May 2024 Newsletter

MAY 2024

The Chicago Torture Justice Center opened in 2017 as a result of a decades-long movement against police violence and torture. This year marks the Center’s 7th anniversary! As the first and only center in the country dedicated to serving survivors of domestic torture, every milestone we reach is a testament to the strength of our community.

With a history of unwavering hope, bold resistance, and collective resilience at our backs, we look to another year ahead of welcoming more survivors home, and continuing to build our community of repair and healing.

An anniversary reflection from Carl Williams, a survivor and Community Engagement Specialist at CTJC:

As someone who works and receives services from CTJC, the impact the the Center has in the community to address the lasting impacts of police violence and torture empowers both the individual and community. Through education, organizing, and policy advocacy, the Center promotes restorative justice practices as a means to repair harm and build trust in communities Reflecting on our 7th anniversary, the aim of these efforts continue as we promote justice, healing, and systemic change to prevent future instances of police torture and violence.

As I reflect on the Center's impact in my life, I am reminded of the importance of the Center's support for me personally in the ongoing injustices in my fight. The Center continues to stand with me and continues to be a testament of power, resilience and the unwavering commitment. The Center has encouraged me to make contributions to my community, helped me advocate for others, and gives support to those who have also endured systemic oppression

What the Center has meant to me is support, community, and family. My hope for CTJC is for it to serve as a model for other communities dealing with similar issues, and that the work of CTJC contributes to broader systemic change.

Forever a son of Englewood

An announcement from CTJC’s Clinical Director, Dr Nate Gilham

Dear CTJC Community,

With so much gratitude, I am announcing my retirement beginning in 2025. It has been an honor to work with the Chicago Torture Justice Center for the last 7 years as Clinical Director.

As I prepare for my departure, I want to thank the community for the fight they’ve waged against oppression and racism for generations. As a member of the CTJC team, I was afforded the opportunity to see how survivors and community members used their resolve to create programming that heals, legislation that protects, commitment that gives comfort and hope, a memorial that honors, and education that empowers. I’ve realized it takes all of us working together to bring about and sustain the change needed to end institutional oppression and state-sponsored violence. Every member of the staff has been committed to ensuring the dignity of survivors, and I pray I’ve done my part

I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of a collective of radical visionaries that developed the Politicized Healing framework, and even beyond my tenure, I know and trust that CTJC will continue to build upon it One of the core principles of Politicized Healing is the belief that we can no longer help individuals adapt to their oppression, but we must deconstruct the systems of harm that maintain this oppression.

I think this model is not only the future of mental health training, but of the way we conceptualize how we can provide care for our communities This approach changes how we imagine housing, education, public safety, and how communities are resourced

I am, and will forever be, a son of Englewood. I am so grateful to have been given an opportunity to support its community members. Thank you again, CTJC.

Sincerely,

Dr. Nate Gilham

Newsworthy Updates

Brian Beals

What’s the status of HB 5219?

CTJC newsletter publisher Gilary V asked me to attend a “Conversation with State Representative Barbara Hernandez ” The host was Dr. Christie Billups of Lewis Universities Peace & Justice Studies program.

Rep Hernandez is the sponsor of HB 5219, which I know many of you may already be familiar with. If passed, the bill would allow thousands of incarcerated people who were sentenced after 1998, under the Truth in Sentencing statute, to become eligible for sentence credit Under HB 5219, individuals could earn sentence credit for work assignments, educational and rehabilitative program participation.

The conversation began with a recorded message from Jesse Martinez who is doing time at Dixon CC, he talked about the history of the IDOC and his hope that HB 5219 becomes law. When Rep. Hernandez began, she talked about being the daughter of undocumented immigrants, and her fears about coming home one day from school and finding out her parents had been deported. She talked about making mistakes while growing up, mistakes that could have gotten her into trouble and being fortunate enough to get second, third, and even more chances Rep Hernandez told the audience that growing up Latina in humble circumstances allowed her to witness how the criminal justice system doesn’t always work

When the Sheriff of Kane County invited Rep. Hernandez in to talk with people being held in custody, it was after hearing their stories, she told us that’s when she became convinced criminal justice reform had to be part of her legislative agenda.

Family Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM) wrote the legislation that became HB 5219 and Rep Hernandez has been its sponsor Unfortunately, she informed us that the bill hasn’t made it out of committee and negotiations have been tough. She went on to say that it’s doubtful the bill will pass as it’s written now, and she expects compromises will have to be made, but she is committed to continue fighting to passing the best bill she can.

I asked Rep Hernandez what can the men and women inside do to help

She told me she was very impressed with the 1600 witness slips generated by the family and friends of the incarcerated.

