Tag Archives: Chicago Sun-Times

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Devastatin​g


By  ThinkProgress War Room

Sequester Pain, Local News Edition

Evening Brief: Important Stories That You Might’ve Missed

RIP Roger Ebert.

Virginia GOP gubernatorial candidate wants to make 90 percent of 25-44 years olds felons.

What you should know about Connecticut’s historic new gun law.

They still have segregated proms in Georgia, in 2013.

Women who were murdered after their stalkers got guns.

Should you be worried about North Korea?

South Carolina Republicans belittle Elizabeth Colbert Busch.

Fast food workers in New York City go on strike.

For the first time in four decades of polling, majority now favor legalizing marijuana.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

VICTORY: Justice in Cook County


Englewood press conferenceFreedom for the Englewood 5, but the struggle against forced confessions continues.

 Thanks to the activism of 65,000 ColorOfChange.org members and the tireless legal work of our friends at the Center on Wrongful Convictions of Youth and the Innocence Project, the Englewood 5 are free–bringing justice for some who’ve waited nearly 20 years.1

On November 16th, a Cook County judge vacated the convictions of a group of innocent Black men, known as the Englewood 5, who were falsely arrested and harshly prosecuted for crimes they did not commit.2This decision and the November 3rd exoneration of the Dixmoor 5 in a separate but similar case show that evidence, hope, and tireless legal and community advocacy can overcome long-standing injustices.

This is a huge victory and we hope you’ll continue to work with ColorOfChange.org as we take on inequality in the criminal justice system.Remember, our work is powered by you, our members. Please consider contributing to ColorOfChange to help ensure that we’ll be able to secure such victories in the future:

http://www.colorofchange.org/donate

Black Americans and people of color regularly and disproportionately experience the devastating consequences of being swept up in the criminal justice system.Mass incarceration, criminalization, police brutality, and racial profiling are endured with such frequency that this kind of oppression becomes part of daily life for too many of us. We know that this system of injustice must change and we remain inspired by the compassion and commitment of ColorOfChange members, like you.

This week’s victory closes a painful chapter in Chicago’s criminal justice system. However, forced confessions and wrongful convictions remain, particularly for youth of color. We will not rest until these abusive and discriminatory practices end–and we can only do this together.

Thanks and Peace,

— Rashad, James, Gabriel, Dani, Matt, Natasha and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team
November 21st, 2011

Help support our work.ColorOfChange.org is powered by YOU—your energy and dollars. We take no money from lobbyists or large corporations that don’t share our values, and our tiny staff ensures your contributions go a long way. You can contribute here:

http://www.colorofchange.org/donate

References

1. “VICTORY: Justice in Cook County,” ColorOfChange Blog 11-16-11
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1046?akid=2294.1174326.PeuNUm&t=5

2. “Convictions of four men thrown out in 1994 prostitute murder,” Chicago Sun-Times 11-16-11
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1047?akid=2294.1174326.PeuNUm&t=7