INSURRECTIONAL ABOLITIONISM Part 1 — tearing down icons, tearing down institutions /// smash apartheid Chicago THOUGHTS AND IMAGES FROM AN ONGOING DISMANTLING PROJECT r 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS P 1. Executive Order on Protecting American Monuments, Memorials, nd Statues and Combating Recent Criminal Violence; issue: June 26, 2020 by fascise Amertan preside, Donal Tramp, 6 2, Joyous Black and Indigenous Rally Against Racist Columbus Statue Attacked by CPD- Causing Injury, Trauma, and more Fervor to Abolish the Police State by Lowiytacha, 10 3. Accounts from the Batle of Grant Park: How Chicago Demonstrators Pushed Back the Police and Nearly Toppled a Statue layanonymous author fom rimetine 2 True Leap Press is a radical publishing collective. We support the intellectual struggle and advocate for the building of mass-based projects for antiracist, anticapitalist, and antipatriarchal political education. Our collective encourages any-and-all forms of revolt and insurrection against global anti-blackness, white supremacy, colonialism, capitalism, and heteropatriarchy. We also aim to facilitate the growth of a revolutionary abolitionist consciousness that is deliberately antipatriotic and against all oppressive forms of nationalism. ager Executive Order on Protecting American Monuments, Memorials, and Statues and Combating Recent Criminal Violence Laweusrice sewed on June 26,2020 ‘by eset Aeron president, Donald Trump ALLNEWS: ‘By he autbovty vested in meas President bythe Consttion and he laws ofthe United Ses of Americ, itis hereby onder as follows Ssstion . Pups. The is dy of goverment iso ensure domestic ranquty and defend the i propery and Fig ofits itzens. Over he last 5 wosks, thre as Been sarin arson the ea papery of cians, 6 afer officers, goverment proper nd ered American manments sich asthe Linon Memon. Min of ‘Gert arnt and letting xvas who have cured ut an suppor these st have exily weld ‘hemselvs with ideologies — such b Maris tha ll forte destton of th United States system of ovement. Anarchists and lefewing extemiss have sought advance a fringe Meoogy tat puns the United States fo Amerie as fndametally unjust aed hve sought to impose that kelosyon Americans hough violence and mb, Intimidation. They hav led onthe tet, ured police hice, led and seule government fre 3 el busines ones defending thr propery, and even seized an area within city whee aw and ode ave way ‘arch. Dring th uns ince eae so hav sn harmed ao Kl. These cial cs are equetly Panne and supported by agatrs ho ve tive acres State lines to pomot th own vs agen These ‘alias sametesly atack the epic of ar institons ad the very le of law tl Key targets in he violet exons’ campaign agsnst ou our are publ monunets, memorials, ad statues. Theit selon fags ea dep ignorance of our history ands inetve fds to indiscriminately dstoy ‘ying that hoor or pst and wo erase rm te pubic mpd any sggeston hat oar ast may be Wor honoring. ‘herishing remembering or ubdesading Inthe last week, vandals pled a tue of President Uysscs S. Gram in San Fano. To hem, it made 20 erence ht Pesignt Grate he Union Army victory oer the Confederacy inthe Civil Wa, efoeed Reeonsreton, fought the Ku Kut Klan, and aocsed forthe Fiesnth Amnmer,which guano reed sles ‘heript to yte. In Chart, North Cala, the nares of 07 veterans memorialized os 3 Word War ll onan ‘were pinto oer witha symbol of communi And cir this moat, Boston, a mem ermererating an ‘fi Americn gin ht fought in he Cv War as dtc ws rt 1s Madson, Wisconsin, ters knock aver the ste ofan aboot negra who fought forthe Union ring the Git Ware Christan Tigres ar ow i the cross, oo. Reveal 2 noni acts fr one movement at as ‘sen prominent in seing the agen for demonstrations rset weeks dlr that any existing rela depictions fof dess andthe Holy Fanuly shouldbe purged tom our places of Wrsip. Individuals an orpnizations have the pt to peacefly advocate frit the removal the constion of ny ‘monument Bu no nda o group bas the night damage deface orronone any monamen fy Fre Inthe midst of hese acs, many Stat an loca governments apeae ahve ls the ability to dsinguish etc he lawful exer of rip fo ee speech an assembly st varied vandalism, They have sender oma re, ‘mperiag conn snfey alwing forthe whole vslton of cr law and pivegng te veka pulse of the mob ove the rights faw-abidingchizens Worse, they apparel have lost the wll othe deseo stand up ta he ‘ati nge and defend the anda wut cht Americas goed, er people aevituous abd hat usc real ib ‘his couny fo. fr gretr exe than anywhere else nthe wort Some pailrymisgided pubic offs even "spp ahnve accepted he tht lene can be virtogs an ive prevent fe police fam enfin he Ie nd protecting public