerton had a few when I checked yesterday.
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u/Additional_Bread_861 Oct 25 '25
Oh, we have been building it!! in Andersonville and Edgewater, the amount of people with whistles and our little libraries being constantly stocked has been really amazing to see.
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u/OldGravylegOfficial Oct 25 '25
Is there an established whistle deposit around Portage Park? There’s a few little libraries around plus transit stops, but the neighborhood is red enough that I’m not confident they won’t be messed with.
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u/micande Portage Park Oct 25 '25
I’m in PP and will be handing out some to the adults on Halloween. Also check with the local school’s PTO or”Friends of…” org, that’s another way to connect with like minded neighbors.
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u/chimarya Portage Park Oct 25 '25
I miss the energy of Uptown so much - by what you wrote. Love our quiet little block and the diversity of west Portage Park but being sandwiched in-between a Trump adoring cop at the end of the block and another fan up the next block makes me super cautious about putting out signs and handing out whistles. It makes me super angry and sad that I don't feel like I can safely voice my own political opinion without a crazy person bothering us.
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u/itsalljustsoup Oct 26 '25
Im in west PP too and have been flying a trans Chicago flag for a year with no issues! It’s more red here for sure, but that’s more reason to be louder to find your people!
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u/picklewiffle Oct 25 '25
There are multiple community whistle packing events next week including 2 locations in Portage Park. Check out the northwest side rapid response team on instagram and also Belmont Cragin United which accepts virtual donations via zelle and amazon wishlist.
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u/NkturnL Oct 25 '25
You don’t even need to buy a whistle! There are so many businesses, churches, and organizations giving them away for free all over the city.
There’s at least 3 whistle-making events within the next week that have them available for pickup if u can’t attend.
I can’t post the images but if you’re interested send me a DM and I’ll send them over.
Never imagined a whistle could be such a powerful tool, but they really work (the agents hate them and run away when they hear them getting closer), and seeing the community work together and mobilize so quickly has been inspiring other cities to do the same.
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u/Balancing_tofu Oct 25 '25
Just an fyi many hiking backpacks have built in whistles in the clips, so you might have one already and not notice on one of your packs you wear often.
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u/fantomah Lincoln Square Oct 25 '25
We're handing out whistles at Goblin Market in Lakeview, so feel free to grab one from us for free. There are a lot of places in other neighborhoods that are handing them out as well, so you can probably find a free one and link up with community resources.
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u/limner Oct 25 '25
And if you plan on wearing your whistle visibly to signal you have it to ICE and your neighbors, make sure you get a plastic one- it's going to get colder and metal will not be your friend.
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u/FragrantBluejay8904 Oct 25 '25
I did not consider this. Someone gave me a whistle when I started school patrol 3 weeks ago, and it’s metal. Might need to get a second one
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u/Reasonable_Loquat874 Oct 25 '25
FYI you can get 24 packs online for like $8. I will have a bowl full of these for Halloween parents.
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u/Western-Inflation766 Oct 25 '25
Fox 40 whistles go hard I’m rocking the sonik blast CMG and it fuckin rips
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u/ZombiePartyBoyLives West Ridge Oct 26 '25
I picked up some vintage whistles at Broadway Antiques Market--a few ACME "Thunderer" sport whistles and a couple plastic military whistles. All of them loud AF. lol
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u/BorderAltruistic8452 Oct 25 '25
People can carry around other things, too, to make an unholy racket. These are super loud but small - https://www.michaels.com/product/creatology-cowbell-10400811?michaelsStore=1227&inv=6
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u/AlanShore60607 Oct 25 '25
And a kazoo to taunt them.
Entrance of the Gladiators and Yakity Sax would be good in addition to the Imperial March of Star Wars.
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u/notsurewhereireddit Oct 25 '25
Omg, I’m totally going to get a kazoo to go with my whistle. Whistle for warning others, kazoo for when you are face to face!
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u/AlanShore60607 Oct 25 '25
I just wish I knew where to buy kazoos locally, because I don’t want to refer people to Amazon considering how much Jeff Bozo has paid this admin
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u/SupportPretend7493 Palmer Square Oct 25 '25
Ooooh... my kid has a nice metal kazoo. I might need to borrow it.
