story7179.xml

story7179.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-13

On September 11, 2001 I was at work. I work for the City of Chicago at the Administrative Hearings Facility. While we were in our offices getting prepared to have court sessions for the different municipalities we heard over the radio that there had been an attack on the Twin Towers in New York and that there maybe a act of terriorism on the City of Chicago especially Sears Towers, large office buildings in the Loop area and City facilities. Everyone was crying and alarmed. An overwhelmingly number of phone calls flooded our phone lines in all departments cancelling their court dates because they were scared to come to court fearing that our facility might be under attack. There is usually a large number of Arab cab drivers that come to court everyday, but, on that particular day not one of them showed up. It was as if someone knew what was going to happened and alerted everyone else and they (Arab) taxicab drivers were not around at all. Staff members and court officials noticed that and we all got very alarmed because we figured if they did not show then what possibly could have planned for our City building. Many parents and friends called and asked that we leave the building, but, some of stayed with the grace of God that there would not be a tragedy at our Administrative Hearing City of Chicago Bulding. Our mayor did in fact close down some City of Chicago facilities. One thing I must say is that at our facility our security was on guard and City of Chicago Police and Fire Personnel were on point. At first I was nervous, but I received a phone call from my mom who is a Holy woman and she prayed for me and my co-workers and said that God was with us and we had nothing to fear. I immediately felt a calm for myself and began to weep for others who's family mambers were in the Twin towers and the air planes that had crashed. We Chicagoans have been deeply affected by this horific episode. Our hearts, souls and prayers go out to anyone who was a victim, family member or friend of the people who lost their lives on this day. We will never forget this day or any other where people have lost their lives at the hands of someone else.