WA Whistles is a group in the Seattle area that creates whistle packets to help notify others nearby about the presence of ICE. Led by volunteers, they have put together and distributed over 150,000 whistle packs to those interested, free of cost.
It started out with people using whistles in Los Angeles to warn others about ICE raids in the area, and it started to slowly spread throughout the country. Teresa Magaña in Chicago caught wind of it, and created a zine explaining the purpose and how to use these whistles. There were groups that were formed in Chicago of people who were putting together whistle kits, and that spread to social media.
That’s how Kate learned about it. She’s from Seattle, and she thought it would be a good idea to bring the whistle packs to the PNW. They don’t see themselves as an organization, but as a gathering place.
Each whistle kit comes with a few things. A whistle, most of which are 3D printed, but others are gladly accepted, as long as they’re loud and have a loop or hole to thread through a keyring to make it easier to wear. They also contain helpful information, which include how to use the whistle for ICE alerts, and what your rights are.
Finally, they come with a packet, which is just something to keep everything contained and together for easy distribution. These range from small ziploc baggies to a paperclip.
Why did they choose to use whistles though? Do the whistles actually work? Where can someone find whistles, and where can people volunteer? Do they take donations?
According to the WA Whistles Frequently Asked Questions page, the reasoning for using whistles is because they are “a cheap, simple tool for fast alerts.” Whistles “act as an early alert system, instantly notifying everyone within earshot that danger is imminent.” Whistles have been proven to work in other cities, such as Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and Chicago, so they’ve been brought to the Seattle area too.
Someone can find whistles at many different Whistle Stops. A whistle stop is, “a place where you can get a free whistle kit” according to the WA Whistles Whistles in Businesses page. They also have Whistle Drop Boxes, which are places where “3D printers can drop off bulk 3D printed whistles, for someone else to put into kits and distribute.”
If someone wants to make whistle kits or has finished making a batch of them, they can pick up or drop off supplies at a Whistle Hub. As of currently, there are five Whistle Hubs in the Seattle area. One in North Seattle, one in downtown, one in Beacon Hill, one in Redmond, and one in Issaquah.
The closest Whistle Stops to Highline are less than half a mile away down the road at Mayta’s Market International and Khalij Halal Market. The full map of all of these stops, drops, and hubs can be found here.
WA Whistles will always happily accept donations, whether that donation be money, supplies, or your time. If you’re interested in donating, volunteering, or getting Whistles from them, you can check out their linktree for more information.