January 2022

JANUARY 2023

Reflections, Gratitude, and Looking Forward Together

Itisonly collectively thatwe willwin.

Left: Survivors, community members, and CTJC staff at a community fair in our new Woodlawn space.

2022 has brought many new memories, experiences, and learnings for us at the Chicago Torture Justice Center and we are grateful to enter powerfully into 2023 with you.

We accomplished so much in 2022! We began the year with excitement as we moved into a new building coordinating much needed renovations to make the new location appropriate for our needs. In May, we celebrated the 7th anniversary of the Reparations Ordinance, our 5th birthday and officially opened in our new space This marked the resumption of in-person services and programming for the first time after two years of predominantly operating remotely for the safety of our collective health due to COVID

This year, we celebrated the one year anniversary of our Peer Reentry team which is 100% designed and led by formerly incarcerated team members This team, led by LaTanya Jenifor-Sublett, created a powerful set of values to guide its work, completed its first team retreat, deepened their commitments, and facilitated new connections with our community inside.

Our organizing team grew in 2022 as we brought on an additional community organizer and Director of Campaigns to join our seasoned and brilliant organizer, Mark Clements Our powerful organizing team of three are now positioned to lead bold, aligned, and community-led campaigns in the coming year(s), helping to build more radical and liberatory futures for our communities.

We reflect with gratitude for the relationships that have deepened, the new community members we have welcomed in, the lessons we have learned, the ways we have mourned collectively, and the struggles we have fought and continue to fight in/with our community. We look forward to continuing to grow with you towards the futures we imagine

With strength and conviction in our shared values, we send love and appreciation to you for the learnings, experiences, and connections of 2022. We welcome 2023 with open hearts, clear vision, and fighting spirits. We are deeply thankful you are here with us because it is only collectively that we will win

With love and solidarity, Aislinn and Cindy CTJC Co-Executive Directors

HAPPENING AT THE CENTER

From Healing to Action, January 26, 5:30pm. Together with artists, activists, community leaders, and survivors of police torture, From Healing to Action presents an evening of art, storytelling, and community presented by Illinois Humanities, Chicago Torture Justice Memorials (CTJM), and the Chicago Torture Justice Center in Woodlawn. Learn about the history of police torture in Chicago and the movement for healing and reparations from those at its forefront with a short screening of CTJM’s Narrating the Struggle for Justice for Police Torture Survivors, a healing exercise led by artist and educator Patricia Nguyen, and a reception with screen printing provided by PO Box Collective and food by Celebrations by Us.

Move - Breathe - Connect: Mindful Movement & Meditation, Wednesdays 4:30-6pm (meets twice a month) beginning Wednesday, February 8 Meets at CTJC, 6337 S Woodlawn When we live through traumatic experiences, whether they are on-going or single events, our own bodies & minds can feel unfamiliar and unsafe We may experience fear, anxiety, or intrusive thoughts, and we may find it difficult to focus or pay attention. Our bodies may develop or hold chronic pain, tension and discomfort. We may alternate between feeling super hyper activated and totally exhausted- or perhaps we feel completely detached and isolated.

Through intentional movement, breathing, and self-observation, we can begin to steady our minds and rebuild our relationships with our bodies; to re-home ourselves, in ourselves As we build our own connections through these practices, we can also do so with others, supporting each other as we heal and grow These sessions are free to attend and open to people impacted by police violence and their families.

About the facilitator: Erica Bentley (she/they) is an abolitionist activist who believes in interdependence & collective liberation and holds a vision of a world where everyone has the opportunity to feel valued & whole. She volunteers weekly to facilitate classes for folks incarcerated in Cook Co Jail, is certified as a Trauma-Informed Yoga Therapist, and is working towards state certification as a substance use counselor. Erica currently works with the MAMAS and at Above & Beyond Recovery Center, and is incredibly honored & excited for the opportunity to be in community through this offering at CTJC.

Re-entry dinners are for our formerly incarcerated community to come together, reunite, meet, and enjoy time with one another. Hosted by our Peer Re-entry team and held at the Chicago Torture Justice Center offices, dinners happen regularly -- usually each month.

Monthly community meeting on organizing! Formerly RISE (Realizing and Implementing Strategies to End Police Violence), these meetings are meant to share updates and connect our community with CTJC's organizing and campaigns. Contact Rebecca Wilson Bretz for more info: rebecca@chicagotorturejustice.org.

Much more to come -- stay tuned! Our team has been meeting to launch new programming and re-start initiatives that we had to pause due to COVID. Please keep in touch for more on how you can get involved!

A Note to Women who are Torture Survivors in our Community

From CTJC Organizer, Mark Clements:

Chicago police tortures occurred by many different police officers If you are a female incarcerated or free, was tortured by members of the Chicago Police Department - CPD and you raised the matter to the court through a Motion to Suppress please get connected with the Chicago Torture Justice Center, we want to know: how can we help you?