monuments, memorial, nd sates fom te rcb'sropes an rai, “My Adinsttion wil pot alow item mats incited by a rai ings o Become th arbiters ofthe aspects of ur Istory that an he celebrated in pbc space. St and fecal pai oii abst of thir aw ener responses in deference ts lent ans ast ni ‘Ses 2. Poe. (2) lt isthe policy ofthe United Stats to prosecute he filles extent permite under Federal wnt 2 sporpeae an pron oa el thal destroys, age, vandaizes, desecrate a monument moral cr Stu wits the Untied Sate or others vandals goverment proper The desi ofthe Congreso pros! Federal ropery x cleat reflected in section 1361 of ie 1h United Sates Code wich auboies pena of up 10 year imprsoamest fr the wilful injury of Federal prope More rece nde the Veteas” Merotal Presamation and Recgnton Act of 2003, section 1867 of tle 1, United Sets Cae, the Congress paished with the ‘me penaics he deston of Fea and in some eases Site maintained moment that hoe military ‘ean Other criminal statutes, suchas the Teel Act sect 1962 a te 1, Une Ses Code, pri Prosceusoas ofarson damaging monument, erora, ap sauce Slate grounds sp some cases. Covi tts ke ‘he Public System Resource Protection Act, seein 100722 oie 34, United States Code also old thas who estoy ‘eran Federal ren asountable fr hcr offenses. The Federal Government wl ot oleate voatons of thes at ‘he (@) tise poicy ofthe Unite States to prose toh fullest extent permit under Federal lw, nds appropri, 'ny person o any ety tat ates in forts to nee lene or thr leg atvty i connection wih the its ‘nds of vn deserted in secon To his onder Nios Fader aw inelaing ssction 2101 of tie 1 ‘United Stats Case, rot te wolenc hat hs fpf hepa fer meek in seme ces Other Hats puis hse ‘who pata trait the apistors who fave cooled these alos act Such vs tle secon 371 of le 1, Unied Sates Code, which eininalizes certain conspiracies vite Federal seton 2 of tie I, Unite States Code, which punishes those who ado abe the cermin of Fedral crimes, an secon 28394 of ile i, Uied ‘Sates Cade, which rohit mtr opp to feo effons oso define set of Fer xine. Those ‘whoa joined inset violent ats around the United Stats wl be ed accountable (6 Itstheplcy of th Unit States to prosecute tthe fllest extent permited unr Federal law, and as appropri, ny person oan ety tat damages, ices, or destys religous proper, ncuding by atackng removing. oF {icing depctons of Jesus osha relipos figures rigs work. Fedral as pri. under cera ‘ircmtances damage or delicement of risus propery acleding te Church Aion Preven AC 196, section 247 of tie 18, United Sates Code, and section 871 of ile 18, United States Coe. The Federal Goveret wil ot ‘oleate violations ofthese ns designed to procter ere of ign (4) teste picy ofthe Unite Stas, apyeoprinte and consistent with aplicabl at withhold Feder suport ‘ito public spas fom Stat and local goverment tat hve fled to protect public monuments, merora, and Sanus fom destuton or vandalism, These jursdictons’ cet abandonment ofthe enforcement esponsibiies wit respect opi monamens, merits, and ates ass daubt on hr wilinenes to praetor abi spaces {nd msnan te peace win them Thee jrsicton ae appropriate candies or ted Fes Finds ha ‘pon pubic pcs (0) Itsthe poy ofthe Unit Stats a appropriate an consistent with applicable lt withold Federal spport {fom State ual a enforcement gence at ave lle to pect pt onus, menor ad ace ‘om destton or vols. Unlingnes 1 enforce tate nd loa laws inthe ace of aah on eur Sty ‘whether beets of ympahy fr the extents behind this voence ose ter imoper eason cast dou athe management of thes lw enforcement agsoies. Tess ln eforcemem agencies rent appropiate caps for Timed Federal funds that support Sate and lea pole. Sse 3 essntActsafVnkns. (a) The Atomey Gen hl prize wine Deparment of asi he invesieaon nd proseuton of mates deseribed in subsections (2), (an) this The Atorcy General shal ke al Sppropate enlorcemea! ston agaist advises ergaieaon oud have lated Feral law ous (hove vestigations (©) The Auomey Genera shal a appropiate ad consistent with applicable ls, wrk with Slate and les ‘forcement autores ap Federal agence to ute the Fatal Cover appropeitl poles neato ad ‘Ssstane to Sat and local law enforcement authori in connection with the veins or prosceaons forthe secration of monument’, memorials abd status, egaess of wheter such sce re situated on Federal rope ‘Sox Liming Fea Grants for Jursison and Law nforsmen geisha Petmithe Desecration af ‘Monument. Memorials or Stas. The end of ll excovivedeparmenie and ages hall examine ther espotve grant prosas ad app the polis established by sections 2) ad (eo this order w al sich programs othe exten {ha sich application sboth appropriate an consistent with apical a. poo the ‘ent ofthe