ARTICLES

“COVID Needs Are Urgent, But Many Cities Are Prioritizing Police Funding Instead
Truthout – Debbie Southorn

“#NoCopAcademy and the Movement to Defund the Police”
Belt Magazine – Kiran Misra

“West Side residents and activists speak out about possible rising costs of police academy”
The Triibe – Naomi Andu

“Lightfoot’s cop academy bombshell raises questions about leadership style”
The Chicago Reporter – Curtis Black

“Lightfoot Was Never a Police Reformer
Chicago Mag – Edward McCLelland

“How #NoCopAcademy shook the machine”
Chicago Reader – Benji Hart

“Rahm Emanuel uses lame-duck session to smuggle South Side police training deal past critics”
Think Progress – Alan Pyke

“The Bitter Controversy Over Chicago’s Newest Police Academy”
Medium – Edward McLelland

“Op-Ed: Lori Lightfoot’s Dark Promises”
Southside Weekly – Maira Khwaja

“INSIDE CITY HALL: HUNDREDS OF BLACK AND BROWN ACTIVISTS DENIED ENTRY TO CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL’S VOTE ON POLICE ACADEMY”
The Triibe & The Real Chi – Julia Mondschean

“At Issue: Community Activism: Win or Lose “
WBBM Radio – At Issue with Craig Dellimore

“When Former Prosecutors Rebrand Themselves as Progressives to Win Elections”
In These Times – Victoria Law

“Rahm Emanuel Breaks Ground On New Jason Van Dyke Police Academy”
The Onion 

“Emanuel pushes plan to spend $95M on new police, fire training academy through divided City Council”
The Daily Line – Heather Cherone

“Council OKs Lincoln Yards, cop academy as Emanuel seeks to build his legacy”
The Chicago Sun-Times – Fran Spielman

“What to do with vacant Chicago schools? Lightfoot suggests mini-police academies for some”
Chalkbeat – Adeshina Emmanuel

“Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s controversial plan for $95 million police academy sails through City Council”
Chicago Tribune – John Byrne

“City Council Approves $85 Million Police Academy Contract”
The Chicago Maroon – Deepti Sailappan

“Chicago Activists Oppose Planned Cop Academy In West Garfield Park”
WBEZ Worldview – Ashish Valentine

“Emanuel set to cross high-profile items off his final to-do list, including Lincoln Yards, new police academy”
The Daily Line – Heather Cherone

“Mitts took $40,000 from mayor before police academy approval”
Chicago Crusader – Erick Johnson

“In final act, Emanuel cements legacy of tolerating corruption, promoting segregation”
The Chicago Reporter – Curtis Black

“OPINION | IN DEFENSE OF CHICAGO’S MILLENNIAL VOTERS: A RESPONSE TO COLUMNIST MARY MITCHELL”
The Triibe – Charles Preston

“Bernie Sander rallies in Chicago – the same city that inspired his political activism”
Nation of Change – Aaron Cynic

“BERNIE IN CHICAGO: FROM CIVIL RIGHTS ERA ACTIVISM TO PRESENT-DAY STRUGGLES AGAINST RACISM”
Shadowproof – Kevin Gosztola

“Chicago’s marginalized communities given a platform at Sanders rally”
ChicagoPride.Com – Brian Toutman

“At Navy Pier, Bernie Sanders Talks Racial and Economic Justice, Says Years in Chicago “Shaped My Worldview”
Chicago Maroon – Zeff Worley

“Ald. Emma Mitts Tells Opponents Of Police, Fire Training Academy To Mind Their Own Business As Plan Advances”
Block Club Chicago – Heather Cherone

“Both mayoral candidates opposed, but Zoning Committee OKs $95M police academy”
Chicago Sun Times – Fran Spielman

“Emanuel’s controversial $95 million police academy plan clears zoning hurdle over objections of Preckwinkle, Lightfoot”
Chicago Tribune – John Byrne

“Chicago aldermen lock out the people and call the cops”
Peoples World – Michelle Zacarias

“Preckwinkle urges new Zoning Committee chairman to call off police academy vote”
Chicago Sun Times – Fran Spielman

