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Chicago, IL – Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. was arrested along with 30 others Monday, July 26th, outside of the office of Senator Krysten Sinema, a Democrat, who opposes the abolition of the filibuster, and charged with third degree misdemeanor and trespassing on private property.
Arrested along with Rev. Jackson were: Rev. Dr. William Barber, who heads the Repairers of the Breach and co-chairs the Poor Peoples Campaign, Attorney Barbara Arnwine, president/founder of the Transformative Justice Coalition, her chairman, attorney Daryl Jones,
and 26 others.
“Rev. Jackson and those arrested were engaging in demonstrations which may result in civil disobedience outside of the office of Sen. Sinema and other senators later this week in Texas,” said Rev. Janette Wilson, senior adviser to Rev. Jackson. “He was charged with third degree misdemeanor and trespassing on private property.”
"The purpose of these demonstrations is to highlight the need for the Senate to join the House in passing H.R. 1/S.1, the "For the People Act," a comprehensive voting rights bill, even if it requires getting rid of the Senate filibuster, and to encourage the House to finish writing and vote on H.R. 4, the "John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act," that will establish new national Section 4 criteria for triggering Section 5 or the preclearance provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. This would correct the damage done by the Supreme Court's decision in Shelby," Rev. Wilson said.
Rev. Jackson is pushing for passage of the “For the People Act” that expands, not restricts voting rights. However, Republicans blocked the bill with a filibuster on June 22, 2021. It failed to secure the 60 votes needed to invoke cloture after a party-line vote of 50-50. Rev. Jackson is vowing to carry his fight for the passage of the civil rights bills to Texas later this week. File Photo by John L. Alexander
Actor Jussie Smollett, accompanied by his mother and his Attorney Nenye Uche, enters Cook County Courthouse for the verdict in the highly publicized case in which he is accused of staging a hate crime, and causing police to search for assailants. Photo by Marcus Robinson
CHICAGO -The highly publicized case against former "Empire" star Jussie Smollett, delayed for a year due to COVID, was finally decided after two days of deliberations by a 12 member jury. Prosecutors claimed that the actor made false reports to police when he claimed to be the victim of a hate crime in January 2019. The jury's decision came Thursday, December 9, 2021 from the Cook County Courthouse: Actor Jussie Smollett was found guilty of five out of six counts of disorderly conduct. Each count is punishable by up to three years in prison and a $25,000 fine. Cook County Judge James Linn will decide whether Mr. Smollett will serve concurrent or consecutive sentences. Mr. Smollett was accompanied by his mother at the courthouse, and his attorney, Nenye Uche, who said he "respectfully disagrees" with the jury's verdict. He stated that he feels "100% confident" that Mr. Smollett's case will be won on appeal. Mr. Smollett exited the Cook County courthouse after hearing the jury's verdict. Photo by Marcus Robinson
Mayor Lorie Lightfoot praises retiring Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson at a November 2019 Press Conference at the CPD Headquarters as members of his family look on. One month later, on December 3, 2019, he was fired by Mayor Lightfoot just weeks before he was set to retire, amid allegations of misconduct. Photo by Parthenia Luke.
Former Police Officer Jason Van Dyke was released early from prison today, February 3, 2022, after service half of his sentence for killing17-year-old Laquan McDonald. Rainbow PUSH National Field Director Bishop Tavis Grant addresses the crowd of protesters at Federal Plaza. Photo by John L. Alexander.
Chicago, Il – Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., Bishop Tavis Grant, national field director for the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and staff, announced at a press conference Thursday, February 3rd at the Federal Plaza, that they are calling on U.S. Attorney John R. Lausch, Jr. to file federal civil rights charges against former Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke.
Rev. Jackson, Bishop Grant and supporters are outraged that Van Dyke, convicted of second-degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery in the shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald 16 times, is being released from prison Thursday after serving half of his 81-month sentence. Special prosecutors had asked for 18 years.
