Amnesty
International Criticizes Chicago Cops

Amnesty International is set to mobilize 2.5 million activists worldwide on Thursday to demand that city leaders meet international human rights standards by holding violent police officers accountable for the abuse of civilians and fixing a seriously flawed approach to police brutality.

Amnesty International USA organizers, joined by survivors of police abuse, community organizations and police accountability advocates, will speak out at a press conference at City Hall to urge Mayor Richard Daley to investigate and hold violent officers accountable for recent alleged incidents of police abuse against gays and lesbians and to take meaningful steps to improve police accountability.

The press conference is scheduled for 11 a.m. June 19 outside the mayor's office on the fifth floor of City Hall in downtown Chicago.

The human rights organization wants Chicago to enact vigorous and independent investigations of complaints of police abuse; transparent investigations that guarantee the public's right to know about the outcome of complaints; and an end to impunity for abusive officers, including the criminal prosecution of officers found guilty.

One of the scheduled speakers at the press conference will be Debra Sciortino, who reportedly was beaten by an off-duty Chicago police officer at the start of the 2007 Pride Parade, along with two other lesbians, Kelly Fuery and Nicole Tomaskovic.

The women said other officers who arrived at the scene allegedly ignored their complaints of abuse and instead falsely charged them with battery. Their civil rights case is currently in federal court. (The Advocate)