1.7 billion dollars and counting.

This is what the city of Chicago will spend this year on policing—about 40 percent of the city's budget.

Over the past few years, hundreds of millions of dollars have been added the police budget. These are hundreds of millions of dollars that did not go to community-based violence prevention programs. Hundreds of millions that did not go to youth and family supports, mental health care, or economic aid for individuals and families on the edge. Hundreds of millions that did not go into programs and measures demonstrated to reduce crime and foster safe, stable, and healthy communities.

These are dollars misspent, and as the events of recent days, including the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, have shown us, the cost is also in people's lives.

This situation has to change, and it has to change in a dramatic way.

This evening, we're joining with more than 15 other Chicago organizations to say that Black lives matter and demand that the city defund the police and re-direct that money to meet community needs.

DEFUND THE POLICE - FUND BLACK LIVES
Chicago Rally

Arrive at Union Park at 6:00 pm
Rally at 6:30 pm

SEE THE FACEBOOK EVENT FOR UP-TO-DATE EVENT INFORMATION