On Valentine's Day, over 250 people attended a Rally for Reparations: A People's Hearing in support of the Reparations Ordinance for Chicago police torture survivors at the Chicago Temple, kitty corner from Chicago's City Hall.
The rally was co-hosted by us, Amnesty International, and We Charge Genocide. We called on Chicago's mayoral and aldermanic candidates to show some love for the Chicago Police Torture survivors and have a heart by supporting the reparations ordinance.
Those in attendance heard from Chicago Police torture survivors Darrell Cannon, Mark Clements and Anthony Holmes, chief aldermanic sponsors Joe Moreno and Howard Brookins Jr., mayoral candidate William Doc Walls, and several advocates, activists, and experts regarding the need for the ordinance.
As Mariame Kaba, founder and executive director of Project NIA, noted in
"It was fitting that we gathered on Valentine's Day. After all, the struggle for justice for Burge torture survivors is a love story."
The rally was held a day after notorious former Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge was released from house arrest after serving less than four years for his convictions for perjury and obstruction of justice for denying he and others engaged in acts of torture at police headquarters in the 70s' and 80s'. It was duly noted that Burge now has the opportunity to begin his life anew with the benefit of his police pension funded by Chicago taxpayers, while scores of the Chicago Police torture survivors continue to suffer from the psychological effects of the torture they endured without any compensation, assistance or legal course.
After the rally, 120 people braved the bone chilling cold and gusty Chicago weather to create a
living memorial
for the Chicago Police torture survivors by
holding up a flag bearing the name and date of torture
for all of the 118 known Burge torture survivors.
To check out more photos and media from the rally, check out photographer Sarah Rhee's photo album on Facebook, CBS local, and Gapers Block.
How can I help?
We just voted in the mayoral and aldermanic election here in Chicago. Three mayoral candidates and 28 aldermanic candidates came out and publicly supported the ordinance. The list will continue to be updated for the April 7 runoff. Check out who they are.
Support this campaign for justice and contact Mayor Emanuel today!
Phone: #312-744-3300
Twitter: @RahmEmanuel, #RahmRepNow
Demand his full support and an immediate hearing on the Reparations Ordinance. With your support we know we can get the Reparations Ordinance passed!
There are many other ways to get involved.
Want more info on the ordinance or the Chicago police torture cases? Click here.