Police Violence in Chicago

On January 1, people in Chicago will be protesting incidents of police violence here and in other cities. The event is sponsored by Occupy Chicago, Occupy the Southside, and Occupy El Barrio. The event begins at 2 p.m. at the 95th Street Red Line terminal.




The event on January 1 protests the shooting of Michael Pleasance, and is in solidarity with Occupy Oakland and its protest of the Oscar Grant shooting.




I wrote about police violence in a blog post several months ago: "Chicago Justice: Connecting the Dots".

Chicago has a notorious history of police violence and police torture. There will be hearings on a Chicago City Council resolution to make Chicago a torture-free city on Thursday, January 12, 2012.

Police violence and persecution by the police is not just a Chicago issue. Under new legislation, EVERY American can be subjected to the same lawless indefinite detention and torture that has been used on countless people in the so-called "war on terror," initiated under the Bush administration but continued and expanded under the Obama administration.

We can no longer look the other way while members of our community are subjected to police violence. See you at 95th Street.


Photo 1: john-conroy.com
Photo 2: Revolutionary Frontlines blog


Related posts

All the cameras and microphones and reporters were out in force that day -- and their appearance suggested to me that it does make a difference to take a stand for justice. And maybe the fact that some of us thought this was important enough to come out, hold signs, chant, and march, helped back up that message.

(See Chicago Justice: Connecting the Dots )

As reported in the June 25 Chicago Sun-Times, "Hauad said police during an interrogation cut off the fronts of his gym shoes with a paper cutter and threatened to cut off his toes next if he didn’t confess. Police photos show Hauad’s gym shoes at first were in normal condition but later had their toe sections severed, just as Hauad said. Hauad also said he was slapped and beaten while in custody."

(See CHICAGO: Home of the Original "Air Jaime" Athletic Shoe )


A campaign exists to bring about a democratically-elected Civilian Police Accountability Council (CPAC) in Chicago. The campaign would involve the people in electing the watchers of the police, and put the ultimate control of (and responsibility for) the police in the hands of the citizens of Chicago.

(See Does a Civilian Police Accountability Council (CPAC) need to be part of a "new plan of Chicago"? )