Family of Victims of Violence, Faith and Community Leaders to Hold Vigil at Mayor Emanuel’s House for 770 People Killed in Chicago This Year

Family of victims of violence, faith and community leaders will walk with candles and several coffins to house of Mayor Rahm Emmanuel to hold vigil.

CHICAGO, IL – Family members of victims of violence and community and faith leaders from across the city will gather at Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s house to hold a vigil for the 770 people killed in Chicago this year, and the policies that Mayor Rahm Emmanuel killed which could have saved them. Community leaders will carry coffins for policies which Mayor Emmanuel is responsible for: refusing to rebuild public housing, cutting school budgets, closing mental health clinics, and refusing elected civilian oversight of the police. Community leaders argue that these policies could have saved many of the over 770 people killed in Chicago this year. The group will gather at the American Indian Center 1630 W. Wilson Ave for a brief program and then march to the Mayor’s house holding candles and coffins.

The vigil will be held Wednesday, December 21, 4-6p.m., starting at 1630 W Wilson Ave., then on to Mayor Emanuel’s house.

According to activists “much of the news of the violence in Chicago this year has focused on sensationalizing gun violence and criminalizing young people, instead of focusing on the root causes of this violence: the lack of investments in housing, mental health, education and holding police accountable.” Community leaders say that “Mayor Rahm Emmanuel has committed violence against our communities: covering up the shooting of Laquan McDonald is violence, closing the Roseland Mental Health Clinic is violence, cutting the budgets of our neighborhood schools is violence, and refusing to rebuild public housing is violence. This violence by the Mayor is causing much of the violence we see in our streets. Its time he be held accountable.” Leaders are holding a vigil to mourn the loss of those killed and demand the Mayor invest in policies that can prevent future killings.

The organizations holding the vigil include the Chicago Housing Initiative, the Civilian Police Accountability Council, Black Lives Matter Chicago, the Mental Health Movement, and teachers from Chicago Public Schools.