By Thug Scholar
It's been 24 years since the Chicago Police Department's brutal torture of over 200 people; while the city's former police commander, Jon Burge, was sentenced to a meager four years and a half years in prison in 2011, the victims who suffered brutality under his command remain without justice, left with traumatic experiences as a result of systematic racism and criminal abuses of power. The brutal tactics Burge employed from 1972 to 1991 when "extracting" confessions ranged from using electric shocks, plastic cover suffocation, extensive usage of racial slurs, to sexual abuse of victims, some of whom were not over 18 years old. While Burge was fired, other Chicago policemen who also took part in torture are still on the force without arrest or criminal charges. Due to the extensive work of organizations such as We Charge Genocide, Project NIA, and Black Youth Project. the push for a Reparations Ordinance has been on the table to enact a trauma center on the South Side, memorials for victims, and for this legacy of torture to be taught in Chicago public schools in order to restore healing and justice to communities who have endured psychological and socioeconomic trauma. TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR A REPARATIONS ORDINANCE, SIGN THE PETITION HERE. https://www.change.org/p/pass-the-ordinance-seeking-reparations-for-the-chicago-police-torture-survivors
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(From left) Chance The Rapper, Taylor Bennet & Sway Calloway shown holding the $100,000 made payable to "Closing the Digital Divide in Chicago." via Instagram Now here's a rapper doing some good for the community! Earlier this week, the Chi's very own, Chance The Rapper, his brother Taylor Bennett, Sway, and various other members of the Chicago community helped raise $100,000 for Chicago's Get Schooled, Get Connected Challenge.
[See more pics by heading to Sway's IG!] Chance and company presented the check at an event for the foundation that helped six elementary schools in Chicago receive new technology equipment to help enhance the computer labs, WiFi internet access, and digital learning. I guess it's no wonder why we (the city of Chicago) honored him with the "Outstanding Youth of the Year" award last year. The initiative's website explains that the three-month program -- which lasted from October 6, 2014, to January 5, 2015 -- offers high schoolers "a chance to connect with students across Chicago as you work to compete in weekly quests; play interactive games, polls, and trivia; and explore a ton of educational resources to help you make the leap from high school to college without missing a beat!" The Get Schooled program was originally launched by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Viacom, and has already helped connect 22,000 Chicago households with internet since its inception. Chance continues to do his part to help the community, and if you remember, he was honored with the "Outstanding Youth of the Year" award by the city of Chicago last year. As the New Year entered, we realized the bevy of goods you guys missed on our behalf! Check out the stories that should have been posted below. We went to a bra decorating event at Sip and Savor. We went to the screening of Nikki and the City's television debut with her hubby, Just Steve. And we saw Black Nativity at the Cultural Center. Black Nativity at the Harold Washington Cultural Center I went to the event with my stepsister as a gift from my mom. The play was a wonderful display of the life of Jesus Christ as told by Black people. Good clean fun is how I would describe it. It touched my heart to see the story of Jesus Christ told in color. I also loved the fact that the show was put on at the cultural center on 43rd. Too often do we overlook the resources in our own community. Nikki and the City TLC Screening at Porkchop I got the opportunity to mix two of my faves! Nikki Carpenter and Porkchop. Nikki was on TLC's The Virgin Couples. She gathered friends and family to watch the show at Porkchop and it was great. Porkchop has amazing food! I've been there numerous times, so when I got the invite it was a no brainer. I love the relationship that Nikki and her husband share. Watching them as they watched themselves was hilarious. You can watch the show here. Sip and Savor's Bra Decorating Event I volunteered for the Bra Decorating Event at Sip and Savor on a whim. I frequent the coffee shop and figured why not! It turned out to be an awesome opportunity to pay homage to a woman dear to me who passed a few years ago after battling with cancer on and off for many years: Linda. We sat in the shop greeting and painting. The bras were meant to be put on display at Rush Hospital. |
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ATS MagAgainst the Stream Magazine is an urban platform. We edify our readers by finding noble, pure, and true talent and giving it a stage to flourish. While we love bragging about the folks around us, we also tackle urban issues by giving real world solutions. Archives
September 2015
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