As CRS calls on transparent conversations about the Chicago Police Department’s use of excessive force in relationship to Black, Brown, and Indigenous people of our Beloved city, we share a list of traffic stop resources in partnership with the ACLU of Illinois.

In America, policing has almost become synonymous with Black death. The March 21 killing of Dexter Reed (26) in Chicago is yet another horrific example of the ways in which Black bodies are violently and fatally endangered when they come in contact with law enforcement. They can’t keep killing us. The excessive use of force must stop!

On February 15, CRS gathered at the Chicago City Hall to demand City Council members vote ‘no’ to arbitration behind closed doors for police misconduct cases and vote ‘yes’ for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Amidst these challenging times and with the holiday season upon us, our unwavering commitment to police accountability holds strong. In respect to the adversities surrounding us, we take pride in the significant strides made in our pursuit of justice reform.

CRS believes that the significance of accountability cannot be overstated. As people of faith advocating for racial, economic and social justice, it is critical that we always hold our leaders accountable.

Here is our statement in response to the selection of CPD Counterterrorism Chief Larry Snelling as the next police superintendent for Chicago.

Mayor Brandon Johnson announced CPD Chief of Counterterrorism Larry Snelling as Chicago’s 64th Police Superintendent. Read this blog article for the press release.

On August 9, CRS and other community organizations and members shared powerful testimonies at the Public Hearing on Chicago’s Consent Decree policy on “stop and frisks.”

Mayor Johnson’s request to not dehumanize our youth challenges us to consider the language we use when speaking about our communities. We thank Mayor Johnson for lifting the humanity of our children.

Read a press release from the City of Chicago Office of Inspector General on the Chicago Police Department’s Community-Police Mediation Pilot Program.

The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability continues its superintendent search for the Chicago Police Department.

Community Renewal Society was instrumental in helping the ACLU of Illinois identify directly-impacted individuals to be the plaintiffs in a discrimination lawsuit filed against the Chicago Police Department.

We celebrate Juneteenth while remembering that the fight for racial justice is not over, and our commitment to dismantling systemic racism must remain steadfast.

The Chicago Police Department is inviting the public to join two virtual focus groups to provide feedback on its gender-based violence-related policies. CRS urges your participation as we aim to make Chicago and the world a safer space.

Starting in 2016, Community Renewal Society, in coalition with other community organizations in Chicago, worked with the Illinois Attorney General, Lisa Madigan, to put in place the current consent decree, adopted in January 2019.

The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability held a meeting to draft policies for selecting the police superintendent and police board members. The new superintendent is expected to prioritize fairness, transparency and accountability to foster trust between the police and the community.

Keron Blair shares a heartfelt prayer for the new mayor of Chicago, envisioning a future where all people are safe, prosperous and treated with justice and equity while also encouraging us to hold our leaders in Chicago accountable. Read Keron's prayer here. 

What will the ECPS Ordinance do? What is the community commission on public safety? What are district councils? How does the ordinance create an opportunity for additional democratic reform?

For those of us who have been doing police accountability and police reform work for some time, the answer seems clear: policing in this country is a racist and white supremacist institution founded to perpetuate violence upon black bodies, and it continues to function that way today.

The Chicago Consent Decree Coalition released a statement on their decision to boycott the sham search warrant “Advisory Group.” Read the statement here.