The Rainbow PUSH Coalition is delivering a letter to Lausch demanding that he file civil rights charges against Van Dyke for violating McDonald’s civil rights under Section 242 of Title 18
(https://www.justice.gov/crt/deprivation-rights-under-color-law)
Supporters of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition's efforts to have federal civil rights charges filed against former Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke say that his early release is a reflection of an unjust system that does not hold police officers properly accountable for misdeeds resulting in injury and loss of life of citizens. Photo by John L. Alexander
The killing of Laquan McDonald led to massive outrage, a Black Friday boycott of stores along North Michigan Avenue and the election of Kim Foxx as Cook County State's Attorney, replacing Anita Alvarez. Prosecutors asked for 18 years for Jason Van Dyke and many are outraged that he only received 81 months. Photo by John L. Alexander
Attorney Robert McLaughlin, (center), who will be working with Attorney Crump on the case, noted that a number of State Farm employees have complained of receiving race and ethnic based insults on the job by State Farm employees. Attorney McLaughlin is with Hart McLaughlin & Eldridge, LLC , a firm of trial lawyers specializing in civil litigation. The attorneys at HME practice on a nationwide basis in both federal and state courts and are actively involved in some of the largest and most significant cases in the country. HME lawyers have particular expertise in civil rights and complex civil litigation Photo by John L. Alexander
Linda Foster, NAACP Bloomington-Normal President, (red dress) pledged that the NAACP will stand with Dr. Carla Campbell-Jackson in demanding an end to racism in the workplace in the form of name calling, ridicule, and threats of retaliation if reported. Others speaking in support of Dr Campbell-Jackson are Attorney Steven Hart,Teresa Haley, NAACP State President, Bradley Ross Jackson, NAACP Bloomington-Normal Youth Council, and President Michael Childress, NAACP DuPage County, Illinois. Attorney Crump urged others to come forward and say "We, too, have faced racism and threats of retaliation." Photo by John L. Alexander
Attorney Rev. Janette Wilson, Senior Advisor to Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. introduces Attorney Benjamin Crump, who represents over 50 current and former State Farm employees in racial discrimination claims. State Farm, like many other insurance companies, has been guilty of redlining by zip codes, thereby negatively affecting African American communities, and State Farm has had few African Americans on their Boards of Directors, Rev. Wilson noted.
Chicago, IL—Nationally renowned personal injury and civil rights attorney Ben Crump (at right) and Chicago Trial lawyers from Hart Mclaughlin & Eldridge announced at a news conference at Thursday, December 16th, at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters, 930 E. 50th St., the filing of a lawsuit against State Farm on behalf of Dr. Carla Campbell-Jackson, (at left), a former State Farm employee of 28 years. Because Dr. Campbell-Jackson spoke out against extreme racism and discriminatory behavior at State Farm, she was retaliated against by State Farm.
Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has spearheaded a legal movement to better protect the rights of marginalized citizens. He has led landscape-changing civil rights cases and represented clients in a wide range of areas including civil rights, personal injury, labor and employment, class actions, and more. Ben Crump Law is dedicated to holding the powerful accountable. Photo by John L. Alexander
CHICAGO - A coalition of social justice activists and families whose loved ones were slain by police held a protest rally and march at the Federal Plaza, 230 S. Dearborn, Saturday April 3, 2021. Caroline Ruff, head of Black Lives Matter Women of Faith and organizer of the rally, said the shootings of two Hispanic youth appear to be racially motivate, following a pattern of polilce killings of black and brown people. Rally speakers called for an end to police violence.
Normal, IL - Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. and his son, Jonathan Jackson, met with scores of Illinois State University (ISU) students at the Bone Student Center, 100 N. University St. In Normal IL Thursday evening, November 4th, asking them to join a march today to demand answers on why and how 25-year-old ISU graduate student Jelani Day was murdered. “We are asking what happened to Jelani Day and demanding justice,” Rev. Jackson told the diverse group of students.
Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., his son, Jonathan Jackson and the family of Jelani Day are gathering at 12 noon Friday, November 5th, at the Bloomington Police Station, 305 S. East St., Bloomington IL with a 12:30 p.m. press conference followed by a 1 p.m. march to the Illinois State University’s (ISU) Bone Student Center. Photo by John L. Alexander
Fearing a cover-up in the death of her son, Carmen Bolden Day is joining Rev. Jackson, Rev. Cameron Barnes, national youth director for the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and supporters in demanding answers from the Bloomington police about her son’s missing report and the medical examiners conclusion that her son allegedly committed suicide—conclusions she firmly rejects."We are marching to raise the consciousness of the Jelani Day Case,” said Rev. Jackson. “We want a thorough criminal investigation into the matter.” His son, Jonathan Jackson, is asking for the FBI and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s intervention.
