When Waukegan police pulled over Marcellis Stinnette and his partner Tafara Williams on October 20, 2020, they claimed they had a warrant for his arrest. Only after police chased and killed Marcellis Stinnette and severely injured Tafara Williams did the truth come out: there was no warrant, and police had lied. Now, Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart is charging Williams with “aggravated fleeing” for trying to survive the police shooting.
Paul Vallas' deep ties to the Chicago Police are no secret. Endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police and their Trump-loving leader John Catarranza, Vallas has called for taking the "handcuffs off police." But what does this actually mean?
Even after the DoJ placed the Chicago Police Department under a federal consent decree for the murder of Laquan McDonald, CPD dragged its feet on required reforms for years.
It took the massive protests against the murders of Adam Toledo and Anthony Alvarez to force the cops to implement a new foot pursuit policy.
This new policy has had very little impact on cops' actions, though. They continue to pursue and kill working, poor, and oppressed Chicagoans every week. You only need to look at Isidro Valverde, murdered earlier this year.
This is our police department now. Vallas promises to remove the "handcuffs" from the police. How many more murders will his decision cause? How many more wasted Chicago dollars will go to a police force that fails over and over and over and over again to keep us safe?
Veronica Alvarez, the mother of Anthony Alvarez, speaks for the people of Chicago when she says that a vote for Vallas is a vote for things as they are, if not worse.
Live from Dolton - Police won't silence protest
On August 2, we joined the family of Madeline Miller and Flossmoor community members in shutting down the Flossmoor village board meeting. Once again, officials refused to address the murder of Madeline Miller by Flossmoor police. They ignored demands for the killer cops to be held accountable and requests for the police department to implement reforms. When Mayor Michelle Nelson moved to cut off public comments, the crowd began chanting to make sure Flossmoor officials could not continue to cover up this murder and go back to business as usual.
Madeline Miller, a 64 year old Black woman, was shot and killed by Flossmoor police on July 10, seconds after following police orders to exit a house during a mental health episode. Madeline is just one of dozens of Black people who have been shot and killed by police in the Chicago suburbs over the past two decades, and no cop has ever even been disciplined for a shooting.
We demand that the cops who killed Madeline not just be disciplined, but fired and charged!
Justice for Madeline Miller!
Justice for all victims of racist police terror!
Lashawn Yvonne Littrice Make Noize For Change
Please listen to the mother of Anthony Alvarez, Veronica Alvarez, his cousin Laly's words and the Party for Socialism, Patrick continue to fight and demand justice for Anthony Alvarez! A group marched today for an emergency action from Thompson Center Plaza to the Chicago Police Board offices. We were outraged to be out in the streets today as yesterday the Police Board announced that Evan Solano will not be fired. Instead this killer cop will only face a 20 day suspension. That ain’t right!
This pitiful disciplinary action is an insult to the Alvarez family, all victims of police terror and the community as a whole! Yesterday’s decision was caused by a single Police Board member appointed by Lori Lightfoot, Stephen Block. Why are non-elected officials able to make drastic decisions about our safety? This sets a dangerous precedent for all past and future victims of police brutality.COPA recommended the firing of Solano and released an unprecedented statement yesterday reaffirming their recommendation. In this statement COPA said "Based on our investigation, copa found that the preponderance of the evidence in this case shows that mr. Alvarez was attempting to flee without the use of force and does not support that his actions were likely to cause death or great bodily harm." "(chicago police) Department policy does not permit Department members to use deadly force on a subject who flees with a firearm absent an imminent threat, which mr. alvarez did not pose here."
Anthony’s blood is not only on Solano hands, not only on the Police Boards hands, not only on top cop David browns hands, but on the whole damn systems! Lori has played a role in this by appointing David brown, by appointing the police board, by appointing Stephen Block Lightfoot is complicit in this
We are all less safe with cops like Solano on the force. Last month CPD officers shot and unarmed 13 year old in the back. Like Anthony he was fleeing. Now this child is paralyzed. Yesterday CPD sho