AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/tag/police/)
Bring your lawn chairs tonight to Moore Park, 5055 W. Adams, to take a stand against crime in your neighborhood. The annual event, sponsored by the 15th Police District, will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Mayor Lori Lightfoot is expected to stop by tonight’s event.
Six panelists –– state Rep. La Shawn K. Ford, Dr. Elena Quintana, Flint Taylor, Amy Campanelli, Yohance Lacour and Darrell Cannon –– spoke last week about trauma, injustice and institutionalized racism. The July 25th panel discussion was inspired by the recent Netflix miniseries “When They See Us,” which tells the true story of the “Central Park Five,” five young black men wrongfully charged for the assault of a woman in New York City’s Central Park in 1989.
Take part in a discussion at 6 p.m. May 23 about the resource officers in Chicago Public Schools. Representatives from the Office of the Inspector General will also be discussing the gang database. Dinner will be served at the free event, which will be held at Sankofa Culture Center at 5852 W. Chicago Ave.
The Good Neighbor Campaign will be recognizing the Chicago Police Department’s first response team as well as an exemplary teacher at its monthly meeting at 6 p.m. May 14 at 5437 W. Division.
There have been fewer homicides so far this year, a drop Ald. Chris Taliaferro attributes to “hard” police work and community involvement. Some also credit the drop in killings to the community-building work groups like BUILD and the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago.
Churches, community groups and law enforcement need to focus on collaboration and increasing participation at various events, West Siders said at a meeting held last week at the 15th District Police station.
During the 29th Ward’s monthly community meeting, residents questioned whether the newly formed Civilian Office of Police Accountability is truly independent, and some expressed reluctance to file complaints, saying they fear harassment.
A day before the third anniversary of teenager Laquan McDonald being shot to death by a Chicago cop, members of the Central Austin Neighborhood Association and activists from Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR) demanded changes of the city’s top law-enforcement officials.
State Rep. Camille Lilly and Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx are hosting the Aug. 5 event from 10 a.m. to noon at the Austin Public Library, 5615 West Race. They will lead a discussion on gun violence and policing.
The 25th District invites West Siders to National Night Out from 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 1 at 5555 W. Grand Avenue. The annual event promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer, better places to live.