An Open Letter of Lament and Call to Action in Solidarity with Anjanette Young
This photo, used in CBS Chicago, Channel 2 news report, was captured from Chicago Police Department body camera footage.
Dear Mayor Lightfoot,
Every human being is a fabulous creation of God. However, bankrupt theology and White supremacy has perpetuated the dehumanization and demoralization of Black people since 1619. Chicago Police Department invading Anjanette Young’s home and disregarding her pleas is just more systemic degradation.
Keeping her traumatized and nearly naked is psychological police brutality. Responding officers should be held accountable for treating an innocent woman less than human—and their sloppy police work. Officers on the scene reportedly misread the warrant.
They don’t deserve to serve & protect the community any longer. Anyone else involved in this situation should face consequences. This travesty should also serve as a wake-up call to the CPD, City Council, and Mayor Lori Lightfoot. It’s past time that the CPD ceases doing busy as usual.
Ironically, doing business as usual got Mayor Lightfoot elected. Outraged Chicagoans mobilized, marched, and ousted former Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez after the Laquan McDonald’s murder and its cover up. Mayor Lightfoot, apparently, didn’t consider it a teachable moment.
We call on CPD administration and city leaders to commit to—and promptly begin—culturally competent training for rookies and veterans alike. According to Victor E. Kappeler, Ph.D., “Slave patrols and Night Watches, which later became modern police departments, were both designed to control the behaviors of minorities.”
Officers continue being indoctrinated with this mentality. Slavery is over and Jim Crow should be dead. It’s time police officers are trained to serve and protect the entire community instead of treating some citizens, particularly Black people, like animals or slaves.
We call on CPD and city leaders to accept responsibility for degrading, dehumanizing, and demoralizing Ms. Young. We demand she receives the apology and access to support she deserves. And, we demand they begin working toward teaching officers to recognize everyone’s humanity.
As faith leaders from various communities, we stand with those CPD has brutalized and oppressed. In this moment, we stand in solidarity with Anjanette Young.
Ms. Young’s victimization is another reason we wholeheartedly support Community Renewal Society’s work with the Grassroots Alliance for Police Accountability (GAPA) to establish independent community oversight of CPD. It’s clear that the CPD can’t police itself.
In Solidarity,
Community Renewal Society, Policy and Organizing Staff
Keron Blair, Manager
Rev. Jason Carson Wilson
Sarah Yousuf
Rev. Damon Smith
Lindsey Hammond