PBS News Weekend: Chicago Crime Crackdown, Indonesia Protests, and Black-Owned Business Legacy

Chicago Crime and Immigration Tensions

• 🚨 Chicago is preparing for a federal crackdown on crime and illegal immigration, with President Trump signaling troop and ICE agent deployment.
• 🗣️ Trump's social media posts have heightened tensions, though Chicago Police Department data indicates a decrease in murders compared to the previous year.
• ✊ Protesters have taken to the streets, denouncing the president's rhetoric as fear-mongering and vowing not to tolerate it.
• 😟 The immigrant community expresses fear, with some festivals canceled and a noticeable decrease in attendance at cultural events due to concerns of being targeted by ICE agents.
• 🏛️ Chicago's mayor and police department have stated they will not cooperate with or support ICE efforts but will not hinder them, focusing on public safety and enforcing municipal codes.
• 🏫 Discussions are ongoing about Chicago Public Schools potentially shifting to remote learning to protect undocumented students from ICE agents.

Indonesia's Worsening Economic and Political Climate

• 💥 Indonesia is experiencing its worst violence in years, with widespread anti-government protests fueled by economic hardship and a widening gap between elites and the middle class.
• 🏍️ Protests escalated after a delivery driver was killed during a police crackdown, leading to at least 10 deaths and significant damage to vehicles and government buildings.
• 📉 Underlying the unrest is a struggling economy, with rising prices for staples and increasing youth unemployment, despite official growth figures.
• 🏛️ Concerns are rising about a potential return to authoritarianism under President Prabowo Subianto, given his past and the perceived efforts to squelch democratic opposition in the legislature.
• 🌍 Indonesia's stability is crucial for Southeast Asia, as it is the region's largest country and a significant democracy, influencing regional dynamics.

Legacy of Black-Owned Construction in America

• 🏗️ A new book, "The Black Family Who Built America," chronicles the resilience of the McKissack family, America's oldest Black-owned construction company, founded in the mid-1880s.
• 🧱 Moses McKissack, an enslaved man taught brickmaking, and his descendants built a legacy that shifted clientele to Black communities after facing discrimination.
• 👩‍💼 Cheryl McKissack Daniel, CEO of the company, discusses overcoming barriers as a woman and minority in the industry, challenging myths about capability and funding.
• ✈️ Proud projects include the Berkeley Arena, which launched the company into the transportation and rail business, and extensive work on New York City airports like LaGuardia and JFK Terminal One.
• 💰 McKissack Daniel emphasizes the importance of ownership for Black entrepreneurs to create generational wealth and empower communities, citing the JFK Terminal 1 project as an example of successful minority participation.
• 📖 The book aims to reframe the narrative of who built America and inspire readers to document their own family legacies.