Seestayof th nei, he Serta of Homslnd Security, rhe Admins of General Sense, the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney Genel athe Seretary of Homeland Securit shall roid, as appropiate ant msi with pica law, personel o ait ith he prosecon of Federal monuments, memory sue, property. This section sl tite ath om the date of this order less extended bythe resent ‘Ses. 6 Genel Provisions (a) Nothing inthis ers be constr t impair otherwise affect (i. the authorty wanted bylaw to an executive department or agency, rth head threo oF (i the functions ote Director of the Oe of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legate propos. (t) This order sallbe implemented consistent with appliabe aw and subject to the aaiblty of appropriations (c) This order snot tended to, and doesnot, ceate any rt or bene, substantive procedural enforceable st [aw on qty by any party agains the Unted States, ts departments, agence, o entitles, offices, employees, oF ‘agents, or anyother person. (a) This orderis not intend to, ara does no, affect the prosestvial ssretion of he Department fasts with respect te nda ass. DECOLONIZE ZHIGAAGOONG! ‘Wo struggle toward decolonization of Zhigaagoong. Aland East of Michigan Avenue is unceded Now mishlcodewinan territory. {tls occupied oniy by white supremacist entitlement and 2 collective delusion of ownership. We demand that the City of Chica decolonize and ‘Rematriate unceded Native lands! Officialy recognize First Nations Garden as a permanent ‘space and open more green spaces inthe city! + Abolish C*tumbus Day, denounce of the Doctrine of Discovery, and honor alltreaties! DEFUND CPD! FREE THEM ALL! We strurie toward complete abottion of pai in Chicago, Potleing incarceration, and punisiymert exist ae tools of Pevtal violence againet Bock ietiganow Strategies that defund, disempower Police Department: We demand that ray wut CoO ase nenvestinnorcarcerat ‘muitiple complaints atop new hiring an buying weapons! ‘Torminats plane to bud potce academy in west Garfield Park! suocapacademy Ran AR ur) (oy AT Saces eke sud : Joyous Black and Indigenous Rally Against Racist Columbus Statue Attacked by CPD- Causing Injury, Trauma, and more Fervor to Abolish the Police State JULY 21, 2020 BY LOVEYLUCHA ‘#DecolonizeZhigaagoong, #DefundCPD, #BlackLivesMatter Chicago, IL “After a powerful Black and Indigenous Solidarity Rally and March, the biggest gang in Chi Town shows who they serve, and what they're here to protect. Lightfoot can say what she ‘wants to #45's people, but don't lie and tell us you care about Black and Brown people in Chicago" Lives Matter Chicago ( https://twitter.com/BLMChi } On July 17th, 2020 at the Black and Indigenous Solidarity Rally in Chicago, more than 1000 people gathered. They were Black, Native and Brown folks more, The crowd consisted of yo families. Many community members |e was a beautifil collaboration between more than 15 grassroots organizations and autonomous groups, concerned individuals, groups of friends and families. Everyone met in downtown Chicago at the Buckingham Fountain followed by a march to a symbol of genocide, slavery and colonialism, the Christopher Columbus Statue. ‘An invitation to the event read, " Chi-Nations Youth Council, Black Lives Matter Chicago, and BYP100 ( https://twitter.com/byp100 ) —among others call for the abolishment of police and the redistribution of funds to the people of Chicago. ‘In 1830, during the Indian Removal act, the Chicago Police Department was founded—three years before Chicago was official. These overlaps are often seen as coincidental, but the history of police in the United States shows a clear mission to remove Native peoples from ‘our land and enslave our Black relatives. All land East of Michigan Avenue is unceded Niswi ‘mishkodewinan territory. The city of Chicago has no rights to this land—through treaty or sale. It is occupied only by white supremacist entitlement and a collective delusion of ownership. We are gathering and celebrating ourselves as Black and Indigenous peoples. We are tired of, having to say “we are people.” We are tired of having to say "we matter.” We built this country as Black and Indigenous peoples. Our knowledge and labor has been exploited for too long. Let’s dance, sing, party, and celebrate ourselves. Bring drums, flags, musie, and ein VECOLOMIZE ZHIGANG-OONG- DEFUNDCPD # Bs Dring the solidari nous people took the sta the crowd, songs were sung, and performers ene: Most chimed in with the speakers, hollered in agreement, laughed with one another, cheered danced, and prayed. The smell of sage whirled around the gather spoke (httpss//www.facebook.com/wateh/2v=3146155698774324 )" I've come from the Dakota homelands and I