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Police Accountability, Surveillance, Racial Disparities: 2023 Mayoral Candidates Answer Questions from the Chicago Civil Rights Community

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Chicago mayoral candidates answered questions from civil rights advocates covering critical issues to their communities. The full questionnaire responses are available online here. Police reform and public safety are at the forefront of this year’s mayoral election. A recent poll revealed that Chicago voters feel unsafe from crime and unhappy with police relations. While the… Read More

Ronald Watts’ Victim Sues for City’s Report

Civilian Office of Police Accountaibility

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COPA and CPD continue to hide details about its investigation in violation of the Freedom of Information Act CHICAGO – The City’s long-running Sgt. Ronald Watts scandal took a new turn today as one of his victims sued the city for its failure to release its own full report on the Chicago police officers who… Read More

FOIA Suit: FBI, DOJ, and State Must Provide Records on Innocent Iraqi Refugee Omar Ameen

Omar Ameen

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SACRAMENTO, CA. – For almost three years, the U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI, and the State Department falsely accused Iraqi refugee Omar Ameen of being an ISIS commander who committed a 2014 murder in Iraq.  Mr. Ameen proved his innocence, and a Federal Judge threw out the extradition case on April 21, 2021.  Mr.… Read More

Gross Police Misconduct Put Him Behind Bars for 36 Years.

Fred Weichel Wrongful Conviction Lawsuit

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Now He’s Suing the Cops Who Framed Him. Frederick Weichel was one of the nation’s longest, wrongfully imprisoned people BOSTON, MA – After more than 36 years in prison for a crime he didn’t do, today Frederick Weichel sued the Town of Braintree, MA, Boston and Massachusetts State police who “deliberately and intentionally framed [him]… Read More

Lawsuit Seeks Access to DNA Evidence That May Identify the Innocent

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CHICAGO – The Exoneration Project, a Chicago-based organization dedicated to providing legal assistance to the wrongfully convicted, has sued the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO) under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. The lawsuit seeks access to DNA “hit notifications,” which may provide information that could identify and free innocent prisoners. A DNA hit… Read More

BREAKING: CPD Officials Hit for Not Producing FOIA’d Private Emails About City Business, Including Van Dyke Case

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Journalist Brandon Smith Asks Court to Hold Current & Former CPD Officers in Contempt Courts have repeatedly ruled that use of private email accounts for City business are subject to FOIA disclosures CHICAGO – Independent journalist Brandon Smith today filed motions to hold several top current and former Chicago Police Officials in contempt of court… Read More

10 AM Today – Hearing to Determine if All Harith “Snoop” Augustus Videos Should be Released

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City is Defying FOIA Law by Refusing to Release Videos This morning a Cook County judge will hold a hearing to determine if the Chicago Police Department should be forced under the Illinois Freedom Of Information Act to release all videos surrounding the controversial July 14th police killing of South Shore barber Harith “Snoop” Augustus,… Read More

Activist Who Helped Force Release of Laquan McDonald Video Sues for All Videos of Harith “Snoop” Augustus Shooting

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CPD is refusing to release any further videos despite releasing its version of events and a partial edited video. CHICAGO – Civil rights activist William Calloway this morning sued the Chicago Police to compel the public release of all videos of the July 14th police shooting of South Shore barber Harith “Snoop” Augustus. CPD has… Read More

Public outcry kills proposed FOIA law tweak that would’ve hidden police misconduct records

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By Maya Dukmasova, Chicago Reader Photo by Rich Hein, Chicago Sun-Times On Monday, April 23, within hours of Democratic state rep Anthony Deluca filing a bill to amend Illinois’s Freedom of Information law, a crescendo of opposition arose from civil rights lawyers and government transparency advocates. The amendment would’ve made misconduct complaints against police officers… Read More