In order to get this legislation passed, we need to continue showing up in numbers. We need more individuals to demonstrate their support. To express your support, please email Rep Hernandez

The growing political consciousness developing inside the incarcerated community is the push needed to help move criminal justice initiatives into laws

Contact Rep. Barbara Hernandez at 630-270-1848 or RepBarbaraHernandez@gmail.com. You may use this template to demonstrate your support for HB 5219:

“My name is , I have an incarcerated loved one. I am writing to express my support for HB 5219. We appreciate all the work you are doing and encourage you to keep it up. Thank you for fighting for us ”

C-Number meeting at CTJC

Several men entered the Center, all of them senior citizens, all of them looking serious. They were formerly incarcerated Cnumber’s; men who were incarcerated before the sentencing law’s changed in 1978 C-Numbers had indeterminate sentences, meaning they got released after a parole board hearing, where the board voted, and agreed that they were rehabilitated. They met with attorney Flint Taylor and his legal team to discuss a way to bring the remaining C-Numbers home

It is estimated that only thirty or so are still in the system. All of them have been incarcerated for over forty-six years and most of them suffer from serious healthcare problems The cost to continue to hold them in custody is double and, in some cases, even triple what it cost to hold other incarcerated people. Nevertheless, despite study after study reporting older incarcerated people recidivate at less than one percent, the question becomes why are the remaining C-Numbers still there?

A Sermon

Justine Dismuke

She of rises before dawn the sun yawns old joints commune with floorboards protesting the bodies weight dreams of three generations cling to pillows

She enters her place of worship prayers sputter from a hoary faucet hymns skitter against a skillet eggs join in holy matrimony with flower in a bowl by the chimes of a metal spoon A choir of feet announce a congregation hungry for a sermon

A Tale Called Truth and Sentencing

Yusef Kareem Brown

The Truth is, I was weak, couldn’t get up. I was sentenced to death by the Devil. Truth and Sentencing they called it! I’ve faced so many battles over the years in the place “they” call prison. The devil had my soul.

It has been said that we are all slaves to something. Like material things, alcohol, drugs, women and a life of crime. I was a lost soul before prison and that’s my truth. I was sentenced by the Devil to do a crime back in Chicago. I was running dead already. My spirit was so low and I couldn’t slow down or go a different direction. At this point in my life, the devil was declaring his boundary in my young life.

Unapologetic

Dennis Morland

Tall Buildings, Blood Stains On Concrete From Ghetto Children,

The City is Windy, But The Game is Much Colder,

A Simple Traffic Stop, If You’re Black, Could Result in Death From Gunshots,

The Technology Like Taylor, Is Swift, A Double-Edged Sword,

Really A Curse And A Gift, Like A Slave And A Ship, Like A Master And A Whip, Like A Whore And A Pimp, Damn! This is The True Meaning Of Broken Relationships,

The Change We Need or Desire To Be, Is In The Mirror Right In Front Of You And Me,

If You’re Waiting For An Apology, Mercy, Forgiveness, Empathy, Or Remorse Please Forget It,

Because The System Itself, And Those Individuals Who Run It, Are Unapologetic!

I started prison on this sentence at 22 years old, I am now 40. I sit here writing about “Truth and Sentencing” of myself. The lies felt all too real! I was sentenced to a life of crime, prostitution, and hate. I was weak. I was a slave to the Devil and his trickery. I had become affected by adversity by a system that didn’t care for me and my own foundation. Chained and bound by the neck, but yet I still have hope. See the idea of being a slave for life by personal choices, I was letting my family down.

It is natural to hope that the people we have hurt will think better of us once we have sought to make amends. We may fear that there are some who will never upgrade their opinions about you, no matter what we do! Now that’s “Truth and Sentencing” for you. I am no longer angered by the system. I put myself here by listening to the Devil, over and over again so many times.

Please be strong and take heart. Be positive and God bless you all. Readers, never give up.

Holistic & Liberatory Peer Reentry

What’s Happening at CTJC

Community Events

The reentry team hosted a food truck reentry dinner on May 6th, courtesy of Chef It Up It was a hit, and we sold out of food!

May 29th: Stepper’s Night Fundraiser

On May 29th, we are celebrating our 7th anniversary at The Grand Ballroom! It will be a Stepper’s Night fundraiser, featuring an amazing DJ lineup, good food, and of course dancing. Sliding scale tickets are available online, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds All are welcome and invited to the dance floor, from experienced steppers to beginners. We can’t wait to celebrate with our community

Get tickets online: bit.ly/ctjc-steppersnight Please write to or email Gilary Valenzuela (gilary@chicagotorturejustice.org) with any questions about this event.

On May 16th, we had a CTJC and CTJM film screening for our system-impacted community. We screened two films: a short documentary by Democracy Frontlines that featured CTJC staff La Tanya Jenifor-Sublett, Naji Ublies, Mark Clements, and Carl Williams; and a short documentary about the longawaited Chicago Torture Justice Memorial and the history of the Reparations Ordinance The memorial is finally scheduled to break ground later this year.

It was a powerful night with our community. Thank you to Janice Brown of JB Gourmet Treats and Sweets for providing the delicious food!

Hearing from our community

The Chicago Torture Justice Center is the first and only Center in the United States dedicated to serving survivors of domestic torture. This work is truly unprecedented, and we can only do it with the power, wisdom, and brilliance of our community Feedback from our community and participants is crucial to the growth and impact of our work.

We would love to hear from those who have participated in any of our programs or activities.

While we are working on a survey exclusively for people inside, we unfortunately cannot accept surveys from incarcerated participants at this time. If you are incarcerated and your loved ones are CTJC participants, we encourage you to share this survey with them

For any questions about the survey, please write to Gina Tarullo at CTJC or send an email to gina@chicagotorturejustice.org.