greet each one of you with 2 good heart. I've dedicated my entire life to indigenous rights, for the land to get back... to see the liberation of indigenous peoples on turtle island, for the dismantling of white supremacy. And I know that my fight is not whole unless I'm also advocating for the liberation of black people. If don’t understand that my struggle is connected to the struggle of my relatives, then we are gonna fil. So that’s why we eto connect our struggles. want ize the land we are on. The original territories ofthe three fires confederacy Oglala, Anishinaabe, Potawatomi, Miami, Meskwaki and more all gathered here to trade... We are collect 4 directions and asking the ancest rally black brown and spoke to resent there was Love. People 1g. A vocal Dakota activist are h recog ly casting our voice out to each of the to be with us here.” eed eerie te tra Perey ener eer A member of the Chi Nations Youth Council (https://twitter.com/chi_nations ) shared a song, accompanied by his drum, for “all those brothers and sisters protesting who have lost their lives. For all the rights we deserve. ‘The energy was high and uplifting at this beautiful solidarity rally. A BLM Chicago (hutps://wwwe blacklivesmatterchicago.com/) member spoke, “We're here to remind this city ‘that we are not separating, That we are not backing down. Not giving up since may 30th ‘when they beat us up with batons. We will continue to be out here. Today we are demanding not only that they defund epd. We are also demanding that they decolonize Zhigagagong (Chicago).” The crowd of more than 1000 people roared in applause. A person from Brave Space Alliance (https://twitter.com/bsalliancechi ) shared, “First and foremost, to all the black and brown people here today I want you to know that we have b involved in a lot of protests, a lot of demonstrations. But this right here isthe best, most intentional, most beautiful display of black and brown joy that Ihave seen in a long time!” - ‘They're words were met by cheers..“ifyou're here right now you are hyper aware ofthe times \we are living in right now... and this is not the time for your respectability polities.” Side Mo plpeenlnce hec LL tet ee Doprenleatchin etter Cee ee eer SC meer eri er et tet em ner tinn) ‘community control ofthe matherfucking cops... PAC NOW said er ete etic eer nee Fg oh) Be Cte eS ei De Cau Rca eet eerie Pema) Pigg he eee er ‘The solidarity march proceeded to the statue of the murderer Columbus and was very well organized. At their arrival, Police had already surrounded the statue and were guarding i, {forming a barricade with their bikes. About a dozen cops in riot gear were on standby at the other side of the hill. Several police SUV's had alzeady lined up along the lawn west ofthe statue in Gran park, Strets had begun to be blocked off by cops. Before the people even reached the Columbus statue, the CPD had already demonstrated their power and authority to protect this symbol of racism and genocide Meee A local community member shared, “1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue ~ that’s what 1 ‘was taught in school when I was a kid, And what we have been taught is wrong. Columbus didn't discover anything, He wasn't looking for spices or India. He came to a land that he had heard about from African and Arab sailors. To look for a new place to throw the Portuguese flag up, as Europe was in the dark ages while the rest of the world flourished. He came and brutalized the Native people of what we call South, Central, and North America. A ‘discovery” to Europe that this land existed and that the earth was round, A discovery only. to them, But people already lived here. And what followed is the history we all know. Not what they teach in school but what we hear from our Indigenous sisters and brothers. The ‘genocide, theft of land, rape, murder. Columbus the carrier of plagues and pandemics, does not deserve a statue, or any status as an explorer or anything a all, He deserves to be condemned!” ‘The people marched towards the Columbus Statue, and upon seeing the cops surrounding it started collectively chanting, “Who do you serve? Who do you protect?", as they made their way forward, At which point fireworks were heard in and around Grant Patk all the while the people kept chanting. The people would not be deterred, The mere act of protecting this symbol of hate and oppression by the CPD was an act of violence against the indigenous, black, and brown community. Police vehicles immediately mobilized from all directions, riot cops were on the scene within seconds and numerous cops on foot ran to protect the statue. Cops alleged water cans were being flung at them and started using tear gas against the