At the latest City Council meeting on March 12th, members of City Council discussed a potential fur ban, voted on a settlement from a police misconduct case from 2020, and passed several resolutions, including one for Women’s History Month. Find out more below:
Fur Ban
We had several neighbors reach out asking Alder Vasquez to vote yes on an ordinance, SO2023-0002983, that would have banned the sale of any new fur products in Chicago. While Ald. Vasquez voted yes on ordinance, the measure ultimately failed to pass the full City Council.
Settlement in Protest Police Misconduct Case
City Council voted to approve a $280K settlement in the case of Miracle Boyd, an anti-violence activist who was hit by a police officer as she was filming police during a July 2020 protest. One of her teeth was knocked out and another was dislodged, as well as receiving facial abrasions from the blow. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability investigated and determined that the officer used excessive force, and recommended that he be fired. The Chicago Police Board ruled in favor of COPA’s recommendation, and the officer resigned.
Ald. Vasquez voted yes on the settlement in both the Committee on Finance and the full City Council, and the settlement was ultimately approved by the full City Council.
Resolutions
- Recognition of Women’s History Month: March is Women’s History Month! This month’s City Council meeting gave us an opportunity to honor some of the many women who have shaped our city for the better.
- Call for the release of Mahmoud Khalil: this resolution called for the immediate release of Mahmoud Khalil from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention. Mahmoud Khalil’s green card was revoked for his participation in protests regarding the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza. Green card holders have the right to live and work in the U.S., and their status cannot be revoked without due process. Khalil was abducted from his home by ICE without a warrant, in a clear violation of due process and his First Amendment Rights. An attack on any of our First Amendment Rights is an attack on all of ours, therefore we call for his release and an investigation into his arrest, and urge all elected officials to reaffirm their commitment to protecting the constitutional rights of all those who are living in our country and protected by our laws.
If you have feedback on any of the above, feel free to reach out any time to info@40thward.org!