The ECPS Ordinance’s First Anniversary Recognized with Phone Zap Action

On July 21, 2022, the Empowering Communities for Public Safety (ECPS) Ordinance reached its first anniversary after being passed by Chicago City Council in July 2021. The ECPS Coalition is a combination of the Grassroots Alliance for Police Accountability (GAPA) of which CRS is a member and the Chicago Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression (CAARP). The ECPS Coalition works to decentralize the power of the Chicago Police Department and provides a framework for civilians to give input on CPD’s budget and policies. In response to a lack of effort from Mayor Lightfoot in ensuring police accountability, the ECPS Ordinance was created to stop police brutality and other unjust crimes committed by the police and to provide Chicago residents with input on and control over policing in their communities. The ECPS Ordinance is designed to find ways that the CPD can better serve the community, produce solutions to violence, and implement restorative practices in policing.  

In honor of this anniversary, ECPS supporting organizations took action on July 21 and July 22 by mobilizing their base to participate in a special phone zap action to Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Office. This phone zap action involved individuals using instructions and a scripted message to call Mayor Lightfoot to demand action in establishing the Interim Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability which was authorized by the ECPS Ordinance. In order to reduce violence in the community and bring transparency and transformation to the CPD, callers urged Mayor Lightfoot to keep her already overdue promise and appoint seven candidates to this commission. 

Just a day before the phone zap action, the ECPS Coalition held a press conference on July 20 to openly pressure Mayor Lightfoot into ending her delay and establishing the ECPS Interim Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability. CRS and other community-based organizations have worked for six years to get a civilian oversight ordinance passed. Since 2016, approximately 7000 people have been killed by the police across the United States, including Anthony Alvarez and Anthony Toledo. These tragedies might have been avoided if police were being held accountable to the public. For this reason, the people of Chicago continue to push for accountability and reform of the CPD.  

CRS is offering an August 11 virtual orientation for individuals who want to learn more about becoming a District Council Representative and the election process. The ECPS District Council Orientation will also share strategies and tactics necessary to help implement the ECPS Ordinance.  

Here are three ways you can support ECPS following its anniversary:  

1. Attend the ECPS District Council Orientation on August 11.

2. Stay informed on public safety and police accountability matters by reading our Police Accountability blog articles.

3. Get involved in our Police Accountability and Criminal Justice Issue Team. Interested individuals can email info@communityrenewalsociety.org.

4. Follow CRS on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and use #ECPS and #CRSECPS when posting on social media.