MAD Hero of the Month: Chicago Headline Club
Journalist Sue Noem and the Chicago chapter of the Society Professional Journalists fight for press freedom and the physical safety of journalists vs Bovino et. al. and their violent masked goons.
American democracy and journalism need more heroes. Our Media and Democracy Project hero for November is the Chicago Headline Club. Included in this post are actions to take to thank and support this group of professional journalists.
“Press freedom is a precious constitutional right, and we refuse to back down when any government attempts to prevent reporters from doing their jobs: telling the truth.”— Chicago Headline Club
Chartered in 1921, the Chicago Headline Club is the largest chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and a strong advocate for the freedom of the press. The SPJ states: “The Society of Professional Journalists is the nation’s most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and upholding high ethical standards.” The Chicago Headline Club leapt to national prominence during their bold fight against the Trump regime’s recent assault on the people and the press of Chicago.
In September 2025 the Trump regime’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS), reportedly led by cosplay expert Kristi Noem, invaded Chicago to conduct what they called “Operation Midway Blitz”. According to DHS’s mouthpiece Tricia McLaughlin, the operation was intended to “target the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens in Chicago”. If that was the government’s true goal, the operation was a massive failure. According to data published by ICE itself in November, only 2.5% of the 614 people arrested had been convicted of violent crimes (0% had been convicted of rape or murder), and 598 of the arrested had no criminal history.
What did occur in Chicago during the “Blitz” was that Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Commander Greg Bovino led gangs of masked goons through the streets of Chicago to attack, tackle, shoot pepper balls and hurl tear gas canisters at a wide swath of Chicago residents, including protesters, pastors, journalists, elementary school students, and apparently anyone with brown skin or a Spanish accent. Witnesses recorded the chaos on cell phones and posted horrifying videos on social media depicting the violence. While perhaps the most viral of these videos showed ICE agents shooting Reverend David Black in the face and head with pepper balls as he prayed outside the Broadview ICE facility, the agents also attacked members of the media who were covering the invasion. In an egregious violation of the First Amendment right of a free press, agents directly targeted professional journalists holding clearly visible press passes, throwing tear gas canisters and shooting them with pepper balls.
The truth of the operation was revealed in Illinois district court proceedings over Chicago Headline Club v. Noem. Led by the Chicago Headline Club, multiple plaintiffs (including Block Club Chicago, the Chicago Newspaper Guild Local 34071, the Illinois Press Association, and individuals including Rev. David Black) filed the lawsuit on October 6th against Noem, Bovino, and Trump—among others. In one of many assaults against journalists, court documents showed that a federal agent deliberately aimed at and shot reporter Raven Geary in the face pepper balls. She was wearing clearly visible press identification and held a telephoto lens (Photos from Chicago Headline Club v. Noem p.75).
Coverage of the court proceedings showed the spectacle of an increasingly annoyed presiding Judge Sara Ellis and a belligerent Bovino lying about his behavior and that of the agents he commanded. On October 9thJudge Ellis issued a restraining order forbidding the shooting and gassing of the media, the clergy, and peaceful protesters. On November 6, Ellis restricted the use of federal troops in Chicago, and soon after that ruling Bovino and his gang fled Chicago and headed to Charlotte, NC.
The Chicago Headline Club’s response to the injunction highlighted the outrageous conduct of Bovino and his gang :
“Chicago-area journalists repeatedly found themselves attacked by federal agents without justification. We chose to fight back in a court of law and won. We will remain vigilant so that fact-based and honest journalism can tell the stories that need to be told.”
and
“Judge Ellis made it clear in court that the unwarranted use of force by federal authorities in Chicago and its suburbs ‘shocks the conscience.’ She found the government’s explanations for their actions ‘simply not credible,’ pointing out that Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino even lied under oath.”
To further show the public the depth of Bovino’s dishonesty and arrogance, the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, and Chicago Public Media petitioned the court to release Bovino’s depositions. Videos of the depositions can be viewed here.
Although an appeals court found that Ellis’ restrictions were overbroad, on November 20th Ellis released a scathing, 233 page opinion and ruling blasting the excessive force and illegal brutality deployed by federal agents against Chicagoans as wells as the lies told by Bovino and his minions. On December 2nd, the plaintiffs declared victory and dropped the lawsuit, stating that their goal of stopping the pepper ball shooting and gassing and attacks had been achieved. The Chicago Headline Club declared:
“We took the issue to a federal judge, and she outlined in great detail how federal agents violated the basic rights of reporters, religious figures, and protesters,” the board of the Chicago Headline Club said. “We won a great victory for press freedom in the U.S. District Court.
Thank you, Chicago Headline Club. The country owes you a debt of gratitude for your bravery and perseverance to tell the truth and defend democratic principles - and especially press freedom.
The Media and Democracy Project community.
Signed,
Barbara B, Jane, Carolyn, Peggy, Merry, Jeanne, Jan, Jessica, Nora, Joanne, Claudia, Barbara M, Gilda, Susan, Cynthia, Jonathan R, Kent, Susan W, Shelly, Michelle A, Mary R, Sally B, Ellen W, Mary W, Sandy, Lori, Renee, Joyce, Jon, Dave, Michael, Nadene, Mark, Aaron, Brian, Kitty, Jerry, Kat, Denise, Kelley, Lily, Holley, Sujata, and Milo.
The Media and Democracy Project made a group $350 donation to the Chicago Headline Club “Essential Equipment Fund for Journalists” to help protect their physical safety and we ask you to do the same:
MAD actions to take in support of the Chicago Headline Club:
1 – Donate to the Chicago Headline Club Foundation:
https://headlineclub.org/about/chcfoundation/
2- Donate to the Chicago Headline Club Foundation “Essential Equipment Fund for Journalists”:
https://headlineclub.org/2025/10/11/essential-equipment-fund-for-journalists/
3- Sign up as a journalist or supporter to get updates from the Chicago Headline Club:
https://headlineclub.org/signup/
4- Volunteer with the Chicago Headline Club:
https://headlineclub.org/volunteer/
5- Donate to the Society for Professional Journalists
BONUS ACTION: Be a media activist and join us at an upcoming Media and Democracy Project Zoom meeting.
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