Dear reader,

This year, uprisings against racism and police brutality—and violent police responses to them— rocked Chicago and the nation. As politics editor, I helped guide the Weekly’s reporting on the protests, and I’m proud of what we accomplished. Unlike other news outlets, our extensive coverage of the uprisings centered protesters’ concerns and their safety. Here are some high points from our coverage this year:

After the initial protests and police violence in late May, we collected eyewitness accounts from protesters, and presented them in an innovative digital timeline. We were one of the first outlets to report on police harassment at the Chicago Freedom School during those protests, and we continued to follow that story as it evolved. In that same issue we covered a truce arranged by gang leaders and community members after anti-Black violence occurred in predominantly Latinx communities during the initial rioting. 

After police attacked a protest in Grant Park on July 17, my own investigative reporting identified the CPD officer who knocked out activist Miracle Boyd’s teeth, and we published that information along with eyewitness and video accounts from protesters and COPA documents that further illuminated the extent of police violence. Our coverage of that protest was recently shortlisted for a Chicago Review of Books award.

All year we’ve strived to amplify activist voices. In September, contributor Kia Smith and photographer Ally Almore profiled Alycia Kamille and Hijo Legba of GoodKids MadCity; Damon Williams and Jennifer Pagan of the #LetUsBreathe Collective; Thought Poet of Black Youth Project 100; and Ariel Atkins of the Black Abolitionist Network.

When police attacked another protest on August 15, our reporting challenged CPD Superintendent Brown’s assertions about what happened. A local musician, Jeremy “Mohawk” Johnson, was arrested for allegedly fighting with police at that protest. I interviewed Johnson about his activism and music, and we have continued to follow his case.

In September, we were the only outlet that covered a protest against femicide at the Mexican Consulate where police attacked protesters. We published that story in English and Spanish.

Ahead of the November election, we were the only news organization that asked State’s Attorney Kim Foxx if protesters should be prosecuted on charges stemming from the uprisings.  

We are committed to centering the voices of the communities we cover, and of those who fight for justice in them, in our reporting. We’re able to make these kinds of editorial decisions because we are an independent media organization that is funded, in part, by readers like you. Consider making a one-time or recurring donation today to help ensure that we can continue to hold police and public officials accountable in 2021. If we raise $10,000 before the end of the year, we’ll unlock $20,000 in matching grants. That means every dollar you donate today is tripled.   

Thank you,

Jim Daley
Politics Editor
South Side Weekly

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