“It smells like a hate crime to me, not a suicide, but a homicide,” Rev. Courtney Carson, one of the organizers of this event, said. “Why else would someone murder another human being in such a wicked way?” “It is disheartening that some would like to conclude this case as a suicide when the evidence, or lack thereof, just does not suggest that in any real logical way. Why have Jelani's so-called friends not spoken up, but got lawyered up? That's extremely strange. When a mother is looking for answers about her missing and deceased child, best friends don't go radio silent, they help,” Rev. Carson stated. That is why Rev. Jackson and Mrs. Day are calling on the FBI and Illinois Attorney Kwame Raoul to intervene and launch a thorough investigation. Rev. Jackson and Mrs. Day say there are far too many inaccuracies for the FBI not to get involved and too many inaccuracies for supporters not to stay involved in this “mysterious” case. ‘In terms of Black and Brown people, there are far too many missing children, far too many miss-handled cases, and far too many not willing to stand up and say something. We will continue to demand Justice for Jelani, and we hare marching and praying until something happens,” Rev. Carson said. Photo by John L.Alexander y
The National Headquarters of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition at 930 E. 50th Street in Chicago continues to respond to the COVID crisis with critical assistance to the community, distributing free diapers for parents of small children during December 2020. The distribution site was set up in front of the building and hundreds received help in this ongoing effort to supplement necessities while families cope with loss of income. Photo by John L. Alexander
Carmen Day, mother of Jelani Day, recounts how she had to do the investigation work herself after her son's body was found, going down to Peru and Bloomington to ask questions when police tried to dismiss the death of her son as a suicide by drowning. Photo by Naimah Latif
As Attorney Crump comforts a grief stricken Carmen Day, Rev. Jackson pointed out that hate crimes are occurring often. He noted the Ahmaud Arbery case in which three white men were recently found guilty in the shooting death of a black man in Georgia. Photo by Naimah Latif
The climate of violence in America was set by President Donald Trump, and the results have been the forming of the group "The Proud Boys" who, armed with weapons, are intimidating the citizens in Washington D.C. and appear to be trying to instigate a race war, stated Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. The decision not to prosecute Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey for shooting unarmed Jacob Blake, Jr. in the back seven times, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down was another miscarriage of justice in an ongoing "reign of terror" by police officers, Rev. Jackson said.
Rainbow PUSH National Field Director Bishop Tavis Grant said, "Justice has once again been delayed. Such was the case with Emmett Till. Such was the case with Medgar Evers. Such was the case with Trayvon Martin, and most recently with Breonna Taylor. The prosecutor has given us a brand of justice that represents the group that want to overturn this election, that wants to challenge our birthright, that wants to make us three fifths human."
Jacob Blake Sr. said regarding the decision by Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley not to prosecute the officer who shot his son, "The fight is not over." He stated that he intends to take the issue all the way to Congress and persist until there is justice.
"We understood what was going to come when they called in the National Guard. We understand what the Proud Boys are here to do."
He stated that despite threats on his life, he will not be silenced.
"I don't hide from anyone. I fear nothing," he said. "Now our battle must go in front of the Congress. It must go in front of the Senate. We must abolish the right for a policeman to be seen on a higher plane than the citizens of the United States.You can not have a Bill of Rights for the Police and then have a Bill of Rights for the People. We're all people. There are no big I's and little you's. Photo by John L. Alexander.
SPRINGFIELD, IL - House Bill 3653, introduced by Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D) Illinois 17th District, outlines provisions aimed at better police training and accountability. Among those provisions are a ban on the use of chokeholds, increased training in crisis intervention, more mental health screening for officers, and requirements that officers submit data to an FBI database on the use of force. Whistleblower protections are increased and the right to make phone calls and access their personal contacts before police questioning is codified.
Detainees, prisoners and all those who interact with police officers will have the expectation of prompt medical care while in custody, with special accommodations made for pregnant women.
Charges of resisting arrest must cite a justification for the origin of arrest that was allegedly resisted against under the measure as well. The purchase of military equipment like .50 caliber rifles and tanks by police departments would also be banned.
Courts will also see changes under the legislation including an end to the practice of cash bail as well as an end to revoking drivers licenses for nonpayment of fines.
The changes are a question of accountability, transparency and humanity, said John Rakowski of the Illinois State Bar Association in his testimony in favor of the legislation. He stead that the structural problems in the criminal justice system require a bold response.
“This Bill is.a bold response,” Rakowski said. “Now is not a time for incrementalism.”
The wide-ranging legislation came about in the months following the tragic death of George Floyd and increased calls among citizens and activists for a comprehensive approach to reforming the criminal justice system.
Sims and other members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus lead the effort in the Illinois General Assembly by convening nine public hearings in the months following the demonstrations of the summer of 2020. In all, Sims lead more than 30 hours of committee hearings soliciting input from law enforcement professionals, trial lawyers, prosecutors, community members and many other groups.
“A measure this transformative would not be possible without the heightened interest and vocal support of Illinoisans whose consciences have been shaken by years of misconduct without meaningful consequences,” Sims said. “Change, when it comes, always seems as if it has come too late but I know that our successes here today are not an end, but a beginning to uplifting our communities and better supporting law-enforcement in ways that improve our criminal justice system.”
House bill 3653 passed the Illinois House and awaits the governor’s signature to become law. Once signed, it will be effective immediately.
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