It’s budget season in Chicago, and yesterday morning Chicago’s aldermen had their once-per-year chance to ask questions of the Chicago Police Department before approving their massive budget for 2019. They failed us. So in the afternoon we took to the Green Line to get the word out about #NoCopAcademy & the increases to the CPD’s budget coming next year, at the expense of funding for youth & communities!
In the morning…
We attended and tweeted out live from CPD Budget hearing to share details about the line items in their budget, since it can be hard to find these otherwise. As expected, none of our elected officials expressed any concern on the propose increased to CPD’s budget. In fact, less than half of them even showed up to work. Aldermen Ray Lopez (15th ward) even used the hearing to ask CPD Superintendent Eddie Johnson to respond to the growing community demands to “Defund the police” and the rallying cry of “#NoCopAcademy.” While they may not be on our side, they can’t ignore us – and that was made all the more clear yesterday. Follow our thread from the hearing here.
Our friends at Grassroots Collaborative shared this important statement about the proposed increases to CPD spending in 2019: “Increased Spending on Police Will Not Make Us Safer – Investing in Neighborhoods Will.”
Here are some of the findings we shared online (share widely!). Shoutout to Soapbox Productions & Organizing for producing the graphics.
In the evening…
With Halloween costumes & wicked chants, #NoCopAcademy youth leaders from the Chicago Freedom School, Assata’s Daughters, Simeon Young Activists, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council Youth Committee and more took to the Green Line to get the word out about the proposed CPD Budget increases in 2019, along with the dangers of the proposed cop academy.
Reverse trick or treat!!!!! We’ve got candy for anyone who won’t fall for Rahm’s tricks!!!! #NoCopAcademy #DefundCPD pic.twitter.com/69i7czjP6N
— NoCopAcademy (@NoCopAcademy) October 30, 2018
Over 50 train passengers signed postcards in support and we gave out over 100 bags of candy with info about #NoCopAcademy.
So much support out here on the green line for #NoCopAcademy & investing in Black youth!!! People steady signing our postcards 📝 pic.twitter.com/aLTs70LX7n
— NoCopAcademy (@NoCopAcademy) October 30, 2018
Want to let trick-or-treaters know about #NoCopAcademy tonight?
Download and print this Halloween Nocop Flyer to give out with candy!
And if you haven’t recently, be sure to let your Aldermen know that you support #NoCopAcademy and expect them to do the same when the final vote approaches!
