Photo courtesy Voice Justice
Tumbleweird has agreed to allow our subject to use her social media name ‘Voice Justice’ to protect her identity. We conducted a phone interview on March 10, 2026.
Voice Justice has lived in Walla Walla since 2015. She’s a married mom of two “big kids” — one in college and one in High School. Voice Justice identifies as Latina. “I'm first generation,” said Justice. “My parents are from Juarez and Mexico City, and they were farm workers. My mom didn't have her documentation for a long time. I have memories of her carrying her documents on her, and I never understood why, but she's been carrying her papers on her for as long as I can remember.”
Justice said that growing up, she witnessed her mom being deported twice before she was able to complete the documentation process. This taught Justice to live in fear… and to stay quiet. Justice said:
This fear has always been something in my life… and I just can't do it anymore. I can't be afraid. I had to do something. I couldn't sit here and cry all the time and feel helpless. I felt so helpless. I didn't know how to help my people.
Everything changed when Justice read about a group in Washington State that were promoting ‘whistle kits’.
Whistle kits and rapid response training
Justice said she contacted the ‘whistle kits’ group, WA Whistles, “and immediately they started helping me. They started showing me what I needed to do. They connected me with people who sent me free whistles that they 3D printed.” Justice said that she and her husband ordered whistles online, too. Soon afterward, one of Justice’s friends “caught wind” of what she was doing and decided to help.
Justice explained that in each whistle kit is a Know Your Rights Card and phone number to a Rapid Response Team. There is also information on how to interact with ICE, a copy of what constitutes an official warrant (not the administrative so-called “warrants” that ICE issues), along with a card to explain how to use the enclosed whistle.
The whistles themselves are for “noise visibility,” Justice explained. The whistles are to warn others when ICE is in the area, so vulnerable people can get to safety and everyone else can come help. Justice said there are whistle ‘codes’ for different things — if ICE is nearby, for example, or if someone is currently being taken.
Justice explained that they are trained to just be witnesses, not to actively interfere with ICE. “We're not trying to get anybody hurt; we're not trying to physically stop ICE” said Justice. “We just need to get as many eyes on the people who are being kidnapped and be able to record it and have it as evidence.”
Justice and her friend are also working to build community. They are baking cookies and planning neighborhood events. “We just talk to get to know our neighbors,” said Justice, so that when people are in danger of being taken, they can communicate with the people who are willing to help.
The Walla Walla Immigrant Rights Coalition (WWIRC) held a training at Whitman College that Justice and her friend attended so they could join a rapid response team. Rapid response teams are groups of people that come to witness and document ICE activity. Justice brought whistle kits to share with the other trainees. She said that they aren’t officially part of WWIRC or any of the other advocacy groups, but they want to help out anyone who is protecting the vulnerable people in their community. “We're just two moms,” Justice said.
In order to be on a rapid response team with WWIRC, you have to do a background check, do an in-person interview, and complete the training. “The more eyes you have, the better,” said Justice.
Differing approaches
Justice’s tactics are not welcomed by everyone in Walla Walla. In fact, one advocacy group that also works on behalf of immigrant community members, an organization called Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN), posted on their official Instagram page that they are against the use of whistles in Washington state.
Part of WAISN’s post reads: “In Washington state, we have seen whistle tactics increase fear, draw unwanted attention, and interfere with rapid response efforts. That is why WAISN’s approach does not include the use of whistles.” WAISN also acknowledges in their post that “rapid response looks different across the country because it is shaped by local conditions and local communities.”
Justice said that although not everyone agrees with their methods, “we're still doing it because it is so important.”
As a proud, first-generation daughter of Mexican immigrant parents, Justice said that people in Walla Walla don’t really understand what it is like to be her. She’s had pushback from MAGA people, which Justice said is easy enough to deal with, “because I expect it from them.”
She said what is harder to handle is pushback from people who are supposed to be on her side. She relayed some of the ‘feedback’ from them: “I'm too abrasive. They don't like that I cuss. They just don't like the way I function.” Justice said that she’s “a little rough around the edges” but that it makes sense for her to be angry about what is happening in her community. “I'm going to return the energy that is given to me,” she said.
But no matter what, the most important thing, according to Justice, is that people observe what is happening in their communities. “We want people to gather and witness,” said Justice. “That's what we need to do, is witness. We need to record everything.”
Standing up and getting loud
At a recent rally, a person standing near Justice tried to silence her. “She was an older white lady,” Justice recalled. “You know, all of this activism is a lot of white people helping me do this. I'm almost the only Latina in the group.” Justice tried to explain to the woman, saying, “I'm 100% Mexican, and you don't know what this is like for me.” But she left shortly afterward. “I don't know,” Justice said. “Sometimes I just feel like they don't care.”
Both online and in person, Justice said she’s been told by people that she’s going to get into trouble, that she’s being too loud, that she’s using too much profanity. But Justice pointed out that there’s nothing new about tone policing women — especially women of color:
I won't be quiet and docile. [Being] meek women is no longer working. It's time for us to rise up and take control. I mean, I feel like when I see things happening, it's always women. Like the whistle project… is a bunch of women.
We're just ready to ride and ready to get stuff done. We're ready for a change. I mean, they're stripping our rights away. Not just the undocumented.
Justice is showing up to vocally oppose people in public venues, too. She said she’s not afraid anymore. She recently stood up to Walla Walla Sheriff Mark Crider at Whitman College when he kept using the term “illegal aliens” in a meeting. Justice said, “I ended up getting into an argument with Sheriff Crider because he refused to call them undocumented, and he wanted to keep calling them illegal aliens. I kept telling him that that was disrespectful. I was not intimidated by him.”
Justice, along with her husband and friend, have so far distributed 1500 whistle kits in the Walla Walla area. She said there are resources out there for people to create their own 3D printed whistles, and all the information needed to make their own kits.
Visit https://linktr.ee/wa.whistles
She and her husband have also started a food pantry near their home, and they welcome anyone to contribute or take the food as they need it. She’s building connections with neighbors, protecting her community, and standing up for her beliefs.
Justice said that things are different now:
During the first Trump administration, I kept my mouth shut. Of course, I was upset. Of course, I wanted to do something. But I was scared.
I'm not scared anymore. I'm done being scared now. I'm angry.
I'm ready to make noise. I'm ready to be heard.
A lifelong resident of Eastern Washington, Dori enjoys the outdoors, her family, and making good trouble. She has worked for many years in broadcasting and reporting and believes in the value of the 4th estate. She is a true community advocate that loves Washington.