demonstrators, Fireworks were being lit while onlookers watched and filmed from the sidelines. An indigenous femme ‘wearing a ribbon skirt holding feathers awaited her chance at a round dance while CPD. cowered right beside he “The area around the statue was clea base around the statue v Columbus", “ACAI Someone climbed on the the crowd began to pull. Well or Pulll", Anticipation was high. Ev Chicago, a city with a huge population of black, brown, indigenous, and immigrant peoples, of the police and artists came out and redecorated the ich as "Defund CPD", "For Fred Hampton”, “Fuck “Enough is enough’ "The Cops are losing”, and more. dy draped statue of Columbus, wrapped a rope around it and “Pull, Pall at statue down, Itis shameful that and det ‘mined the people chan thas yet to take any racist 4% Grace Del Vecchio @delvecchiograce - Jul 17, Ra JES ores Protesters chanting “Bring it down” #C Ce a Unfortunately, the statue did not come down, and was interrupted by the police brutally, attacking the crowd. An eloquent speaker from Good Kids Mad City (https://twitter.com/GKMC1B8 ) spoke at a press conference, “This past Friday, peacefully protesting downtown at the racist Columbus statue, showing our rights as citizens to protest ‘against the injustices that have been placed in society. While the action continued, police officers were brought in to cicle a group of young unarmed innocent group of people. They brought out tear gas, pepper spray, and mace. They were beating people. There were multiple instances of police brutality. People with their heads busted open, people who coulda’t breathe throughout the rest ofthe night, people whose skin was burning from pepper spray and one of our own members, an 18 year old gil who had her teeth knocked out.” Police viciously and indiscriminately attacked anyone within their reach. Beating and arresting, their batons wacked hands, faces, bodies, pushed and punched women, youth, non binary folks, NLG lawyers, elders just anyone they could reach with their batons. They tried stealing peoples bikes and if the owner didn’t let go they beat their hands with batons and hit and push them until they let the bike go. The whiffs of healing sage were replaced by mace and pepper spray as frantic police sprayed unarmed people. Cries for medics and folks running to help one another was heard. Even though there was a fire truck and ambulance there, none of the people were treated in the ambulance for the burns and blood that ensued, Instead, the ambulance comforted the cops hit by a water bottle. There are various videos online showing the seriously violent and sociopathic behavior of the Chicago Police Department that have been, for many years now, training in military taties and upping their supply of brutal weapons to use against Chicagoans. A local Native activist shared some photos of frightened police on FB and wrote, “These pictures were taken at the same time, that’s me calmly standing there with my feathers and ribbon skirt waiting to round dance, while the cops were crying and ‘running for their life’ she went on, “When folks weren't scared of their bullshit they decided to target less defensive people away from the folks defending themselves- the children, medics, photographers, disabled, and the elderly. We said people are more important than property their response was ‘people’?”. retreating Cede EY avi a] j j A Southwest Sider of Zhigaagong expressed, “It was very important and a delight to see PD's usual smugness exchanged for shock as protestors launched projectiles and fireworks at them in the intial attempt to clear the statue's immediate space. The pigs’ faces showed a cognitive dissonance as the protestors’ offense intensified. It seems it was very hard for them to believe violence was being directed to THEM and not just to property, which is an important development in the uprising here in Zhigaagong. Let it be known: this was a multiracial action, contrary to the white supremacist media narrative that wartiors in the uprising are foreign white agitators. We all have legitimate reasons to want to eliminate by any means necessary unelected, unaccountable marauders and assaulters who have the Authority of the State power but not our consent whatsoever. CPD and all other occupying forces are not chosen by us directly, cherefore, they have no legitimacy and constitute invading and occupying forces. Invaders and occupiers have no rights, period. They do not even have the right to defend themselves from injury or death from those who violently oppose their illegitimate and violent presence, Adelante! After the Black and Indigenous Solidarity Rally, alot of people were hurt, scared and confused. Some, mostly corporate