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Police Superintendent David O. Brown Resigns
CHICAGO - Mayor Lori Lightfoot issued this statement on Wednesday, March 1, 2023: "Today, Superintendent David O. Brown informed me that he would be resigning as Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department effective March 16. I accepted his resignation and want to commend him for his accomplishments not just for the department but the entire city, including setting a record number of illegal gun recoveries for two consecutive years; leading a double digit reduction in violent crime in 2022; significant, consistent progress on the consent decree; standing up a full time recruitment team that yielded over 950 new hires last year; significantly expanding the resources for officer wellness; and promoting more women to the senior exempt ranks than ever before in the history of the department. I personally want to thank him for his service to our city. First Deputy Eric Carter will be appointed as interim superintendent until the new Mayor is sworn into office. We ask the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability to immediately begin the search for a new Superintendent so that the new Mayor will be able to make a selection as soon as possible."
Photo by Marcus Robinson
Leaders React to Guilty Verdict in Ahmaud Arbery Murder
CHICAGO - In response to the guilty verdicts for the three white men on trial for the murder of a 25 year old black jogger in Brunswick Georgia, Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. declared, "This is a step in the right direction in justice for Ahmaud Arbery, but the system is still broken and needs fixing." Photo by Naimah Latif
President Joe Biden issued this statement: "Ahmaud Arbery's killing - witnessed
Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. (center) and Rainbow PUSH National Spokesman Jonathan Jackson (right) escort Carmen Day down the path through the woods to the muddy waters where the body of her son Jelani Day was found. Members of the press and hoards of supporters follow, to get a clear view of why suggestions by local police of possible suicide don’t make any sense. Photo by John L. Alexander
The murky water under the bridge near a secluded wooded area in Peru Illinois is where two white female ISU students say they found Jelani’s clothing, but Carmen Day has recently been informed that the two students are now represented by lawyers and are advised not to discuss their findings any further. Photo by John L. Alexander
Carmen Day, joined by Rev. Jackson, makes an impassioned appeal to members of the ISU Black Student Union on the campus in Normal, IL to organize a March and rally in Peru, demanding an investigation into the death of Jelani Day. Photo by John L. Alexander
ISU Students lock arms in prayer at the end of an organizing meeting, pledging their support for a full investigation. Busloads of students participated in the following day’s rally and March held Tuesday October 26, 2021. Photo by John L. Alexander
Carmen Day Conducts Her Own Investigation
Carmen Day Conducts Her Own Investigation
Carmen Day Conducts Her Own Investigation
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
Rev. Jackson Notes Pattern of Hate Crimes
Carmen Day Conducts Her Own Investigation
Carmen Day Conducts Her Own Investigation
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
CPD Superintendent David Brown Shares Latest Stats
During his recent visit to the White House along with Mayor Lori Lightfoot and other leaders, Supt. Brown said he received assurance from President Joe Biden that Federal assistance is forthcoming to stem the flow of illegal guns to Chicago. So far this year, 6,362 guns have been recovered and of those, 321 were assault weapons, Supt. Brown said. He noted that Mayor Lightfoot said the root cause of crime will be addressed as part of the long term strategy to eradicate violent crime, which is now considered a public health issue. Photo by Naimah Latif.
Deputy Chief Angel Novalez Tells of CPD Partnerships With Community
The CPD will partner with the Chicago Park District and other organizations that provide constructive programs for youth, as a measure to give youth options and opportunities, stated Deputy Chief Angel Novales. Activities include baseball camps held at local Park Districts and field trips to sites around the city. Among those in partnership is the National Black McDonalds Operators Association. Photo by Naimah Latif.
Norman Kerr, Director of Office of Violence Reduction Says 15 High Crime Areas To Be Targeted
Police will target 15 city areas on Chicago’s South and West sides, where violent crime has been most consistent, working to interrupt violence and to mitigate retaliation before it happens, stated Norman Kerr, Director of the Office of Violence Reduction. Many of those working in partnership with police have put in long hours and late nights, on weekdays and weekends, putting themselves in harms way to ensure public safety.
“I know first hand the devastating loss that violence creates for families,“ he said. Photo by Naimah Latif.
Jacob Blake Decision Called A "Miscarriage of Justice"
Jacob Blake Sr. Says "This Fight Is Not Over
Jacob Blake Sr. Says "This Fight Is Not Over
Jacob Blake Sr. Says "This Fight Is Not Over
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.
Jacob Blake Sr. Says "This Fight Is Not Over
Jacob Blake Sr. Says "This Fight Is Not Over
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.