“Plan Commission approves $95 million police and fire training academy”
Chicago Sun Times – Fran Spielman

“Chicago’s Broken Political Machine Is Being Challenged by Young Activists”
Teen Vogue – Hannah Steinkopf-Frank

“Gun violence, police reform loom over Chicago election”
Washington Post – Kari Lyderson

“Chicago’s Political Revolution”
In These Times – Miles Kamf-Lassin

“What has Chicago’s Black Caucus done for us lately?”
The Triibe – Tiffany Walden

“Local officials must dedicate more resources to young people of Austin, residents say”
Austin Weekly – Michael Romain

“Chicago Elections: Decreasing crime and holding police accountable”
Austin Weekly – Aaron Allen

Can #AnybodyButMitts win in the 37th Ward?”
Chicago Reader – Maya Dukmasova

“To build cop academy, Chicago picks AECOM, firm with checkered past”
The Chicago Reporter – Jonah Newman

“Teens Command The Stage At Chicago Mayoral Forum”
WBEZ – Kate Grossman

“An Interview with Destiny Harris”
Whitney Young Beacon – Alec Thomas

“Five Mayoral Hopefuls Commit to Ambitious Progressive Agenda at Forum”
Third Coast Review – Aaron Cynic

“Free City Colleges tuition, free CTA rides and more backed by five Chicago mayoral candidates at packed West Side forum”
Chicago Tribune – Bill Ruthhart

“Preckwinkle would halt construction of police academy, dismantle gang database”
Chicago Sun-Times – Rachel Hinton

“Preckwinkle’s Criminal Justice Plan Includes Ending Gang Database”
WBEZ – Shannon Heffernan

‘Chicago Organizers Have Message For Next Mayor: Support People’s Agenda or Face Resistance’
Shadowproof – Aaron Cynic

“Emanuel accused of tying new mayor’s hands on $95M cop academy”
Chicago Sun-Times – Fran Spielman

“Mayor Rahm Emanuel announces next step in police academy project, a plan that continues to draw criticism”
Chicago Tribune – John Byrne

“Ald. Pat O’Connor Called ‘Racist Troll’ By Moderator Of 40th Ward Forum”
Block Club Chicago – Alex V. Hernandez

“Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel Won’t Seek A Third Term. These Movements Are A Big Reason Why”
The Appeal – Kelly Hayes

“Destiny Demands Moore”
The Real Chi – Maya J. Horton

“A Progressive Platform To Take Back Chicago in 2019”
In These Times – Carlos Rosa & Rossana Rodriguez

“With Rahm Out, Chicago’s Black Youth Demand Mayoral Candidates Side With Communities–Not Police”
In These Times – Isabel Bloom

“Mariame Kaba: Social Movements Brought Down Rahm—Now They Can Transform Chicago”
In These Times – Sarah Lazare interviewing Mariame Kaba

“Seeking Justice for Laquan McDonald—Without Relying on Prisons”
In These Times – Benji Hart

“Should Chicago Spend Money on a Police Academy?”
The Crime Report

“One city’s crime fighting quandary: where exactly to invest?”
Christian Science Monitor – Nissa Rhee

“Is the only way to fix policing to end it?”
The Chicago Reporter – Jon Jeter

“Chicago’s Violence Is Fueled by Neoliberalism”
Truthout – Kelly Hayes

“Poetry block party comes to Austin”
Austin Talks – Connor Carynski

“Cynthia Nixon’s Plan to Stem Mass Incarceration Has a Uniquely Feminist Provision”
In These Times – Rachel Johnson

“The Police Will Keep Killing Us Until We Stop Criminalizing Blackness and Poverty”
In These Times – Katelyn Johnson

“Black Caucus members eject protesters from fund-raiser, call themselves ‘gangsters’”
Chicago Reader – Maya Dukmasova

“The latest protests against the Chicago police are about more than one shooting”
Vox – P.R. Lockhart & German Lopez

“Parkland Students Join Chicago Activists in Protest”
NY Times – Associated Press

“‘He’s Not Coming Back’: Family Wants Justice for Man in Fatal Police Shooting”
WTTW – Matt Masterson