medi, blamed the few protesters who lt fireworks or ‘threw water for the escalation of a mostly ‘peaceful’ protest, promoting a dialogue of ‘good’ protester, ‘bad’ protester. (One local Chicago compatterx wrote, “On Friday even before we arrived at Grant Park all the ‘weapons were there, and so were the pumped up cops thirsty for blood. This is not a figure of speech, They surrounded us. We went to Grant Park that day in defense of Black and Indigenous lives. It is a peaceful act to tear down monuments to genocide and enslavement. The pigs repress, sabotage, beat, threaten and intimidate all those who stand against them no matter the tactics, no matter how calm, restrained or how chill we behave, Whenever we {question the status quo and exercise forms of association they cannot control, whenever we :make another world not just necessary, but actual, they undermine and repress us. On Friday people stood together and defended each other. ‘Young Black organizers reminded us relentlessly to not panic, to not run away, to stick together, to form defensive lines, ro take care of each other, to protect each other, to stay together. Do not panic, they are dividing the group, isolating this or that portion, separating and then attacking, People showed remarkable calm and restrain, and this was good not because it was “peaceful” to place your body and your bike between the pigs and other protesters but because it allowed us to protect instead of trample each other, which is clearly what the police wanted us to do, They ambushed and chased and threw people downhill hoping for a panicked stampede. They deliberately divided the group so they could mote easly beat us up. ‘And this is continuing even now, after the protest. They are hunting us down and tearing us apart. They are manufacturing the “provocation” that makes their position legitimate, and they are prying open divisions between protesters in order to do so." However, some folks felt the organizers should have been more clear about the march and. direct action that was to follow the rally. Little Village resident expressed, “I'm feeling weird about that rally on Friday turning from a rally ta march & statue take over. I'm still, not clear on how or why that happened. For safety reasons, I feel like people should be informed and be given the opportunity to consent to participate in putting their bodies at risk like that. There were children, differently abled bodies and undocumented folks in the crowd. People got hurt” She also had some suggestions we could al isten to, “Td love to see that statue come down and I support the groups who want to do that. This isthe part that concerns me, I don’t feel right about putting peoples lives at stake for an agenda that only some knew about and agreed to... 've been studying revolution, liberation and creating. autonomous communities for some time, Transparency in mission is still key at every step of the way. We can build our own militia, Its nor illegal to do so, But using people as pawns is a very, and i hate to put it this way, but white, patriarchal and colonial practice. Sois only a few people making decisions for everyone. The revolution will be a slow, intentional & ‘wansparent one. I think we've all ot some reading to do.” The days following the Black and Indigenous Solidarity Rally saw more protests and many press conferences. On July 18, a march to the mayor of Chicago, Lori Lightfoor’s house was interrupted by Police blacking the road and continuing the brutality (https://wwwfacebook.com/humboldtparkinchicago/videos/309669607079480/) A local Chicago compx wrote, “On Saturday evening at a Logan Square protest lead by Good Kids ‘Mad City, people practiced incredible restraint in the face of massive police presence surrounding them, outnumbering them, provoking them, kettling them, threatening them for hours; the psychological assault was so intense a young woman near me passed out. But no ‘one left, no one bailed, everyone stayed together, And still that evening a police car drove into protesters. Ic was intentional. They are now “investigating”, which means they will ‘manufacture some kind of provocation. They brutalize us to justify their gear, their arsenal, their power and the necessity of their institution, Whether we stand in silence in a line as we did Saturday, or throw firecrackers and water bottles as some did Friday, the police brutalize us. These are merely different tactics, and we cannot afford to take any tactics off the table. They are all necessary. We are all necessary. " Ata press conference on July 20th by GoodKids MadCity, (hutps://Awwwe-facebook.com/Fox32Chicago/videos/729166491216253/ ) an organization of Black and Brown young people fighting to end violence and calling for more resources to uunder-served communities, a youth activist spoke, “This is a continuous thing that has been happening within these last few months of actions happening downtown of unarmed youth coming peacefully protesting, and we have more tactics and scare tactics and tanks coming in...