#rahmrepnow

[rahmrepnow]

by Monica Trinidad

[mfg]

In the United States, the idea of reparations is old, from calls in the 19th century to compensate African-Americans for slavery to government payments to Japanese-Americans for stripping them of their property and sending them to internment camps during World War II.

But the global human rights movement, from which the local ordinance draws, was born in the aftermath of World War II and efforts to force Germany to redress the atrocities against Jewish people during the Holocaust. Since then, reparations, and the related concept of reconciliation, have been implemented around the globe in many forms.

In Chile, the government gave pensions and health care to people who were tortured by the former military regime from 1973 to 1990. In South Africa, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission documented violence from the apartheid era, in part, to help create a shared narrative of the nation’s racist past and build a multiracial democracy.

Adeshina Emmanuel, @public_ade

Further Reading on Chicago Reparations to Survivors of Police Torture:

Human rights practices inform Chicago ordinance in police torture case

Burge Reparations, Apology for Police Torture Victims OK'd by Council

[blacklivesmatterchicago]

HISTORIC CITY COUNCIL VOTE on REPARATIONS for Burge Torture Survivors

“On April 14 we saw historic steps taken towards reparations for Burge torture survivors and their family members. After an intensive 6 month campaign, building on decades of struggle, we were able to reach an agreement with the city on a reparations package for survivors and their families. Together we overcame the deadlock at City Hall, and held the first hearing on reparations since its introduction in October of 2013. We are close to passing reparations and need your help to get to the finish line. For those in Chicago, we are asking you to come to City Hall on Wednesday, May 6th, at 10am, when the City Council votes on the reparations legislation. We need your help to pack City Hall again and stand in solidarity with Burge torture survivors. Let's show a strong show of support as we urge the City Council to vote to approve the reparations ordinance. The new reparations package is based upon the original ordinance, but now includes two separate pieces of legislation: an ordinance appropriating the $5.5 million in funds for financial compensation for survivors, and a separate resolution that provides for the formal apology and outlines the non-monetary forms of redress – including the CPS curriculum, counseling services, free tuition to city colleges, and the public memorial. Though the legislation is not perfect, and particularly appropriates less in financial compensation than we struggled to achieve, we believe it is an important and historic step. This legislation importantly recognizes the incredible harm done to Black people and communities in the city of Chicago, and begins to make amends and move towards healing. It is only because of our movement that we have gotten as far as we have. Let's make sure we make history by passing this unprecedented historic reparations legislation on May 6!”

[fergusonresponse]

CHICAGO, IL

WED APR 1 - 6:00 PM

First Unitarian Church of Chicago 5650 S Woodlawn Avenue

Teaching Chicago Police Torture: No Healing Without Understanding

[unlearnandburn]

Today 12-5pm join us for an art exhibition and demonstration at city hall. Come through for torture survivors and for all those who have been brutalized by the police. Love and protect each other. #rahmrepnow #reparations #cpd #policebrutality

[amnestymidwest-blog]

This has been a long fight for the victims to get recognition and for their stories to be heard. 

Currently, Rahm Emanuel - a roadblock in the path of justice - is seeking reelection. Join us tonight on Twitter at 8PM CST as we try to place pressure on Mayor Rahm Emanuel to pass the reparations ordinance. We need your help to get this message out there.

(Image Source)

[tcalwasnthere-blog]

JVN Forever! That's alderman Osterman over my left shoulder who has not signed on to support the ordinance to get reparations for the 118+ black men who were tortured by CPD under Jon Burge decades ago. There are 28 alder people that have supported the ordinance that would bring monetary educational and mental health services to those who were brutally tortured and imprisoned. Harry Osterman the uptown alderman who has recognized John Vietnam's legacy as someone who fought in the right side of history needs to live up to what he says he supports and sign into the ordinance. Call and tweet him and let him and demand he needs to sign on. Check out if your alder person supports the ordinance or not at rahmrepnow.tumblr.com What would JVN do? #jvnforever #harryosterman #rahmrepnow

[rahmrepnow]

Alderpeople Who Support The Ordinance (not on finance)

Robert Fioretti (2nd Ward)

Ward:  (312) 263-9273

City Hall: (312) 744-6836

Roderick Sawyer (6th Ward)

Ward: (773) 635-0006

City Hall: (312) 744-0670

Michael Chandler (24th Ward)

Ward: (773) 533-2400

City Hall: (312) 744-6839

Robert Maldonado (26th Ward)

Ward: (773) 395-0143

City Hall: (312) 744-6853

Deborah Mell (33rd Ward)

Ward: (773) 478-8040

City Hall: (312) 744-6825

Nicholas Sposato (36th Ward)

Ward: (773) 836-0036

City Hall: (312) 744-7947

Michelle Smith (43rd Ward)

 Ward: (773) 348-9500

City Hall: (312) 744-5685

John Arena (45th Ward)