Please let us know what you are doing to redress your claim of police abuse and torture and how we might support

We know that women were tortured by police, the key is having the evidence to fight for your freedoms Whether you are incarcerated or home, please send that information to the Organizing Team at CTJC You can email it to Mark Clements: mark@chicagotorturejustice.org, or mail it to our office:

Chicago Torture Justice Center

Mark Clements / Organizing Team 6337 S. Woodlawn Chicago, IL 60637

Updates from the Speakers Bureau

When you see water

A poem by Alice Walker

When you see water in a stream you say: oh, this is stream water;

When you see water in the river you say: oh, this is water of the river; When you see ocean water you say: This is the ocean’s water!

But actually water is always only itself and does not belong to any of these containers though it creates them And so it is with you

The Chicago Torture Justice Center partners with the Chicago Teachers Union, Chicago Teachers Union Foundation, and Chicago Public Schools to support educators in bringing the curriculum to their classrooms. CTJC also coordinates a Speakers Bureau where survivors and family members share their personal testimony about their experiences and perspective regarding incarceration, the reparations campaign, and the ongoing work at the Center

There was an audience of 167 students at John Hancock High School. While Sean Tyler spoke, the lights went out, prompting students to pull out their phone flashlights so that Sean could continue sharing his story uninterrupted

Students shared some of their reflections after hearing Sean speak. We hope these reflections move you as much as they moved us!

After hearing Mr Tyler's experiences, I was able to better understand the battles and hardships he had to overcome Hearing how, after so many years in jail and all of the things he lost, Mr Tyler was still able to come back and do something great How he went back to school to get his GED and then created his own clothing brand is very inspiring. He later told us to never give up and to keep pushing. He took his own horrible experience and showed us something positive. I admire his strength and his attitude towards this. Mr Tyler is an image of growth and overcoming He is someone to look up to

Hearing his story inspires me to achieve better, give it my all, and refuse attempts by people or things to knock me down Because not everyone is capable of doing that, his ability to recover from the trauma and improve himself is truly inspiring. This demonstrates how empowered one is and how they can do anything, especially with the help of a community.

After hearing Mr.Tyler’s experiences it helped me understand the true humanity and aftermath of victims. I admired that he knows that he didn’t do anything wrong and that he would have done it again but with more preparation I also admired how he doesn’t hold resentment towards anyone that wasn’t involved in the case, and how he encourages us to do the right thing and to speak up about the things that happen in our communities but to never be alone while doing so I think that after hearing his experiences it helps us as students learn that these victims aren’t just a story in a book; they are real people with real lives that persevere even after being in difficult situations.

6337 S. WOODLAWN AVENUE CHICAGO IL 60637

CHICAGOTORTUREJUSTICE.ORG

Sean Tyler speaking to a group of students at John Hancock High School on January 18.

Gratitude and Reflections: Looking to a New Year

Thank you for sharing your reflections with us as we all look back on the year that was and towards what's next in 2023 and into the next 5 years. Whether or not you've written us yet, please know we are standing with you and we're grateful you are part of CTJC. And it is never too late to share your thoughts with us for upcoming newsletters!

FREE THEM ALL

It's my dream to get exonerated so that I can visit the new center personally, so I can touch the walls and see the memorials. So I can pray for justice in solidarity w/ fellow supporters & freedom fighters.

It's my dream to see more women & men released and exonerated, so they can help expand the impact of CTJC

It's my dream that our legislators will finally pass a bill freeing all remaining torture survivors who remain in bondage.

It's my dream to continue to read more inspiring stories from survivors; stories that uplift and motivate and provide hope that change is possible and within reach.

It's my dream that CTJC continue to grow & thrive. Continue to expand and develop new methods of treating the harms & trauma experienced from torture, abuse and oppression from a system structured on white supremacy and racism

I am proud and grateful to celebrate empowerment, new approaches, making healthy choices when appropriate and considering new ideas and opinions. I am proud of making healthy choices through the endurance of my circumstances and grateful for IDOC making the adjustments for individuals that has been labeled as violent to even request for consideration of eligibility for Work Release Program

In 2023, I am looking forward to making a great impact, influence, and motivate others who are still in the midst of barbed wired fences and concrete walls. Stay persistent in accomplishing and achieving my future goals and dreams, while being apart of an organization of re-entry, giving back, administering hope and encouragement to know and believe how special they are to have made it this far.

I would like to send a special shout out and thank you to Shalom Parker (Art Therapist) from all the residents here at Fox Valley Adult Transition Center for her art books on healing Your books were donated and forwarded to the Center by Mark Clements. Thank you to La Tanya Jenifor-Sublett for all you do and to All the Staff at CTJC for your compassion, prayers and hard work.

Congratulations!

On your new building

On keeping us informed On keeping the movement going And for caring

Shondell

Just like the Jewish people keep the memories fresh of the Holocaust CTJ keep what's happening and still happening in the justice system.

Video record our injustices

Keep record of all players: judges, ASAs (Assistant State's Attorney), CCSA (Cook County State's Attorney), detectives

I hope that the CTJ... address and display more wrongful convicted brothers & sisters as well as torture victims who are still incarcerated in the newsletter and website to bring awareness to their cases.

Antwaun

How judges, police & ASA went on with "promising" careers. The years we spent in the prison system

How we are still incarcerated Keep real time of our litigations

How public defenders office didn't spearhead any investigations

Darrell

Michelle

Robert