Annas is multi-functional and ever unfolding — a rotating residential cohort of emerging artists, writers, and curators based in Chicago, IL.
CHICAGO-SPECIFIC RESOURCES
Chicago Community Bond Fund
The Chicago Community Bond Fund (CCBF) pays bond for people charged with crimes in Cook County, Illinois. Donations help the 1,000+ protestors arrested on May 30 and beyond.
Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression
We defend the civil liberties of workers, activists, and prisoners. We struggle against white supremacy, the prison-industrial complex, and state violence. We demand community control of the police and full representation for Black people and other poor and oppressed people at all levels of government.
What is CPAC?
The Civilian Police Accountability Council for Chicago Police Department. When enacted this will create a democratically elected council to oversee the Chicago Police Department. This will force police to be accountable to those they serve. The goal is to give civilian control of the police, which will lead to curtailed power and funding. With 19 alderpeople already signed on, they just need 7 more to get it passed in city council. Backed by BLM Chicago, CAARP, and countless other black-led organizations.
Call Alderman Chris Taliaferro, Chair of the Committee on Public Safety
Call for an emergency City Council Meeting and deny Lori Lightfoot’s proposed city budget. Pass the existing ordinance 02019-8058 to establish a Civilian Police Accountability Council. email: ward29@cityofchicago, call (773) 237-6460.
Base language for email:
Dear Alderman Chris Taliaferro,
As a current resident of insert neighborhood, I urge you to take action, seek justice that is overdue, and pass a series of ordinances to stand in solidarity with the entirety of Black Chicago. We are demanding community control of the police - the passing of ordinance 02019-8058 to establish a Civilian Police Accountability Council so we can decide who polices our communities and how they are policed. It’s important now more than ever in light of the rampant police brutality at protests in Chicago and across the country. In addition, I’m requesting you to pass an ordinance to require police officers to carry malpractice insurance.
More urgently, I request that you call for an emergency City Council meeting and deny Lori Lightfoot’s proposed city budget. A budget that provides an additional $100 million to the CPD, which is a 7 percent increase over the previous year. This new proposed city budget relies on new money from taxes from ride-shares, dining and legal marijuana while implementing cuts to Chicago Public Schools and other public services like affordable housing and mental health programs. I would like to redirect money away from the CPD and into social service programs like SWAP, RCP, WRAP, drug treatment programs and creating therapeutic communities, which are alternatives to incarceration. This call is especially crucial as officers are being paid overtime for their work suppressing protestors.
Name (neighborhood, city)
Base language for call:
“Hi, my name is ______ and I live in insert neighborhood. I’m requesting to call for an emergency City Council meeting and deny Lori Lightfoot’s proposed city budget. I would like to redirect money away from the CPD and into social service programs like SWAP, RCP, WRAP, drug treatment programs and creating therapeutic communities, which are alternatives to incarceration. I’m also urging you to pass an ordinance to establish a Civilian Police Accountability Council and an ordinance to require police officers to carry malpractice insurance.”
Call Dr. Janice Jackson, Chicago Public Schools CEO
Immediately terminate the Chicago Public Schools district’s contract with the CPD, provide trauma counseling to all Black students, and host a series of community meetings in order to hear directly from Black CPS students about what they need from their schools for support during this time. email: ceo-jackson@cps.edu, call (773) 553-1573
Base language for email:
Dear Dr. Janice Jackson,
As a current resident of Chicago, I urge you to take action, seek justice that is overdue, and terminate the Chicago Public Schools district's contract with the Chicago Police Department. Almost 85% of the students in our district make up Indigenous, Black and brown communities (data from CPS website), all of whom are brutalized and traumatized by the police you put into schools. CPS currently has a $33 million contract with the Chicago Police Department. Instead, those funds could be allocated into resources (librarians, social workers, nurses, and mental health counselors in schools) that actually support and benefit marginalized communities in the city rather than traumatizing them. We demand you all take the steps to ensure Indigeneous, Black, and brown students feel safe and are safe in their schooling environment, in part by recognizing and mitigating the trauma that student interactions with police can cause. Please leverage your power and voice within CPS and CPD- the power to add and remove officers lies with the principals and LSCs and we call on you to act accordingly and remove the police presence.
Follow the lead of your counterparts at the Minneapolis Board of Education, who are working towards ending the school district’s contract with the Minneapolis Police Department. Doing so will reduce tensions that exist between our youth and law enforcement, tensions that have surely increased as a result of the police department’s treatment of many citizens this weekend, and increase the resources our city and students will need in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sincerely,
Name (neighborhood, city)
Base language for call:
“Hi, my name is _____ and I live in insert neighborhood. I’m calling to demand you immediately terminate the Chicago Public Schools district's contract with the CPD, provide trauma counseling to all Black students, and host a series of community meetings in order to hear directly from Black CPS students about what they need from their schools for support during this time.”
What is CPAC?
The Civilian Police Accountability Council for Chicago Police Department. When enacted this will create a democratically elected council to oversee the Chicago Police Department. This will force police to be accountable to those they serve. The goal is to give civilian control of the police, which will lead to curtailed power and funding. With 19 alderpeople already signed on, they just need 7 more to get it passed in city council.
Call and email your Alderperson!
Base language for calls and emails:
Hello, my name is…and I live in your ward at [cross streets]. I am contacting you to request that you support the CPAC ordinance. We need police accountability to the communities they serve. You have the power to make this happen. Will you sign on?
Chicago Alderpeople currently NOT signed on:
2 - Brian Hopkins
3 - Pat Dowell
4 - Sophia King
6 - Roderick Sawyer
7 - Gregory Mitchell
11- Patrick Thompson
12 - George A Cardenas
13 - Marty Quinn
14 - Ed Burke
23 - Silvana Tabares
24 - Michael Scott Jr
27 - William Burnett Jr
28 - Jason Ervin
29 - Chris Tallaferro
30 - Ariel E Reboyras
32 - Scott Waguespack
34 - Carrie Austin
36 - Gilbert Villegas
38 - Nicolas Sposato
39 - Samantha Nugent
41 - Anthony Napolitano
42 - Brendan Relly
43 - Michele Smith
45 - James M. Gardiner
46 - James Cappleman
50 - Debra Silverstein
Base language template for defunding the police:
Dear [name].
We are demanding community control of the police - the people of Chicago need the Civilian Police Accountability Council (#CPACNow) so we can decide who polices our communities and how they are policed. It’s important now more than ever in light of the rampant police brutality at protests in Chicago and across the country. In addition, we are demanding the immediate release or pardon of all those incarcerated in prisons, jails, and detention centers. All those arrested for protesting must be released without charges. Gerald Reed and all survivors of police torture and the wrongfully convicted must be freed.
Name (neighborhood, city)