When a collective member of the Chicago BTGNC Collective, and endorsing organization in the #NoCopAcademy campaign, spotted Alderman James Cappleman on the redline train, they decided to take that opportunity to engage them around the critical issues. Alderman Cappleman represents the Uptown area, and has been responsible for evicting a tent city encampment, and has refused to support #NoCopAcademy.
Watch this video, take notes, share it and consider how you might engage with [hostile] City Council members, if you unexpectedly encounter them.
Bonus – don’t know what you’re alderperson looks like? Look them up here! And send an e-mail to them about #NoCopAcademy while you’re at it.
Thanks to amazing volunteers, there are many simple ways to bring #NoCopAcademy into the classroom. Check out the math bellringershere, and the 30 minute reading comprehension assignmentshere.
Let us know if you use them, and share them with any educators you know!
SAMPLE:
And as a reminder – if you haven’t signed up yet to bring #NoCopAcademy youth organizers to your school, sign up today! http://bit.do/RequestNCA
Throughout the months of January and February, youth organizers with the #NoCopAcademy campaign will be doing a tour of workshops at schools across Chicago, and especially the Westside.
Fill out this form if you want us to come to your school for an after-school workshop where we’ll talk about the campaign so far and how young peoplecan get involved.
Workshops are free! Food provided!
Please share this e-mail with any teachers or students you know who may be interested. The schedule is filling up fast!
Got questions? Hit us up at nocopacademy@gmail.com
This Holiday season, let’s remind City Council that the fight is not over, and there’s still time to get off the naughty list. The proposal for the $95 million Cop Academy will return to City Council for a vote on the RFP in March.
They print two to a page, and fold so that the snowpeople are on the front of the card, and the spread seen above is the inside of the card. Download them by clicking HERE.
Be sure to add the Alderman’s name, sign it with your own name, address and contact info, and add your personal reasons you hope they’ll support the #NoCopAcademy effort.
(Not sure who your Alderperson is? Look them up using this tool!)
Have a class or community group you want to make cards with? Fantastic! Take a picture of your card writing party and share it on social media, or let us know if you make your own designs.
It’s been one month since the huge vote in Chicago City Council on whether to purchase the land at 4301 W. Chicago for the cop academy. That day we had hundreds of supporters present, Chance the Rapper testified with our campaign, and the vote was NOT unanimous! Since then, many have been asking…what now?
Thank you for all of your support in the campaign so far. Here are some updates on where things are headed, and how you can get involved. At the bottom are reflections and lessons learned from the first 6 weeks of the campaign. Most importantly, the fight is far from over!
What are we doing now?
Continuing to engage City council members – we know this will return to a vote in March of 2018, when City Council will be asked to approve the designer selected to build the academy, being selected through the Chicago Infrastructure Trust’s RFP process.
Continuing to support Black youth in leadership, and deepen our base through youth-facilitated workshops at schools and in communities, on the Westside and across the city.
Continuing to FOIA the City for hidden documents around the planning of this academy, and research possible points of intervention.
Beginning working with design & architect partners, in communication with area residents, to develop an alternative proposal for how to spend $95 million on the site at 4301 W. Chicago.
Request a #NoCopAcademy workshop for your classroom, church, or community group (priority given to Westside residents) – reach out to NoCopAcademy@gmail.com!
Start a canvassing team in your neighborhood – reach out to nocopacademy@gmail.com for a start-up kit
Meet with your Alderperson about #NoCopAcademy – reach out to nocopacademy@gmail.com for a packet and more information about strategies for alderman visits.
Join the #NoCopCarols twitter brainstorm on Saturday 12/9 from 12PM-2PM to share your ideas of holiday tunes to re-write into #NoCopAcademy carols for actions later this month.
Even though we lost the vote on 11/8/17, we won the story of the day. The Mayor and city council were on the defensive, to such an extent that Mayor Emanuel had to host an emergency press conference after the meeting to defend his cop academy proposal.
We’ve told the story clearly and consistently, and cut through the nonsense and politispeak. It’s becoming the ‘common sense’ opinion in more and more communities that we spend too much on policing, and could better invest in lasting safety by spending the $95 million on resources such as schools, clinics or after school programs.
We’ve built up support with non-traditional allies. From those working for housing justice to economic justice, and public health across Chicago, now 50 community organizations have signed onto the campaign – making it clear that the issue of over-spending on police isn’t a small, isolated opinion. We’ve also been building solidarity with efforts to #FreeTheFunds for CPS spending, and to #SaveNTA.
Young Black people, and young people of Color from across the city, are in the front of this campaign, leading actions, testifying at public meetings, canvassing all over the city, engaging Alderpeople, and shaking up business as usual in the City.
LESSONS LEARNED:
The public comment process is built in a way that disadvantages community efforts – such as short speaking times, and hiding the committee process – which make it hard to mobilize effectively. We need to get better at navigating the way City Council works, so that we can fight back even though it’s rigged against us.
We needed to document the meetings with City Council members that did happen better – so that they can’t lie and say they weren’t approached (like Mitts did repeatedly), and to show more people how easy and possible it is.
We need more materials in Spanish and other languages to continue to expand our bases.
We need to continue to build on the Westside, where a number of youth leaders and key organizations are involved, but expand that and refuse to allow the City’s divisive narratives to go unchallenged. Now that the land is purchased, it’s more important than ever that West Garfield Park residents have a say in what the City builds there.
Have other constructive reflections you want to share, or support you want to offer? Reach out to us at nocopacademy@gmail.com!
No Cop Academy 