“Parkland, FL high school students oppose Emanuel’s new police and fire academi”
WLS – Bill Cameron

“Youth activists hold press conference on gun violence in Chicago”
Windy City Times – Carrie Maxwell

“City approves funding for training academy Opponents of the proposed facility say they will keep fighting”
Austin Weekly News – Igor Studenkov

“Trump Supports Another Racist March”
Truthout – Kelly Hayes

“Morning Spin: Activists opposed to new police academy disrupt Emanuel speech, video shows”
Chicago Tribune – Staff

“Chicago City Council Members Lash Out at Young Black Activists Opposed to Cop Academy”
Shadowproof – Kevin Gosztola

“No Cop Academy and a thin blue line”
The Depaulia – Cody Corrall

“Aldermen approve police academy funding during heated City Council meeting”
Chicago Sun Times – Mitchell Armentrout

“City Council approves police academy funding after opponents fail to stop vote”
Chicago Tribune – John Byrne & Gregory Pratt

“Five things to know about Chicago’s proposed police and fire academy — and the controversy surrounding it”
Chicago Tribune – Morgan Greene

“Why did Carlos Ramirez-Rosa get kicked out of the City Council’s Latino Caucus?”
Chicago Reader – Ben Joravsky

“Activists Sue to Stop Vote on Funding for Chicago Police Compound”
Mint Press News – Kevin Gosztola

“New Lawsuit Leaves Vote on Police Academy Up in the Air”
NBC Chicago – Mary Ann Ahern

“Anti-police academy group files suit to stop Friday vote on proposal”
Chicago Tribune – Gregory Pratt

“No Cop Academy Coalition Files Lawsuit to Block Friday’s City Council Meeting”
Chicago Sun Times – Fran Spielman

“No Cop Academy Successfully Stalls Vote on Chicago Police Compound”
Shadowproof – Kevin Gosztola

“What the heck happened at Chicago City Council Wednesday?”
WBEZ – Claudia Morell

“Emanuel plays hardball with opponents of $95M police academy”
Chicago Sun Times – Fran Spielman

“Emanuel abruptly ends council meeting amid fight over police academy”
Chicago Tribune – John Byrne & Gregory Pratt

“‘No Cop Academy’ protesters disrupt City Council committee meeting”
Chicago Sun Times – Fran Spielman

“Chicago government silences objections to $95 million police academy plan”
Think Progress – Alan Pyke

“OUT WEST: A Policed & Devastated People”
The Triibe – Tiffany Walden

“50 years later: How Chicago youth are following King today
Chicago Defender – Staff Writers

“Activists, Aldermen clash over academy
Austin Weekly News – Bonni McKeown

“These black teens are demanding that Chicago invest in schools instead of police with #NoCopAcademy”
Mic – Rachel Anspack

“‘No Cop Academy’: Activists stage day-long demonstration against police academy to be built in Chicago”
Nation of Change – Aaron Cynic & Elizabeth King

#NoCopAcademy Protesters Share How It Felt to Occupy Chicago’s City Hall
Teen Vogue – Lucy Diavolo

“Black Student Protesters in Chicago Are Denied Access to Public Restrooms at City Hall”
Truthout – Kelly Hayes

“Chicago youth stage ‘die-in’ in City Hall to demand defunding of $95 mill cop academy, more community resources”
Chicago Tribune – Laura Rodriguez

“No Cop Academy In Chicago: Black Students Hold Hours-Long Sit-In At City Hall”
Shadowproof – Kevin Gosztola

“Chance The Rapper Supports Student Protest In Chicago Against New Police Academy”
Hotnewhiphop.com – Chantilly Post

“Students Stage Sit-In To Protest Chicago’s $95M Police Academy Plan; Chance The Rapper Supports The ‘Revolution'”
Blavity – Tonja Renée Stidhum

“Students Protest Police Academy at City Hall”
WGN – WGN Web Desk

“Monica Trinidad on Art, Action, and For the People Artists Collective”
Just Seeds Blog – Aaron Hughes