[Lightfoot] She brings out thousands of cop cars, tanks with weapons with guns and tasers for unarmed youth. She invests 1.8 billion dollars into the Chicago Police Department. ‘She has a 33 million dollar contract with CPD to be in CPS schools to brutalize young. students, To brutalize young black and brown students CPD gets five million dollars a day.” She also went on to explain about food deserts and lack of mental health facilities. On how folks have to drive 30 minutes to get groceries, but the north side and downtown has ample sources, And black and brown south and west sides struggle for food and basic necessities. Lori Lightfoot would rather protect statues than the citizens who live in the city. Come on, ‘Objects instead of living bodies in the city of Chicago. As somebody who is black. Somebody who has the same skin as us and she's not protecting those who look like us. If she didn’t have that title she would be in the same predicament as us. She's not funding us. [No she’s not taking care of us, She's not making sure that young black women are safe that young black women are being protected. She sent those officers out .. [who] were brutalizing young black women, black girls, people not over the age of 18, beaten pepper sprayed. This is ‘hat has been happening in this city every single day forthe past month for the past year past decade... But we are here to let Lori and the CPD know that we aint taking this no :more. We're not taking this. No more funding that’s going to people that brutalize us, murder us, sexually assault us. We're not gonna take it anymore...Funding needs to go t0 black and brown communities not to send cops into schools. " ‘Miracle Boyd, an 18 year old recent graduate of Chicago Public Schools and also a part of GoodiKids BadCity, was the young woman who got her teeth knocked out by a Chicago Police Officer. She also spoke at the press conference on Monday and expressed, "I fight every day in my community to end gun violence... | was attacked by CPD who valued a supremacist statue over my life, safety, and well being. Christopher Columbus did not discover America He was a rapist, murderer, thief and colonizer who layed the groundwork for indigenous {genocide and the trans atlantic slave trade of Africans. Yet the police are defending the statue fof a man who died more than 500 yeats ago. The police are not serving and protecting us ‘There is now way I should have left a protest bruised and battered for exercising my freedom of speech...since then, my life has been threatened. I've received several hate messages” She began to tear up and fellow organizers surrounded her hugging and giving support. She continued sternly, “I will not be defamed by the media... lam not a criminal. [am not a ‘menace. I am not a rebel. Lam a dedicated freedom fighter who will always stand up for black and brown people across America!” ‘The bronze statue on a cement slab, covered with a white drape resembling the kkk, was rapidly cleaned of the art, surrounded by new fences, patrolled by security vehicles, and now cameras are also facing it. A group of protesters gathered close by on the night of July 20 t0 show their continuing disgust for it, Police are stil protecting this non-living object, instead of protecting people. Clearly this is their only goal, co protect Racism and serve Colonialism, ‘The Chicago Police Department was built for oppression and has shown time and again that i can only do that. We need to be freed from these oppressors. CPD needs to be abolished, Resources need to be re-allocated to communities of color; to schools, hospitals, social services, to people directly, and not the Police State. Land must be given back to Native peoples so they can teach us all how to care for and flourish with the Earth. The Black, Indigenous, and Brown people of Chicago want freedom, and we are not going to back down! Defund CPD! #Decolonize Zhigaagong! ‘hupss//twitter.com/hashtag/decolonizezhigaagoon, hups://witter.com/hashtag/defundepd (Other articles to check out hups://thetribe,com/2020/07/gkme-organizer-miracle-boyd-and-other-organizers-stand- firm-in-their-demands-to-defund-police-afier-decolonize-zhigaagoong-protest/ nupsi//www.injusticewatch.org/news/2020/youth-leader-miracle-boyd-attacked-by-chicago- police-at-black-indigenous-solidarity-rally/ nxtps//crimethine.com/2020/07/2 1/accounts-from-the-battle-of-grant-park-how-