On Friday, Governor JB Pritzker announced a four-year plan to overhaul the Illinois juvenile justice system by transferring incarcerated children out of large prison-like facilities and investing more in restorative justice practices. The plan would repurpose the state’s five large juvenile facilities and move the children detained there to small residential centers based in their […]
Chicago Protests Amplify Demands that Police Be Removed from Schools
Outrage over the murder of George Floyd by police has sparked activists in Chicago to demand that police officers be removed from Chicago Public Schools. Young people are urging the district to nullify the $33 million contract it entered into with the Chicago Police Department in August to station officers in CPS buildings. Approximately a […]
Marie Newman Defeats Longtime Incumbent Anti-Choice Democrat in Illinois Primary
On Tuesday night, Democratic primary candidate Marie Newman beat out longtime incumbent Democrat Rep. Dan Lipinski for a chance at becoming the next Congressional representative from Illinois’ 3rd district. Lipinski is well known as one of the Democratic party’s anti-abortion members. He opposed two landmark pieces of progressive legislation in recent years: the Affordable Care […]
Illinois Workers Vote to Form First Instacart Union in the United States
Workers for grocery delivery service Instacart in the Chicago, Illinois, suburb of Skokie voted on Saturday to unionize. The vote at Mariano’s grocery store, part of a local chain, was 10-4 to join the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1546, making it the first Instacart union in the country. The successful move to unionize […]
Lori Lightfoot Elected as First Black Woman to Serve as Chicago Mayor
Lori Lightfoot won the Chicago Mayoral runoff Tuesday, defeating multiple career politicians and prominent local Democratic leaders. Lightfoot will be the first black woman to serve as Mayor in Chicago, as well as the first openly gay person. The race for Chicago Mayor started with over fourteen candidates. Lightfoot faced Preckwinkle in a historical election […]
“Empire” Star Jussie Smollett Attacked in ‘Possible’ Hate Crime
Jussie Smollett, a black and openly gay actor, released a statement this morning after he was attacked while walking down the street in Chicago by two masked assailants that allegedly yelled racist and homophobic slurs while pouring a chemical substance, believed to be bleach, on him and tying a noose around his neck; this was […]
Chicago Charter School Teachers Strike
Charter school teachers in Chicago are on strike this week, the first formal strike against a charter-school operator, after the Acero Schools charter network failed to re-negotiate their contract with the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) on December 4th. Teachers are fighting against low wages, overcrowded classrooms, short lunch and recess breaks, insufficient resources and support […]
Chicago Passes Paid Sick Leave Ordinance
Chicago has passed an ordinance requiring that all employers whose business is located within the city limits or who has licensing agreements with the city provide their employees with paid sick leave.
Report Finds 3 of the Largest School Districts Hire More Security Officers than School Counselors
A new report finds that three of the five largest school districts in the country have more security officers on payroll than school counselors. In each of these districts, students of color make up the majority of the student body.
Chicago Teachers Awarded $280,000 in Damages for Pregnancy Discrimination
Eight women who were fired from their teaching positions following the announcements of their pregnancies will receive nearly $300,000 in damages and back pay.
Chicago Activists Continue Hunger Strike to Save Predominately Black Public High School
Chicago residents have entered the second week of their hunger strike protesting the closure of Dyett High School.
Chicago Public Schools Will Increase Athletic Opportunities for Girls After Title IX Complaint
Chicago public schools and the Office for Civil rights reached an agreement late last week to provide equal athletic opportunity for boys and girls.
Tennessee and Chicago Move Forward with Plans for Free Community College
Many Americans had not heard of the proposal to make 2 years of community college free until President Obama’s State of the Union address. Tennessee and Chicago, however, have long been working to make this plan a reality for their students.
HAPPENING NOW: #RJat20 Conversation Celebrates 20 Years of Reproductive Justice Work and Its Future
Reproductive justice advocates are currently convening in Chicago for the Reproductive Justice Leadership Summit & 20th Anniversary Celebration. We’re following the conversation on Twitter- here are some snippets!
The Chicago Teachers’ Strike: Fighting for the Schools Our Students Deserve
UPDATE – Wednesday, September 19: The Chicago Teachers Union voted yesterday to end their strike and agreed today to a tentative offer put forward by the city of Chicago. The agreement includes, among other things, an increase in pay for teachers, shorter school days, increased funding for music, art, and physical education classes as well […]
