In honor of the Empowering Communities for Public Safety Ordinance's first anniversary on July 21, ECPS supporting organizations took action on July 21 and July 22 by participating in a Phone Zap Action to Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Office where callers demanded accountability around the ECPS Interim Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability.

On Wednesday, June 29, 2022 the Empowering Communities for Public Safety Coalition was awarded The Woods Fund of Chicago Power of Community Award at the Local Initiatives Support Corp.

To stop violence, we need investments in our communities. That's why 65 organizations from across Chicago are demanding that Mayor Lightfoot focus on addressing the root causes of harm rather than increasing punishment.

You can now apply to first job openings with the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability: First Deputy Director, Deputy Director for the Commission, and Executive Administrative Assistant.

It is important to note that the call for accountability and justice is not simply about putting officers in jail. Rather, it is a demand that those who kill our loved ones be made to answer for those killings in the full view of the public. It is, as many have said, the least we should expect.

In this month of Black History, as we reflect on the accomplishments and achievements of Black people, we must remember the lives lost to systemic white violence. We must go farther than remembering, we must dedicate ourselves and our resources to building a world committed to Black living and Black thriving as opposed to Black death.

“After learning of the murder of 22-year-old Amir Locke, shot to death in his bed as Minneapolis police used a no-knock warrant to enter his home, I expressed to friends my profound grief. I expressed that I have no new words and that my lexicon feels exhausted from decrying police brutality and militarized tactics that result in these fatal narratives – too often excessively impacting Black and Brown people.”

The undersigned are among the almost 1.5 million people who voted for you in 2016 to end the nightmare of police crimes in Black and Latino communities.

Prayers of Thanksgiving, In Memory of Ahmaud Arbery

Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Waltrina Middleton, reflects on all the work we’ve been doing to advocate for social and economic justice and eliminate barriers of race and class over the past year.

Learn more about ECPS and how you can get involved by attending one of our teach-ins!

While these new laws bring us steps closer to the Illinois we want to live in, the work is not done. All of us must continue to do the good work of organizing our communities, taking action and demanding meaningful change!

On July 21, 2021 The Empowering Communities for Public Safety Ordinance passed! This achievement could not have happened without your involvement and the support of these Alderpeople. Please take the time to thank them.

by Rev. Karen Mooney, Executive Co-Director - Unitarian Universalist Advocacy Network of IL

Your voice is needed! Grassroots organizing and public policy advocacy requires consistent work by individuals, especially those from communities most impacted by systemic racism and structural inequality.

Chicago has experienced an unprecedented amount of violence in recent months. As we enter into the Fourth of July weekend, the violence continues, and calls for immediate action have been heard throughout the City. To get to the root of the violence, however, we must change our approach to public safety.

The coalition behind the Empowering Communities for Public Safety ordinance, which is expected to be filed as a substitute to the Grassroots Alliance for Police Accountability ordinance (SO2019-4132), including aldermen and labor leaders, criticized Lightfoot’s proposal during a news conference Thursday and said they expect a vote on police oversight in June.

The Latino Caucus of the Chicago City Council has voted to endorse the civilian police oversight ordinance backed by the Grassroots Alliance for Police Accountability (GAPA) and the coalition for a Civilian Police Accountability Council (CPAC).

The City of Chicago’s Aldermanic Black Caucus (CABC) voted to officially support the Empowering Communities for Public Safety (ECPS) ordinance…

We write this letter on behalf of the Coalition to request that the City immediately share with the Coalition the current draft Chicago Police Department (CPD) foot pursuit policy…