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Our Reaction to Jason Van Dyke Verdict
Today, we join our beloved and troubled city in a solemn sigh of relief after a twelve member jury returned a verdict of second degree murder in the murder trial of Jason Van Dyke, the White Chicago police officer who gunned down Black teenager Laquan McDonald four years ago in Archer Heights. The verdict marks a moment of sober victory in a city where police officers have killed civilians – disproportionately Black and Brown people - with legal impunity for nearly 50 years. Today’s decision disrupts the reigning status quo: A divergent and unequal path of justice for police officers and civilians of color that we at Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights are committed to upending. Read more
Protecting Civil Rights Since 1969
Chicago Lawyers’ Committee was founded in 1969 as a group of civil rights lawyers and advocates working to secure racial equity and economic opportunity for all. Our vision is to root out and dismantle deeply entrenched systems of discrimination, racism, and economic oppression by using the power of the law to give voice to those most impacted by these civil rights issues.
education equity Project
To protect and promote access to education by disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline and addressing systemic disparities in education.
Voting Rights Project
To prevent, reduce, and eliminate barriers to voting and civic participation, especially in communities of color and low-income communities, to ensure that each eligible citizen is able to cast their ballot.
Hate Crime Project
To combat hate incidents and hate crime through education, advocacy, and legal representation for targeted communities.
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