The Chicago Police Department has become synonymous with violence, especially violence targeting Black communities.
Everyday, Black Chicagoans are more likely to be abused by the oppressiveness of Chicago’s policing systems, from violent traffic stops to unwarranted home raids. The city has not only become a national outlier for cases of misconduct at the hands of police, but also one that at all costs has protected the dangerous officers responsible.
The personal toll of this violence on Black Chicagoans is immeasurable, and the financial cost for the city is immense. Between 2019 and 2022, Chicago taxpayers shouldered a $295 million bill to resolve lawsuits involving Chicago police officers. Police misconduct in Chicago is not only inhumane; it is a vast financial burden on the city. It is time for Chicago to cease using taxpayers dollars to hide behind the presumption of “healing” Black trauma.
Last year, Cook County released its “Do Not Call List” containing almost 200 discredited police officers who remain on the force but cannot be trusted to testify. The list includes officers who participated in the Jan. 6 insurrection, lied under oath and had connections with white supremacist groups. These officers are protected by the Fraternal Order of Police and the city’s inaction to accomplish reforms that retain and expand the systems that hold police accountable.
In a department known for its dangerous officers, we need resilient regulatory systems to remove officers responsible for breaching public safety. Chicago’s FOP has continued to push for severe cases of police misconduct to be heard behind closed doors in the form of private arbitration. This request is reprehensible and would help foster a culture of silence at a time when we need more transparency in how misconduct cases are decided. From unvetted raids to unabashed violence, we need those responsible for compromising public safety to face appropriate and swift repercussions.
When I think about the immediate need for police accountability reform in Chicago, Anjanette Young is the first name that comes to mind. As chief of campaigns and programs at Color Of Change, I hear stories every day about people directly affected by police violence who use their stories to drive lasting societal change. But Anjanette’s case is of specific importance, as she has become the premier voice in Chicago identifying avenues of action for Chicago decision-makers that are aimed at breaking cycles of oppression. On this fifth anniversary of the raid on Anjanette’s home, we will continue to honor her testimony and how she has activated Chicagoans to press forward with criminal legal reform that dismantles the persistent culture of police violence in Chicago.
Color Of Change is a founding member of Chicago’s Coalition for Police Accountability and Transparency, and we have 45,000-plus members based in Cook County. Anjanette’s story is personal to us, our members and our movement for criminal legal reform on a national stage. Through our advocacy efforts in Chicago, it will always be our goal to advance Anjanette’s impact but also to speak to each and every case of police misconduct.
Anjanette’s organizing has been a powerful motivator for our work across the country. Her courage and resilience will continue to be a story that motivates our work and a story that demands real change for Black communities every day, not just on an anniversary.
Chicagoans deserve to feel safe, but Chicago police have moved to compromise that safety at every turn. On this fifth anniversary of Anjanette’s raid, we demand justice for Chicagoans and swift liability for police who continue to act without consequence.
Kyle Bibby is the chief of campaigns and programs at Color Of Change, a nonprofit racial justice organization.
Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.