Forum: Building Public Trust by Empowering Community Voices {Updated}

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[Click here for updated coverage by Progress Illinois]

[Click here for coverage by Medill Reports]

[Event Recap by the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform]

Tuesday, February 16th, I'll join a panel of stakeholders in a conversation about how to create a more just Chicago to foster fairer governance of its people. Be sure to RSVP for this free event. As the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform suggested in the selection of its panelists, this is an ambitious undertaking that will require input from thought leaders from several different spaces. As it stands, the ACLU finds Blacks in Chicago are disproportionately harassed by police under stop and frisk policies. While making up only 32% of the population, roughly 70% of those stopped and frisked were Black. I use the word harass because that's exactly how it feels when you're on the wrong side of that encounter. That level of interaction alone is bound to create greater opportunity for what we've seen in troubling frequency: black death at the hands of police. The circumstances of these shootings are often shrouded in secrecy under what's been called blue code of silence. Community outcry through protests and forums coupled with the work of advocacy groups can result in tangible progress. But in too many instances the progress is mild and met with considerable resistance. There is still a lot of ground to cover.

This will not be a one-sided conversation. We are joined by former officer Richard Wooten and Deputy Chief of Community Policing Eric Washington.

Award winning journalist Robin Robinson will moderate the discussion at the Chicago Urban League from 12 - 1:30pm. We hope you'll join us.