“Resources prevent violence. Policing Doesn’t.”
Truthout – Kelly Hayes

“#NoCopAcademy wants Chicago leadership to prioritize schools over police.”
Teen Vogue – Juanita Tennyson

Some students won’t settle for gun control – they want community transformation”
Truthout – Kelly Hayes

“Chicago-area students take to streets to protest gun violence even as scare hits Northwestern “
Chicago Reader – Ashley Mizuo & Rachel Lang

“Lori Lightfoot calls Emanuel’s $95 million police academy plan ‘ill-conceived’”
Chicago Sun-Times – Fran Spielman

“On the Last Day of Black History Month Chicago’s School Board Votes to Shutter Five Black Schools.”
Truthout – Kelly Hayes

“On Chicago’s West Side, People Die 16 Years Earlier Than Downtown”
Chicago Mag – Nissa Rhee

“Marchers Discuss City Issues At Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade
CBS Chicago

“Emanuel’s Campus Appearances Face Increasing Opposition
Real Chi Youth – Pascal Sabino

Chicago’s Youth Push Back Against Mayor’s Proposed “Cop Academy,” Demand More Investment in Communities
Truthout – Erin Glasco & Debbie Southorn

“Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s GSD Appearance Met With Protest”
The Harvard Crimson – Archie J.W. Hall & Sonia Kim

“INVESTIGATION: The Troubled History of the Fund Tapped for Rahm’s Controversial Cop Academy”
In These Times – Rebecca Burns

“Harvard students follow UCLA and University of Michigan students in protesting Emanuel”
The Chicago Tribune – Kim Janssen

“Rahm to UCLA Hecklers: Who Knew There Were So Many Flights from Chicago?”
The Chicago Sun Times – Pete Grieve

“Reimagining Community Safety with #NoCopAcademy”
The My Body My Choice Project – Bridgit Gallagher

“Chicago Mayor talks city’s merits, met with protest”
The Michigan Daily – Jordyn Baker

“Despite School Closings, Chicago Mayor Pushes For New $95 Million Police Academy
The Real News Network – Michael Sainato

Mayor Rahm Emanuel Met With Negative Response During Talks At University of Michigan”
University News – Brie Matteson

“Emanuel heckled about police academy during University of Michigan appearance
Chicago Tribune – John Byrne

“The Activists and the Aldermen: The #NoCopAcademy Campaign’s Crash Course in Chicago Civics”
Chicago Reader – Maya Dukmasova

“Blind Trust: Who pays for what no one wants?”
Free Spirit Media – Alloíza Mari

“A $95 Million, State-of-the-Art Police Academy Is Chicago’s Latest Political Battleground
Mother Jones – Brandon E. Patterson

“Starving The Beast: Chicago’s Fight Against Police Expansion is Everyone’s Fight
Injustice Today – by Josmar Trujillo

“Cops or Community: How should Chicago spend $95 million?”
A Beautiful Perspective – By Noah Berlatsky

“It Is the Young People Who Will Free Us”: Resisting Militarized Violence, from Honduras to Chicago”
In These Times  – By Gaspar Sánchez and Veronica Morris-Moore (11.16.2017)

“City officials should listen to young people in debate over new police academy
Chicago Tribune – By Dahleen Glanton (11.14.2017)

Wednesday November 8th, #NoCopAcademy at Chicago City Council coverage:

LOCAL:

https://freespiritmedia.org/features-search/2017/11/9/organizers-and-community-members-tell-city-hall-they-want-nocopacademy

https://soundcloud.com/vocalo/peace-council-nocopacademy

https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/chance-the-rapper-no-photograph-chicago-city-council/amp/

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/11/08/chance-the-rapper-police-academy/

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-chance-rapper-council-address-20171108-story.html

http://abc7chicago.com/chance-the-rapper-speaks-against-police-fire-academy-project-in-west-garfield-park/2618336/

http://wgntv.com/2017/11/08/chance-the-rapper-speaks-out-against-chicago-police-training-center/

https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/aldermen-authorize-9-6m-land-buy-for-new-police-and-fire-academy/