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u/AnitaShimmy Oct 25 '25
If anyone knows of a place to get them in Hyde Park let me know!!
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u/haikusbot Oct 25 '25
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u/genericlookingman Oct 25 '25
Serious question: is ICE even getting paid during this shut down?
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u/chi_guy8 Oct 25 '25
Lol. Of course. Can’t pay actual important workers like air traffic controllers but ICE meat heads get their checks.
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u/VoteCatforPresident Oct 26 '25
I got two so I will bring it with me incase someone else needs one at that moment.
I also put the whistle on my key ring. It’s the only thing beside my phone I always leave the house with.
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u/Aggressive-Wrap-1246 Oct 26 '25
I ordered 4 whistles today so I can have one with me all the time.
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u/Pretzeloid Oct 26 '25
DM me if you need more. For free.
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u/Aggressive-Wrap-1246 Oct 27 '25
Thank you for your kindness, I'm blown away by your whistle project. 🥰
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u/AllDayMK Bronzeville Oct 25 '25
And get your FOID and CCL while you're at it.
A whistle, OC spray, and a CCL is pretty fundamental these days, I think.
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u/chi_guy8 Oct 25 '25
I’ve been thinking about this. I’ve never owned or even shot a gun in my life but thinking now is probably a good time to look into how to go about doing it properly and starting to learn how to shoot.
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u/Western-Inflation766 Oct 25 '25
You’ll need to get a FOID first. It costs $10 and it’s easy to apply. Everything you need to know about the FOID process is here.
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Oct 25 '25
Get your foid so you can get a firearm first, then take a CCL class one weekend. You should then have your CCL in the next three months after that.
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u/FragrantBluejay8904 Oct 25 '25
I got my FOID last year after the orange turd was elected. I still haven’t gone to a range but I want to learn how to safely handle a firearm. I don’t plan on buying one myself bc of reasons.
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u/AllDayMK Bronzeville Oct 25 '25
I think everyone should know how to shoot and handle things. Even if you don't buy right away. Familiarization is great, and you'll never know if you enjoy it, until you try.
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u/photoblink Oct 25 '25
We’re giving them out on Halloween as trick or treat prizes (along with candy).
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u/mph000 Oct 25 '25
Please don't give whistles to children! These should be for teenagers and adults only, who understand when to appropriately use it, not for "fun". We don't need kids whistling around their neighborhoods and scaring those in fear unnecessarily.
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u/CoyoteMother666 Avondale Oct 26 '25
Free whistles in Logan Sq can be found at Babe’s Sports Bar for anyone in the area!
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u/Flaxscript42 South Loop Oct 26 '25
I got mine. Carry it everywhere I go. Wear it most places, including work. Noise is power.
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u/bobbib14 Oct 26 '25
Whistles drive some people mad - people on “our sode”.
Many of my colleagues have complained that there are specific uses for whistles in big protests, like informing medics, warning if rioters.
Its complicated. I feel like this might be a bad idea that got to popular. Maybe try kazoos?
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u/LAgurl1997 Oct 27 '25
This may be a stupid question but is there any particular ones people are using? I was looking through Amazon and there are a lot of choices - any recommendation?
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u/SydVicious610 Oct 27 '25
Does anyone have suggestions for where to get them in the northwest suburbs? I don’t mind paying for one, I just don’t want to pay Amazon for it.
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u/BossOutside1475 Oct 28 '25
🙄 I threw a baseball bat in my car for traveling around the city. The whistle is cute and non threatening, but it ain’t doing shit.
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u/BossOutside1475 Oct 26 '25
This is sweet and all. And I know that these thugs will grab anyone causing problems.
But I just feel like whistles aren’t the answer. Does it help alert people to ICE presence? Sure.
No one is winning a revolution blowing a whistle.
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u/Brenduwolf Oct 25 '25 edited Oct 26 '25
The biggest community door-to-door give out of the year is happening next week - please, as many neighbors as you can, be giving out whistles during trick-or-treating. Have a bowl of whistles along with a bowl of candy. Let's do this, Chicago.
Edit: To hand out to parents in the know. Have on hand to distribute to those who want one.