Government

 Vice President Kamala Harris arrived in Chicago Friday morning prepared to address one of the nation’s most pressing emergencies.

“Gun violence is the leading cause of death of our children,” declared Vice President Harris, adding that one in five families have been affected by gun violence. “We need elected leaders to have the courage to act.” Photo by John L. Alexander

Vice President Harris is greeted at the airport by Attorney General Kramer Raoul and Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. The Vice President praised the work of Illinois government leaders in supporting the work of the Biden- Harris Administration. As Illinois gears up for the 2024 Democratic Convention to be held in Chicago, public safety is a top concern. Everyone should be alarmed at the epidemics of deaths from guns, Vice President Harris said, noting that children are dying from suicide, homicide, and accidental shootings from adults’ unsecured weapons. Photo by John L. Alexander

Moderators Jason George and Angela Ferrel Zabala applauded the work of the Biden-Harris administration in pushing for stricter gun laws to protect public safety, despite opposition and pressure from from gun lobbyists. Vice President Harris pointed out,, “Our administration, President Joe Biden and I, were able to pass the first meaningful gun safety legislation in 30 years.” Under their administration, she said, substantial resources have been put into solutions involving mental health services and community based response, but more needs to be done to pass common sense gun laws to protect lives. “We love our country and we will challenge our country to live up to its promise.” 

Vice President Harris remarked that unlike when she was growing up and on the first day of school children focused on learning their teacher’s name and where the bathroom is, “Our babies are learning the teachers name, where the bathroom is and how to sit quietly if there’s an active shooter!”  The suggestion of strapping guns on teachers is definitely not the answer to mass shootings in schools, Vice President Harris said emphatically. “Our teachers want to teach! We don’t pay them enough as it is!” Photo by Naimah Latif

A few audience members were allowed to pose a question to the Vice President. Brenda Mitchell, a Chicago mother who suffered a tragic loss, asked the Vice President, in her travels across the country talking to families who experienced gun violence, what did she learn?  Vice President Harris replied, “The trauma can’t be overstated. Without treatment trauma is inherited.  I have prosecuted cases, I have seen homicides, I understand the importance of healing, therapy and treating the trauma.” 

Erin, a young Pennsylvania women from the Millennial/Gen Z age group asked, “How can my generation have an affect on this situation?”

Vice President Harris answered, “Your generation is critical. When your generation starts to vote in numbers I see this changing completely. Your generation is everything to this issue.” Photo by Naimah Latif

President Joe Biden lands at O'hare Airport in Air Force One, as the security officials await his disembarkment, after which he would head to  downtown Chicago where an official gathering assembled to hear details of how his economic plan would stimulate financial growth and opportunities in the inner cities. President Biden has emphasized the importance of stimulating local economies by creating jobs in the trades to rebuild the cities' infrastructure. He encouraged businesses to help grow the economy by using a work force trained in the trades offered  by city colleges and universities. Photo by John L. Alexander.

Officers salute their Commander in Chief President Joe Biden as they prepare to escort him to his destination in downtown Chicago. President Biden traveled though skies still cloudy and overcast from smoke blowing into the U.S. from Canada's fires. Photo by John L. Alexander

CHICAGO - In its second meeting under the leadership of Mayor Brandon Johnson, the Chicago City Council voted to spend $51 million in funding from the 2021 budget surplus to pay for food, transportation and shelter for migrants from Central and South America who were bussed to Chicago from Texas. Chicago residents representing both sides of the issue were allowed to present testimony at the Council meeting Wednesday May 31, 2023.  Alderman David Moore (17) was one of the three "No" votes on the ordinance. He made an impassioned plea for his colleagues to also vote "No" and to first take care of the neglected residents who have been asking for help for years. He noted that the 17th Ward represents both African American and Hispanic residents whose needs have too long been ignored. Photo by Marcus Robinson.

Likely anticipating the intensity of discussion on the issue of Chicago providing $51 million to recent migrants, Mayor Brandon Johnson set a tone of order, cooperation and civility in his first City Council meeting Wednesday March 24, 2023. The vote on the controversial issue was deferred to the following week, May 31st. Many of the community activists who had not been able to get inside the Council chambers the previous week were allowed to sign up to speak and were given time to express their frustration and dismay at the situation, whether strongly in favor or strongly opposed to the ordinance. Although at times Mayor Johnson had to repeatedly call for order, all points of view were heard before the final vote was taken. Some Aldermen promised to also support a proposed Reparations bill for African Americans. Photo by Marcus Robinson