Parole without Exclusions
People protested in Chicago on Tuesday evening following the death of George Floyd.
Chance the Rapper, alongside the Rev. Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Church, helped organize a protest outside Chicago Public Safety Headquarters.
“It’s specifically standing in solidarity with the people in Minneapolis that are grieving.”
Despite early warnings, jails and prisons have seen a rapid spread of the virus — a humanitarian disaster that puts all of our communities, and lives, at risk.
Weeks before the first reported cases of COVID-19 in prisons and jails, correctional healthcare experts warned that all the worst aspects of the U.S. criminal justice system — overcrowded, aging facilities lacking sanitary conditions and where medical care is, at best, sparse; too many older prisoners with underlying illnesses; regular flow of staff, guards, healthcare workers in and out of facilities — would leave detention facilities, and their surrounding communities, vulnerable to outbreaks.
Despite those early warnings, even jails and prisons that believed they were well-prepared have seen a rapid spread of the virus.
Minneapolis police officers dressed in riot gear fired rubber bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades into crowds of protesters that gathered late Tuesday to demand justice for the killing of George Floyd after video footage showed a cop kneeling on the back of the man’s neck as he cried out…
“I cannot breathe!”
Videos and photos posted to social media show people pouring milk into the eyes of demonstrators affected by tear gas as the chemical substance clouds the air, enveloping the thousands of protesters marching in the streets near the site of Floyd’s killing.
“This is a disgusting display,” said Jeremiah Ellison, a city council member representing Minneapolis Ward 5.
“I’m here on the southside, helping people as I can with milk, water, and towels. So far, I have been unable to prevent the police from firing indiscriminately into the crowd. Moments ago, I held a towel to a teenage girl’s head as blood poured from it.”
Williams was released last year from a Louisiana prison after serving nearly 40 years for a rape and attempted murder he did not commit.
A fingerprint database showed prints at the crime scene matched another man, The New York Times reported, and the district attorney apologized.
“I went to prison but I never let my mind go to prison,” Williams said, adding that he prayed and sang.
The Chicago Police Department has launched an investigation into one of its own officers, after he was exposed by local antifascists as a possible member of the Proud Boys, a far-right group known for violent street fights.
Chicago Antifascist Action released a dossier on Monday that accused Officer Robert P Bakker, a three-year member of the force, of being an active participant in the private Telegram channel called “Fuck Antifa” where local Proud Boys organize meet-ups and other matters.
The screenshots appear to show Bakker coordinating Proud Boy meet-ups.
There was chaos and destruction in Minneapolis Tuesday night as police officers and protesters clashed over the death of George Floyd.
People took turns sharing their frustrations and grief with the crowd. Chants of…
“I Can’t Breathe.”
“We’re here to let them know this can’t be tolerated, there will be severe consequences if they continue to kill us this will not go on another day.”
Racism of this kind, racism that infects the very structure of our society, is called systemic racism. And at first glance, it may be difficult to detect.
Since the election of Donald Trump, hate crimes have been on the rise. White supremacists have been emboldened. Anti-immigrantOpens a new window rhetoric has intensified.
Systemic racism is something different. It’s less about violence or burning crosses than it is about everyday decisions made by people who may not even think of themselves as racist.
As sociologist Eduardo Bonilla-Silva has said, “The main problem nowadays is not the folks with the hoods, but the folks dressed in suits.”
Systemic racism persists in our schools, offices, court system, police departments, and elsewhere. Why?
Think about it: when white people occupy most positions of decision-making power, people of color have a difficult time getting a fair shake, let alone getting ahead.
We all have to do a better job of calling out systemic racism.
We Must Talk About Race to Fix Economic Inequality.
“This what I gotta wake up to huh? This is what I got to wake up to? Floyd was my brother. We called each other twins.”
“Everybody know we called each other twins. My brother was only out there in Minnesota, he was changing his life, he was driving trucks. I had just sent him two or three boxes of clothes.”
“My boy was doing what he was supposed to do and ya’ll killed my brother. I’m on my way to Minnesota – whatever I can do – we can’t let this ride.”
“Y’all not going to be mad until it hit y’all front door. It’s bullshit.”
Stephen Jackson posted photos of Floyd which made it clear why they called each other twins as they bear a considerable resemblance to each other.
Join us for a virtual roundtable discussion as we explore the power of liberatory memory work and truth-telling platforms on the five year anniversary of Chicago’s reparations ordinance for survivors of Jon Burge police torture.
The roundtable will discuss the continuing struggle for a public memorial to survivors as part of reparations.