Ward: (773) 286-4545

City Hall: (312) 744-6841

James Cappelman (46th Ward)

Ward: (773) 878-4646

City Hall: (312) 744-6831

Ameya Pawar (47th Ward)

Ward: (773) 868-4747

City Hall: (312) 744-0446

[mfg]

Rahmrepnow pop-up art exhibit, fifth floor of City Hall, Rahm did not come out to learn our history or observe remembrance, or support reparations

[blacklivesmatterchicago]

"Three months ago, the #RahmRepNOW campaign kicked into high gear to pass the Burge torture survivors reparations ordinance that has been stalled in the Chicago City Council since October 2013. Spearheaded by the Chicago Torture Justice Memorials, Project NIA and We Charge Genocide, #RahmRepNOW has included actions and protests intended to pressure members of the City Council and Mayor Rahm Emanuel to bring the reparations ordinance to a vote. Comrades from BYP100, the Chicago Light Brigade and other organizations have also led actions and protests in solidarity with the campaign.

Take 3 minutes to watch the video. Share it with others. 

Join the fight for #ReparationsNOW!"

[thoughtpoetsopinion]

Passion-(Adventures of the ugly mog) by @quennalene #vsco #vscocam #vscogrid #vscophile #alliwantforkwanzaa #blackholidaze #takeblackchi #Rahmrepnow @byp100

[rahmrepnow]

Phone Bank Today

We need your help to demand and shore up support for the Burge torture survivors Reparations ordinance. Please call members of the City Council finance committee who have already expressed support for the ordinance to thank them for that support and to ask them to demonstrate it by voting in favor of the ordinance.

The list of finance committee members who are supportive is here.

Here’s a script that you can use in your calls:

“Good Afternoon. I understand that Alderman X has already declared their support for the Burge torture survivors ordinance introduced in the City Council in October 2013. I am calling to thank Alderman X for their support and to ask that they vote in support of the ordinance when it is heard in the finance committee.Can you please relay my message to Alderman X? Once again, I thank them for their support and for taking a stand against police torture.”

The second thing that we need you to do is to call Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office today to demand that he declare his FULL support for the reparations ordinance. Please stress that the financial compensation component of the ordinance is essential to offering a modicum of justice for the torture survivors. Tell the Mayor that he should get on the right side of justice. You can use the number below.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP! 

[fergusonresponse]

CHICAGO, IL

WED MAR 18 - 12:00 PM

CHICAGO CITY HALL 121 N LaSalle

Chicago Police Torture & Reparations Exhibition-In

[fergusonresponse]

CHICAGO, IL

MON MAR 16th - 10:30 AM

CHICAGO CITY HALL 121 N LaSalle

Stand Up for Reparations at Chicago City Council’s Finance Committee Meeting

[rahmrepnow]

Community organizing gets the goods!

"Yesterday Reps from Elephant Rebellion, Kuumba Lynx, KINETIC, CGCT, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, and Connect Force took action in support of the Burge Torture Reparations Ordinance by getting Harry Osterman, the Alderman of the 48th Ward (Who was a part of the John's Street Dedication and Murals) to be the 29th Alderperson to sign on to the Ordinance that we've never been so close to getting passed to get some Justice for the 110+ Black Men Tortured into wrongful convictions, their families and their communities that were and continue to be attacked by the decades of Torture of the Chicago Police. This was an important victory in a long hard fight many have carried from the men behind bars, their mothers and other family members, lawyers, organizations and individuals who have taken action for Justice. JVN was a strong force behind us." '- Jacinda Bullie

[mfg]

local reporters who weren't interested in this story when the hiding of suspects at Homan Square was at its height should find out for themselves. And by find out, I mean actually report the story before concluding that it's simply not possible that they blew it.

Regarding the veracity of the Guardian article about Homan Square; from "Here's what media should be asking Chicago Police about alleged black site" by Tracy Siska

The repulsive component to this is that they bring this completely ahistorical view to a facility like this existing; there is this tone that anyone who believes CPD could operate a black site / torture facility are foil hat conspiracy theorists. The reality is that this predates Burge in Vietnam, continues through him and CPD's Burge era practices, travels to Gitmo then comes back home for more of the same. The local media's inability to take seriously claims about abuses at this facility simply belie their unwillingness to deal with, in professional practice their complicity in, state violence against people of color in Chicago.

Just as it is Rahm's job to pass the reparations ordinance, it is the job of reporters to uncover these abuses and take them seriously rather than regurgitating a CPD press release. People discouraged a protest/march because "their cop buddies were cracking up at the idea of torturing people there" We protested Saturday not because Homan Square is where CPD tortures people; we might be wrong about the room, or the name of the building. As my partner said, 'we protest because they are doing it."

Why was there no original reporting for the first three days? Why did the papers only have buzzfeed-worthy reporting that summarized the Guardian article? A week later where are the articles about what is going on?