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Patterns Of Abuse By Chicago Cops |
By
Stephen Lendman |
| Chicago notoriously is called America’s police repression capital - Black
and Latino male youths most affected. They’re harassed, abused, beaten, arrested, detained and often murdered unaccountably. An earlier article discussed Gitmo in Chicago, an off-the-books, anything goes interrogation compound - the equivalent of a CIA black site. Mostly Black youths are sent there - lawlessly arrested, detained, denied access to attorneys for a day or longer, and brutally tortured during secret interrogations. Fractured skulls, broken bones, and teeth knocked out are common practices. Rogue cops get away with virtually anything, including cold-blooded murder. Abuses are longstanding in detention throughout the city in minority communities. Practices go on unaccountably. On January 13, the Justice Department released a report following months of investigating Chicago Police Department (CPD) abuses. It accused the CPD of “engag(ing in a pattern or practice of using force, including deadly force, in violation of the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution.” “The department found that CPD officers’ practices unnecessarily endanger themselves and result in unnecessary and avoidable uses of force.” “The pattern or practice results from systemic deficiencies in training and accountability, including the failure to train officers in de-escalation and the failure to conduct meaningful investigations of uses of force.” Outgoing attorney general Loretta Lynch laughably said one of her highest priorities is “to ensure that every American enjoys police protection that is lawful, responsive, and transparent.” America’s federal, state and local gulag prison system denies it to virtually all inmates, notably ones of color. Lynch claiming the DOJ is working with Chicago police to build “a stronger, safer, and more united (city) for all who call it home” is ludicrous, given decades of abusive practices without responsible change. Chicago residents of color have no trust in city cops, especially Black males, victims of police brutality no DOJ action will change. City authorities and police agreeing to work with DOJ officials represents no “historic turning point” from longstanding abusive practices. As long as America’s racist society remains unchanged, abusing Blacks and Latinos will continue unaccountably. The DOJ investigated the CPD and Chicago’s Independent Police Review Authority (IPRA), “focus(ing) on CPD’s use of force, including racial, ethnic and other disparities in use of force, and its systems of accountability.” Interviews were conducted with city authorities, current and former police officials, cops of all ranks, community members and dozens of organizations. Thousands of pages of police documents were reviewed, including policies, training and other materials. Racial discrimination is rampant, Blacks and Latinos prime targets for abuse. Changing Chicago’s culture is impossible without sweeping, revolutionary change not forthcoming. If new investigations are conducted a year or two from now, similar disturbing practices will be discovered - Black and Latino youths continuing to be abused unaccountably. Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III." http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network. |
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