The below statement can be attributed to Colleen Connell, Executive Director, ACLU of Illinois: 

“Finally! The curfew in the City of Chicago has been lifted. The limitation went on too long and caused disruption for too many of the City’s residents, including those protesting anti-Black racism and police violence, journalists, people experiencing homelessness, and essential workers. 

As we said the night the curfew was put in place, the indefinite and vague nature of the curfew invited discriminatory enforcement against Black and Brown communities in the City.” 
 

“This weekend, thousands of people across Illinois once again will gather together to protest anti-Black racism and the police killing of George Floyd and countless other Black people. These inspiring protests have taken place throughout Illinois, including small towns like Anna in Southern Illinois to the City of Chicago and its suburbs. 

These protests – and the ability of people to be out doors for other permissible activities – should not be limited by indefinite curfews. Curfews are a blunt tool that invite unnecessary police interactions and often result in arbitrary and selective enforcement aimed at Black people and people of color, the type of biased policing challenged by many protesters.  

Many Illinois cities and towns imposed unnecessary curfews last weekend that have continued throughout this week. It is time for the curfews to be lifted everywhere in our state.”  

The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois

The below statement can be attributed to Karen Sheley, Director, Police Practices Project, ACLU of Illinois:

“Over the past two days, the ACLU of Illinois has been made aware of many incidents in which Chicago police officers have used excessive force against those protesting the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. These incidents have occurred in several parts of the City, despite repeated claims that officers have used restraint. 

Using force against protestors exercising their right to free speech is not acceptable – not in Washington, DC or in Chicago. The CPD is responsible morally and constitutionally for these officers' response to these protests, protests that reflect the anger and outrage of Chicago residents who are sick from seeing Black people murdered by police. Each of these incidents should be fully investigated and officers who engage in misconduct should be held accountable. That should always happen – but especially now”.