NATIONAL:

https://www.bustle.com/p/chance-the-rapper-protests-chicagos-cop-academy-asking-why-95-million-isnt-being-invested-in-schools-3262518/amp

https://thegrapevine.theroot.com/rahm-emanuel-walks-out-on-chance-the-rapper-because-rah-1820297689

http://uproxx.com/realtalk/chance-the-rapper-mayor-chicago-rahm-emanuel-walkout/

https://www.thefader.com/2017/11/08/chance-the-rapper-chicago-prison-activists

http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2017/11/chance-the-rapper-chicago-city-council-95-million-police-academy/

http://ew.com/music/2017/11/08/chance-the-rapper-chicago-city-council/

https://www.vibe.com/2017/11/chance-the-rapper-denounces-chicagos-95-million-police-training-academy/

https://www.salon.com/2017/11/09/chance-the-rapper-shows-up-to-chicago-city-council-meeting-but-not-everyone-was-happy-to-see-him/

http://www.ebony.com/news-views/education/chance-rapper-education-chicago#axzz4xzpGE0UH

http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8030227/chance-the-rapper-chicago-city-council-police-academy-video

https://www.essence.com/celebrity/chance-rapper-speaks-chicago-police-academy

https://patch.com/illinois/chicago/chance-rapper-asks-city-council-halt-95m-police-academy

http://www.mtv.com/news/3046398/chance-the-rapper-chicago-city-council-no-cop-academy/

https://blavity.com/chance-rapper-chicago-95m-police-academy-city-council-illogical#

https://allblackmedia.com/2017/11/chance-rapper-speaks-chicagos-planned-95-million-police-academy/

https://thinkprogress.org/rahm-emanuel-cop-academy-chicago-565014ca2135/

Earlier in the week:

Coverage of Monday’s Committee vote:

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/11/07/police-fire-training-academy/

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-police-fire-training-west-side-20171106-story.html

General campaign piece:

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/no-cop-academy_us_5a023976e4b02f3ab3377df8

—–

Chicago Activists Say Development in the Black Community is Not Building Planned $95 Million Police academy
Atlanta Black Star – D. Amari Jackson

The coalition has done much more than issue statements. For the past month the growing campaign — whose hashtag recently received the endorsement of Chicago Grammy-award winning artist Chance the Rapper — has publicly canvassed and engaged the city’s West Side and downtown citizens with numerous outdoor press conferences, rallies, call-ins to inform citizens, public protests and spirited demonstrations like “train takeovers.”

Demonstrators Blast Plan For $95M First-Responder Academy”
CBS News – Audrina Bigos

They’re chanting, “No cop academy” on what they’re calling commuter “train takeovers.” These Chicago youth are also organizing teach-ins and collective call-ins to aldermen, and they’re canvassing the streets. It’s all to protest a nearly $100 million public safety training academy for police officers, firefighters and medics. “Ninety-five million dollars should go to schools, and youth and homeless people and mental health clinics,” says Nita Tennyson of Assata’s Daughters.

“Chicago incentivizes abusive policing through overtime policy
Chicago Reporter – Sheila Bedi

The Inspector General’s audit demonstrates that the No Cop Academy campaign is right on point. CPD has no business hiring hundreds of additional officers or spending $95 million on a new training academy when it has directed the resources it has in ways that are so deeply racist, corrupt and counter to public safety.

“Rahm’s police academy plan met with youth-led backlash from #NoCopAcademy campaign”
Chicago Reader – Maya Dukmasova

In recent days Hampton-Murff has collected 30 signatures in opposition to the development from people in her neighborhood. She says most of those folks had no idea it was coming and said they’d rather see the city spend more money on schools and youth activities. “It’s an under-resourced community, and the government is telling us we don’t have the funds to fix it,” she says. “But then we’ll have a $95 million building sitting on the corner where there are abandoned buildings?”

“Rahm Emanuel Wants $95 Million for a New Police Facility. Chicago Activists Have Other Ideas.”
In These Times – Charles Preston

Nita, a 19-year old member of Assata’s Daughters, was friends with LeGrier and says his killing shows why the #NoCopAcademy campaign is so important.

