On Oct. 20, 2014, a CPD officer brutally murdered Laquan McDonald in Archer Heights in Southwest Chicago. The horrendous details of the murder — McDonald was shot 16 times — fueled a political realignment in Chicago that led to the creation of the Chicago Police Accountability Task Force. The task force’s final 2016 report led to the first community listening sessions of the Grassroots Alliance for Police Accountability, known as GAPA.
The GAPA coalition centered community members’ stories, experiences and recommendations in their advocacy for police reform. GAPA developed an ordinance that proposed a two-tiered structure for shifting power to Chicago residents and holding CPD accountable: a city-wide community commission and district councils in Chicago’s 22 police districts.
Working in partnership with the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, the Empowering Communities for Public Safety ordinance was signed into law in July 2021. But the ultimate quest for community safety, health and justice is far from over.
First, coalitions like GAPA must educate and mobilize residents to attend monthly district council meetings. Individual voices directly impact policy and accountability because community participation isn’t just beneficial — it’s transformative. Fortunately, it’s easy to find your local police district council meetings at: chicago.gov/city/en/depts/ccpsa.html.
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Second, we must support district councilors. Despite obstacles, community action plans and seminars on alternatives to policing from subject matter experts are already part of district council meetings across Chicago. GAPA is creating a resource library for district councilors so everyone can access the best community engagement tools.
Finally, we must encourage strong, pro-accountability district councilors to run for office in every police district and advocate for the resources we believe are necessary from the city government to execute the expectations of the office successfully if and when they win.
The systems and practices that led to Laquan McDonald’s murder and cover-up are not going to be dismantled through one ordinance. It will take decades of anti-racist activism, policy-making and community organizing to painstakingly disassemble them brick by brick.
Joel Rodriguez, member, Grassroots Alliance for Police Accountability
Sick people
When Donald Trump speaks of “the enemy within,” now I know what he means. They are the sickos who are praising the suspected UnitedHealthcare CEO killer as a hero, justifying premeditated murder as an outlet for frustration. These are the people I fear.
Mike Calcina, Dunning
Don’t bother with new flag designs
After reviewing the new Illinois flag designs, only one word comes to mind: bland. Let’s keep the one we have and stop wasting money that we don’t have on a new flag.
Mike Kirchberg, Little Italy