Category Archives: Police

The 2021 Illinois Police and Criminal Justice Reform Bill

Posted on April 2021 by Belden Fields

On February 22, Governor Pritzker signed House Bill 3653. This bill, rather a composite omnibus of many bills, was sponsored by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus in both the Illinois House and Senate. Several of the individual bills were sponsored … Continue reading →

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The Haters Among Them

Posted on April 2021 by Pat Simpson

The number is thirty so far, thirty police officers charged with the act of participating in the Capitol insurrection last January. Many, many Americans felt shock, and media analysts expressed particular outrage, to find men in blue—perhaps even waving blue-line, … Continue reading →

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Urbana Police Chief Finally Admits Misconduct in Aleyah Lewis Arrest

Posted on December 2020 by Christopher Hansen

  It has been more than seven months since the violent arrest of Urbana resident Aleyah Lewis. Tens of thousands of people have watched the videos of Urbana Police Officers throwing Lewis to the ground, pinning her, punching her in the … Continue reading →

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What Educational Values and Beliefs Underpin a Decision to have Armed School Resource Officers?

Posted on October 2020 by Ameena Payne

This article was previously published in Smile Politely,  On December 17, 2019, the Urbana Board of Education (BOE) signed an intergovernmental agreement to approve funding of two full-time armed police officers (called School Resource Officers, or SROs)—one at the middle … Continue reading →

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Urbana Civilian Police Review Board Under the Spotlight After Violent Arrest

Posted on July 2020 by Christopher Hansen

For the past eleven Urbana City Council meetings, residents have lined up to deliver what has amounted to more than a dozen hours of criticism and a seemingly endless stream of misconduct allegations against the Urbana Police Department. Initially sparked … Continue reading →

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Is the Addition of a Larger Police Presence to Urbana Schools a Human Rights Violation?

Posted on June 2020 by Cara Munro

On February 4, 2019, I was in class at Urbana High School when a student came in and said there were students fighting in the hall and a teacher had been knocked out. My teacher quickly locked the door and … Continue reading →

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Urbana Civilian Police Review Board Under the Spotlight After Violent Arrest

Posted on May 2020 by Christopher Hansen

For the past seven Urbana City Council meetings, residents have lined up to deliver what has amounted to several hours of criticism and dozens of misconduct allegations against the Urbana Police Department. Sparked by the violent arrest of an Urbana … Continue reading →

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Public Speaks Out About Use of Force by Urbana Police–Council Reviews Police Investigation

Posted on May 2020 by Jane McClintock

  On April 10, Urbana police responded to a call on East Colorado Avenue about an armed man and possible shot fired. Police arrived, frisked an uninvolved youth, and then focused on a man and woman they suspected were involved. … Continue reading →

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Comment from ACLU to Urbana City Council Regarding Aleyah Lewis’ Arrest

Posted on April 2020 by Carol Spindel

Champaign County ACLU appreciates the city of Urbana’s commitment to community-centered policing and to maintaining a well-trained professional police force that is held to the highest standards. We are concerned about the lack of professionalism during the April 10 arrest … Continue reading →

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Artist Spotlight on Charlotte Prieu

Posted on November 2018 by Public i

Tell me a little about yourself and your past creative work. I am a French native and a PhD student in French Linguistics at the University of Illinois. I am very passionate about social justice, especially regarding anti-racism and intersectional … Continue reading →

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Police Gun Violence: An Epidemic in America

Posted on May 2018 by Public i

By Salma El-Naggar Salma El-Naggar is a sophomore at Uni High and a member of the student organization team for the local walkout and other social justice even In the light of the recent Florida school shooting, gun violence has … Continue reading →

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Parkland College Social Justice Club Response to Viral Video of Police Arrest

Posted on October 2017 by Public i

Below is a statement from the Social Justice Club at Parkland College. On Wednesday, September 20, they held a rally to demand accountability from the Parkland administration. On September 7, 2017, a Parkland College student, Oluwatobi Mordi, also known as … Continue reading →

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No Accident: White Cop Shoots Another Black Man in Champaign

Posted on June 2017 by Brian Dolinar

The shooting of unarmed Black men by white police in the United States is a story that keeps repeating over and over. The recent case of a local 22-year-old African American man shot in the shoulder by Champaign police officer … Continue reading →

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The Cops Killed Richie

Posted on May 2017 by Brian Dolinar

No matter how much training or technology they get, the cops just can’t stop killing Black people. On a Wednesday morning, November 16, 2016, at approximately 8:30 a.m., Champaign police received a call about a “disorderly” subject, Richard “Richie” Turner, … Continue reading →

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Police Terror To Increase Under Trump

Posted on January 2017 by Kadeem Fuller

In less than two months since the election of Donald Trump there has been a surge in violent islamophobic and xenophobic attacks in this country. While the rhetoric, actions and entire campaign of Trump has prompted conversations amongst scholars, activists … Continue reading →

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To Serve and Protect

Posted on October 2016 by Marya Burke

 Marya Burke works in partner abuse intervention and cognitive behavioral therapy with survivors and other groups in our community. Many are distressed by police violence and are personally affected by the ways in which it has been acted out in … Continue reading →

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How Lawmakers Are Exploiting Public Fear After Orlando to Push More Police Militarization

Posted on July 2016 by Sarah Lazare

To date, the Orlando Police Department has disclosed no definitive evidence that its military-style weaponry protected public safety the morning of the horrific massacre at the LGBTQ Pulse club’s Latin night. And the department’s chief has not ruled out that … Continue reading →

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State’s Attorney Rietz Goes Easy on Violent Police and Jail Officers

Posted on July 2016 by Belden Fields

Rape On March 30, 2015, there was a ceremony in the Champaign City Building during which Officer Jerad Gale was given the award for being “Officer of the Year.” About a year later, in May 2016 this same officer pleaded … Continue reading →

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