Conventional wisdom says that your professional and personal profiles should be separate, especially when you’re jobsearching. That’s probably true. However, let’s talk about our neighbors anyway.

I live on a block with a lot of people who do roofing, construction, and roadside fruit sales. I worry a lot about my neighbors. This spring, I walked over to protest a raid on a taqueria on Lake Street, so it doesn’t feel abstract. So what can I do?

Part of the answer right now is whistles.

How you can help

In 2020, people with sewing machines got them busy to make masks to protect each other. Now, people in the US with 3D printers can help protect neighbors by printing whistles for ICE watch.

Across the US, when we see unaccountable, violent agents kidnapping our neighbors, we’re blowing whistles — to tell them we see them, to alert brown people (especially immigrants) nearby to stay away, and to rally nearby allies to come help.

Whistle+Flier

Why?

A person can blow a whistle far louder and longer than they can shout. And we’re developing a protocol of using two different whistle signals: a broken rhythm of short whistles (“eee-eee-eee-ee”) to signal that agents are nearby, and a continuous, steady sound (“eeeeeeeeeeeeee”) to signal that they’re actively detaining someone.

A Los Angeles organizer demonstrates in this Instagram reel. Chicago neighbors used the sound of whistles to help others find an incident and discourage officers as captured in this video. More about the grassroots efforts in Chicago in this mid-September news report and this Oct. 3rd blog post.

Making whistles

Current tariffs and customs confusion are making it harder to order bulk items like this from overseas. And the costs (this group got theirs for 26 cents each) make it hard for groups to order the quantities we want to distribute them to millions.

So volunteers in Chicago are 3D printing them. Kat Abughazaleh’s put out a request:

3D printers: WE NEED YOU! If you have a printer, start making whistles for your community. Volunteers of ours have been printing and passing them out across communities, over 200 have been handed out so far!

— Kat Abughazaleh (@katmabu.bsky.social) 2025-10-12T20:51:52.819Z

And other cities need them too. New York City is gearing up to resist a similar attack. Across Chicago, Portland, Los Angeles, DC, Memphis, and (likely soon) NYC and other cities, we can anticipate a need for tens of millions of whistles.

Which model?

Desired attributes: an eyelet for a lanyard or keychain; small and slim profile for ease of concealment; loudness (whistles being recommended can often blow 100-120 decibels). Here’s one recommended design (measured over 100dB, takes only about 7g of filament): – according to some Los Angeles activists) and personal experience from a friend. Another person who’s 3D printing whistles for distribution recommended this model, and a few years ago on Reddit someone tested alternatives for loudness. “Man overboard” or “emergency” whistles are more likely to be loud enough.

What colors?

Some people will want brighter colors or even glow-in-the-dark material, to make the whistle easier to find in the dark, and while publicly wearing the whistle on a lanyard around the neck to visibly demonstrate solidarity. Some will want unobstrusive colors, such as dark gray or black, for ease of concealment. And some will want to color-coordinate with their jackets.

How to distribute them

In Chicago: Kat Abughazaleh’s office, 7016 N Clark St. in Rogers Park, or Pilsen Arts & Community House, 1637 W. 18th Street

Other organizations: In Minneapolis, I’ve been connecting with SURJ. I might also reach out to ISAIAH. But the thing I can do fastest is get the whistles and flyers printed and attach them to my front fence, maybe ask permission to put some in Little Free Libraries and boulevard gardens. I remember all the places I went past in 2020 with “Need a mask? Take a mask!”. I want whistle distribution to feel like that.

Elsewhere: If you’re in touch with a local mutual aid association, talk with them first. Or: go to a No Kings protest on Saturday, October 18th and hand them out. Or: leave a comment below, and someone will privately send you an address for a Post Office box in New York City, rented by someone who’s distributing them in a neighborhood with a lot of immigrants.

What to do

• If you have a 3D printer, choose a design and print whistles.
• If you’re going to distribute yourself, add lanyards and flyers explaining them.
• If you hear a whistle and you are in the “slightly safer” demographic (middle-aged white lady, in my case), head for the sound and be ready to record and be part of a noisy crowd. If you are in the more at-risk demographic, head away. We’re your neighbors and want you to be safe.