"Personally, the fact that the city has come to grips with this horrific injustice that was done to us is a monument in itself," said torture survivor Darrel Cannon. (Image: Justice Memorials/Twitter)
May 12, 2015
Last week, Chicago approved a landmark reparations package for survivors of police torture under police commander Jon Burge, making it the first city in the United States to pass such a deal.
In this video segment, The Real News Network interviews Darrel Cannon, a survivor of police torture who was incarcerated more than two decades as a result of a coerced confession, and Lauren Taylor, an organizer with the organization We Charge Genocide. They reflect on the people power behind the historic victory and its implications for the city and country.
"Personally, the fact that the city has come to grips with this horrific injustice that was done to us is a monument in itself," said Cannon. "And I'm still not satisfied."
"I will continuously say it, that when we started this battle, we had a glass that was empty," Cannon continued. "As a result of everything we've done, and the extraordinary measures that was taken by the city council, our glass is now half full. That is an achievement that no one could ever take from us. They said it couldn't be done. But here in Chicago there's an old saying that if you don't like the weather one day wait till the next, and it'll be something different."
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Last week, Chicago approved a landmark reparations package for survivors of police torture under police commander Jon Burge, making it the first city in the United States to pass such a deal.
In this video segment, The Real News Network interviews Darrel Cannon, a survivor of police torture who was incarcerated more than two decades as a result of a coerced confession, and Lauren Taylor, an organizer with the organization We Charge Genocide. They reflect on the people power behind the historic victory and its implications for the city and country.
"Personally, the fact that the city has come to grips with this horrific injustice that was done to us is a monument in itself," said Cannon. "And I'm still not satisfied."
"I will continuously say it, that when we started this battle, we had a glass that was empty," Cannon continued. "As a result of everything we've done, and the extraordinary measures that was taken by the city council, our glass is now half full. That is an achievement that no one could ever take from us. They said it couldn't be done. But here in Chicago there's an old saying that if you don't like the weather one day wait till the next, and it'll be something different."
Last week, Chicago approved a landmark reparations package for survivors of police torture under police commander Jon Burge, making it the first city in the United States to pass such a deal.
In this video segment, The Real News Network interviews Darrel Cannon, a survivor of police torture who was incarcerated more than two decades as a result of a coerced confession, and Lauren Taylor, an organizer with the organization We Charge Genocide. They reflect on the people power behind the historic victory and its implications for the city and country.
"Personally, the fact that the city has come to grips with this horrific injustice that was done to us is a monument in itself," said Cannon. "And I'm still not satisfied."
"I will continuously say it, that when we started this battle, we had a glass that was empty," Cannon continued. "As a result of everything we've done, and the extraordinary measures that was taken by the city council, our glass is now half full. That is an achievement that no one could ever take from us. They said it couldn't be done. But here in Chicago there's an old saying that if you don't like the weather one day wait till the next, and it'll be something different."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.