NEWSLETTER May, 2018
COME CELEBRATE WITH CTJC! MOTHERS OF THE MOVEMENT This month we are celebrating three incredible occasions—the one year anniversary of the Chicago Torture Justice Center, the three year anniversary of the passage of the reparations ordinance, and Mother’s Day. To mark these momentous events and powerful women, the Chicago Torture Justice Center and Chicago Torture Justice Memorials are planning a joint celebration on May 18th to lift up the mothers of the movement and acknowledge the amazing role they played in supporting their loved ones while leading the charge for justice for police torture survivors. We will also be recognizing the role all family members have played and continue to play in this work. There will be an opportunity to share stories of gratitude and inspiration about the mothers and families of the movement from incarcerated survivors and others. Please join us in celebration from 6:30pm to 9:30pm at the Pop Up Just Art Gallery of the University of Illinois Chicago located at 1344 S. Halsted St
VOICES FROM THE INSIDE TORTURE VICTIM
By: Tony Anderson
A lot of men have been physically tortured by Jon Burge and detectives under his command. The Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission has sent my torture case back to the Cook County Circuit Court for further review. So, all you torture victims that have been tortured by Jon Burge and detectives under his command please have your cases reviewed by the Commission. They are reviewing all torture cases. By the grace of God a breakthrough is coming for all torture victims. .
Please keep the faith. Also, continue to have your family and friends support the Chicago Torture Justice Center because they care about the community and victims that have been tortured.
If you have words, stories and arts you want to share from behind the prison walls, please write to us at: rd
Chicago Torture Justice Center, 641 W. 63 St. Chicago, IL 60621.
BUILDING RESILIENCY Carl Compton Bell MD, a noted African American Psychiatrist and founder of the Englewood Community Health Organization (ECHO), served the Englewood neighborhood for decades. He would often describe this concept of “resiliency”, which describes an individual’s and community’s ability:
“to remain psychologically and physically healthy when facing life’s challenges”. One part of building community resiliency is to “rebuild the village”. This strategy calls for community members to identify the resources within their community that exist to support them; e.g., schools, employment offices, healthcare providers, churches, politicians, police, sporting activities, etc. Working with your neighbors to hold these community organizations accountable to their mission can help the community remain resilient. The Chicago Torture Justice Center wants to contribute to the resiliency of the community. Come visit, get involved, and work with us to achieve our mission of eliminating police violence.
HEALING ACTIVITY UPCOMING EVENTS Thursday, May 3rd Families of Survivors of Police Torture Support Group 6pm to 7:30pm at CTJC (open to family members of survivors) Monday, May, 7th Police Violence Support Group 1pm to 2:30pm at CTJC (open to anyone impacted by police violence) Monday, May 14th Police Violence Support Group 1pm to 2:30pm at CTJC (open to anyone impacted by police violence) Friday May 18th Celebration for Mothers of the Movement, CTJC Anniversary and Reparations Ordinance Anniversaty 6:30pm to 9:30pm at Pop Up Just Art Gallery at UIC, 1344 Halsted St. (Open to everyone) Monday, May 21st Police Violence Support Group 1pm to 2:30pm at CTJC (open to anyone impacted by police violence) Monday, May 28th Police Violence Support Group 1pm to 2:30pm at CTJC (open to anyone impacted by police violence)
REALIZING AND IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIES TO END POLICE VIOLENCE
The healing activity above is a preview from our upcoming zine.
SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER
Stepping up for Incarcerated Survivors At April’s RISE community meeting we continued an important conversation about how we can advocate for those survivors of police torture who remain incarcerated. There was agreement to focus our collective effort on putting pressure on the State Attorney’s Office and the Special Prosecutor’s Office to move people’s cases through the courts more quickly, and to advocate for increased resources and an extension of the 2019 deadline for the Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission. Join us in this important work by attending our next RISE meeting on Saturday, June 9th from 10am-12pm at the Chicago Torture Justice Center. And invite your friends too! We can only win these fights when we fight together.
PLEASE DONATE: Interested in supporting the Center or having a survivor, family member, or staff come speak in your community? Our website has been updated to include a donation button and a speaker request form. www.chicagotorturejustice.org
Members of the Speakers Bureau have been out all around town this month sharing their stories of survival and resilience and inspiring people— young and old—to be part of the movement to end police violence. Thanks to Black Lives Matter Chicago, the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration, King College Prep, and Mathers High School for inviting us to share our truths. If you are interested in being part of the Speakers Bureau, contact Rodney Walker at rodney@chicagotorturejustice.org.