Rahm's police academy plan met with youth-led backlash from #NoCopAcademy campaign

As rain pelted the Fullerton el platform on Tuesday night, two dozen young people boarded a southbound Red Line train with printed and hand-drawn signs. "#NoCopAcademy" one read. "$95 million for schools, mental health care, and affordable housing!" declared another.

The activists organized in protest of Mayor Rahm Emanuel's plan to build a $95 million police and fire training academy in West Garfield Park. The training compound would occupy a 30.4-acre site along Chicago Avenue between Pulaski and Kilbourn and include a swimming and diving pool, driving course, shooting range, labs, classrooms, and auditorium, and a mock CTA station and apartment building. Since unveiling the plan on July 3, the city has touted the facility as a response to the Department of Justice's criticism of police training and is billing it as a driver of investments into the neighborhood. Activists and community residents, however, are deeply skeptical of these claims.

Once aboard the train the activists delivered a well-rehearsed message to commuters in a series of calls and responses set to the one member's drumbeat:

"Rahm Emanuel wants to spend another $95 million on Chicago Police and we are fed up! We want schools for kids, not cops! We want police accountability, not more resources for the police. A fancy new building will not end racism. We want real safety in our communities. That means investing in programs and services like quality schools, quality health care, jobs for teens, childcare for all, living wages."

Read more: https://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2017/10/13/rahms-police-academy-plan-met-with-youth-led-backlash-from-nocopacademy-campaign