Civil unrest

Walter "Slim" Coleman (center) speaks at a rally in the Loop called to protest an immigration raid in Little Village in 2007.

Walter 'Slim' Coleman, 'supreme organizer' who helped elect Mayor Harold Washington, dies at 80

Mr. Coleman led countless demonstrations in his six decades as an activist. “Slim believed the real power was in organization, putting people in the streets and packing people into government meetings,” said friend Michael Klonsky.

By Mitch Dudek

Law enforcement unleashes a stream of pepper spray at protesters on State near Lake in the Loop as thousands in Chicago joined national outrage over the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody, Saturday afternoon, May 30, 2020. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

City Hall

City Council committee OKs $750K settlement stemming from George Floyd protest

Ald. Brendan Reilly said he’s concerned paying a settlement to Bryan Mejia, who suffered a fractured leg and torn ACL, will invite protesters expected for the Democratic National Convention to wreak havoc, then bombard the city with lawsuits.

By Fran Spielman

2024 Democratic National Convention

Protests & peace — Chicago ready for demonstrators at Dem convention, but police won’t ‘tolerate violence'

“We want to make sure that we maintain peace,” Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling said during a news conference Wednesday about this summer’s Democratic National Convention. “We’re going to police constitutionally.”

By Tom Schuba and Fran Spielman

Crime

South suburban man admits helping set fire to CTA van during 2020 riots in Chicago

Federal prosecutors originally charged Darion Lindsey in February 2021 with Denzal Stewart and Lamar Taylor. Stewart and Taylor pleaded guilty to an arson conspiracy and civil disorder, and Lindsey joined them in doing so Thursday.

By Jon Seidel

Tuesday chaotic meeting of the Chicago City Council’s Rules Committee.

City Hall

Shouts, tears, boos from crowd force recess of City Council committee meeting during heated migrant debate

Later, the full Council voted to accept donated land at 115th and Halsted streets that will become the temporary site of a winterized tent camp for migrants.

By Fran Spielman and Mitchell Armentrout

Tyre Nichols was beaten by members of a Memphis police crime-suppression unit Jan. 7 near his home. He died at a hospital three days later.

Nation/World

5 former officers charged with federal civil rights violations in Tyre Nichols beating death

The five former officers have pleaded not guilty to state charges of second-degree murder and other alleged offenses in the January beating.

By Adrian Sainz | AP and Jonathan Mattise | Associated Press

City Hall

Columbus statues won’t return to their pedestals until there’s a security plan, Lightfoot says

Mayor Lightfoot reiterated that she doesn’t “believe in erasing history.” That’s why she’s been “talking to lots of folks about what can we do, how can we do it” to secure the Columbus statues.

By Fran Spielman

U.S. Marshals confront protesters inside the Federal Building on Thursday in the Loop. The protesters were seeking federal charges for Jason Van Dyke, the Chicago police officer who killed Laquan McDonald.

Crime

Protesters arrested calling for federal charges against Van Dyke: ‘We’re gonna shut down the entire city of Chicago’

The protesters who were detained were among a larger group who delivered a letter to U.S. Attorney John Lausch demanding federal civil rights charges against the former officer, who was released from state custody hours earlier.

By Madeline Kenney and Tom Schuba

Crime

Felon gets 3.5 years in prison for looting Old Navy, possessing gun

An emotional Adam Walton, 41, stood before the court on Monday and apologized profusely to his family, the court and to police officers for his actions in May 2020.

By Manny Ramos

Kyle Rittenhouse in court Friday in Kenosha: Reckless decision-making but not guilty.

Columnists

Kyle Rittenhouse verdict: It really was self-defense no matter how reckless he was

The evidence showed he wasn’t the aggressor. That it took so long for the jury to decide that indicates some jurors found it harder than others to arrive at the conclusion.

By Mark Brown

Kyle Rittenhouse broke down while testifying in his own defense. With closing arguments Monday, it would be a shock if he were found guilty.

Columnists

Acquitting Rittenhouse in Kenosha murder case would be the correct, if unjust, verdict

Before, I could see Kyle Rittenhouse being found not guilty. Now, having seen the rest of the evidence, I’d be shocked if he’s convicted of anything more than a weapons charge

By Mark Brown

Springfield

‘The Gipper’ goes to Springfield? House task force weighs adding Reagan statue to Illinois Capitol grounds

The committee didn’t make a final determination about a statue of Reagan. State Rep. Mary Flowers said the panel she chairs is not at the decision-making stage yet and is focused on listening to “what everyone has to say.”

By Rachel Hinton

News

Proud Boys flock to pro-Columbus statue rally in Little Italy as far-right ups profile

“The statue continues to bring hate and divisiveness to this community,” one resident said after the event last month marking the one-year anniversary of its removal.

By Tom Schuba and Manny Ramos

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Ill, left, on July 27; Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, right, in April.

PolitiFact

Fact-check: Downstate Republican’s claim on Nancy Pelosi’s Jan. 6 security role forgets someone — Mitch McConnell

PolitiFact and other fact checkers have debunked numerous claims contending Pelosi alone was responsible for Capitol security. Davis’ claim pointed to the speaker’s role in directing Capitol security leaders, rather than all of Capitol security. But it’s still highly misleading.

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller | Better Government Association

A fence with the U.S. and Italian flags cover the area where a Christopher Columbus statue once stood at Arrigo Park in Little Italy on Oct. 8, 2020.

Chicago

Lawsuit against Chicago Park District seeks Columbus statue’s return to Arrigo Park

The lawsuit filed by the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans alleges the Chicago Park District breached a nearly 50-year-old contract when it removed the statue last year.

By Manny Ramos

A rubber bullet is fired over a protester by police hidden by a cloud of tear gas on May 30, 2020, in Minneapolis.

After Minneapolis police blinded, badly injured George Floyd protesters with rubber bullets, city has taken little action

By USA TODAY

Nation/World

Rallies, moments of silence honor George Floyd a year later

Speakers at a Thompson Center rally, organized by the Chicago Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression, discussed the nationwide fight against police brutality and other oppression of people of color.

By Associated Press

A year later, families mourn relatives killed during violent weekend post-George Floyd protests

By Elvia Malagón

Civil unrest

One year later: Chicago in wake of George Floyd killing and protests

A year after the murder of George Floyd by police and the civil unrest that followed, the Sun-Times looks at the aftermath of those affected, what’s changed and what hasn’t.

By Satchel Price

Patrice Darby Neely, owner of GoLogic Solutions, outside her home in South Shore. She’s among the beneficiaries of corporate moves to fight racism in the wake of George Floyd’s killing. Neely got help through a JPMorgan Chase program offering mentoring to 1,500 Black- and Latinx-owned small businesses in Chicago.

Promises made, promises kept: A year after George Floyd killing, Chicago corporations taking steps to fight racism

By Maudlyne Ihejirika