Failing healthcare on the island of Vieques

By Arnab Mondal Medill Reports Thousands of concrete blocks are lined up, side by side, on the edges of Luis Muñoz Rivera Plaza in Vieques, a tiny island in Puerto Rico. Some of the blocks are dyed with color, and most have names scribbled on them. At first glance, the colorful blocks, red ribbons and […]
Q&A: “Stop listening to haters,” says the youngest Muslim to be elected

By Arnab Mondal Medill Reports Bushra Amiwala, the daughter of two Pakistani immigrants, became the youngest Muslim elected official in the country at the age of 21 in 2019. She was a DePaul University freshman when she ran for a seat on the Cook County Board of Commissioners in 2017. She lost in the Democratic […]
Muslims in Chicago say that Trump’s statements have painted a target on their backs

By Arnab Mondal Medill Reports As Dilara Sayeed, a 51-year old Muslim in Chicago, entered an office building for a meeting, she had an experience which she had thought almost unthinkable a few years ago. Besides her office attire, Sayeed was also wearing a colorful hijab, a symbol of her faith. Sayeed is a social […]
Indian Americans in Chicago come together against the new citizenship bill in India

By Arnab Mondal Medill Reports The Indian community in Chicago has come out in support of Muslims after India passed a new citizenship bill last December that discriminates against the religious minority group. India has been rocked by protests since Dec. 12, when the government passed a law that accelerated citizenship for foreign-born non-Muslim religious […]
Mayor Lightfoot’s anti-violence budget sparks debate between non-profits and critics

By Arnab Mondal Medill Reports As he leaves his house every morning to go to his job, Kenneth Watkins’ mother wishes him a good day with a smile. “She used to look so worried whenever I left the house,” Watkins said. “The only thing she used to say to me was ‘Stay safe.’ But she […]