“I’ve got involved because I have multiple friends that were killed by police,” says Nita. “When they killed my friend Quintonio, the cop sued Quintonio’s family. I feel like $95 million can go into something way different than police.”

“Activists Block Street Outside City Hall With Coffin Installation To Protest Cop Academy, Gang Database”
Chicagoist – Stephen Gossett

Activists briefly blocked traffic on Randolph Street outside City Hall Tuesday with a large-scale art installation to protest the city’s gang database, as well as plans for a multi-million-dollar police and fire training academy to be built in West Garfield Park.

“Chance Stopped By Police, So He Records It Live On Instagram”
DNA Info – Kelly Bauer

More recently, he asked people to read posts with the hashtag #NoCopAcademy. The hashtag has been used by activists calling on the city’s leaders to stop their plans for a $95 million police and fire training academy and instead use the money on Chicago Public Schools.

“Public safety training center proposed for W. Garfield Park”
Austin Weekly News – Igor Studenkov

Other organizations have since joined in opposition to the training facility. One of those organizations, the Lincoln Square-based Tzedek Chicago Synagogue, teamed up with Assata’s Daughers, Trans Liberation Collective and Jewish Voices for Peace to hold a press conference in front of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s fifth-floor office downtown on the morning of Sept. 22.

“#NoCopAcademy” Campaign Opposes $95 Million for New Police Grounds”
It’s Going Down – Anonymous Contributor

We demand a redirecting of this $95 million into Chicago’s most marginalized communities instead. Real community safety comes from fully-funded schools and mental health centers, robust after-school and job- training programs, and social and economic justice. We want investment in our communities, not expanded resources for police.

“Chicago’s ‘Green Zone’: Community Coalition Opposes City Plans for Massive Police Training Compound”
Shadowproof – Kevin Gosztola

If Emanuel is seriously interested in community investment and stabilizing communities, May said he would propose a youth jobs training center. A facility for ensuring 16-18 year-olds get jobs will do far more to reduce crime. She also recommended investments in mental health care centers, schools, grocery stores, and child care centers.

“Coalition Wants Funds For New Police & Fire Academy To Go To Struggling Communities”
Chicagoist – Aaron Cynic

Rather than spending the money on the academy, the group wants the city to put the money towards things like public schools, accessible mental health clinics, living wages, and after school and job training program, which they say will strengthen communities. 

“Chicago’s communities need resources–not criminalization,” said Page May of Assata’s Daughters. “We should be defunding and downsizing the Chicago Police Department and investing those funds in providing the vital resources our communities need.”

“New Police Training Center Advances; Protesters Want Funds Spent Elsewhere”
DNA Info – Heather Cherone

Monica Trinidad, a member of the People’s Response Team, which is part of the “No Cop Academy” effort, said the money would be better spent on restoring cuts made to Chicago Public Schools’ budgets or reopening mental health clinics closed by Emanuel.

“We aren’t falling for Rahm’s charade,” Trinidad said. “Don’t expand CPD when we are strangled in our own communities.”

“Black People Are Demanding Police Abolition – We Could Be Demanding Much More”
By RadFag

While the mayor’s office continues to deny funding for a host of public services—announcing the cutting of over 900 jobs from Chicago Public Schools just this week—it also recently announced the construction of a new $95 million police training academy, to be raised on the West side. The same police department which was just described by the Justice Department as violating the civil rights of Black residents on a systemic level is receiving an expensive new firing range—the exact opposite of reparations.

“How Do Chicago Police Treat Mental Health?  With SWAT Raids.” 
By Sarah Lazare & Debbie Southorn

“FEDERAL POLICIES AREN’T the only factor driving local law enforcement militarization. Last month, Chicago media reported that Emanuel’s office is moving to funnel $95 million into a new police and fire training center with a shooting range and “active scenario” exercises.”

“Wanted: Straight Talk About Chicago Police Training”
By Andy Shaw

“The city pegs the cost of the project, including land acquisition, at $95 million, but that’s only an estimate, and the funding mechanism is dubious—the underperforming Chicago Infrastructure Trust the mayor created to structure public-private partnerships that have been more of an “Infrastructure Bust” for lack of private sector interest.”