spoke digital films

This post is about developments related to the subject of my documentary, Shielded Brutality.

Attorney Larry Kennon speaks for torture victims’ rights

Yesterday, the Cook County Board of Commissioners held a hearing regarding police torture in Chicago. Specifically, the hearing was in response to a 4-year, $7 million investigation by Special Prosecutor Edward Egan that acknowledged “abuse” by Chicago Police detectives but failed to indict anyone. Numerous attorneys, legal scholars, activists, and community groups criticized the Special Prosecutor’s report as lacking zeal and being heavily biased in favor of the interests of the Chicago Police Department and the City of Chicago. It has been characterized as a whitewash and cover-up of the torture by former Police Commander Jon Burge and other CPD detectives. Almost no one (except for the offending officers themselves) dispute that torture actually occured during the 70’s and 80’s. However, no one has ever been criminally convicted in a scandal that reaches to the highest levels of Chicago’s government. Current Chicago Mayor, Richard M. Daley, was the State’s Attorney of Cook County when the greatest number of torture complaints were filed and documents prove that he was even informed by the Superintendent of Police in 1982 of torturous abuse by Chicago police officers. Daley chose not to investigate that case, nor did he ever seek to investigate the CPD even as countless allegations of torture and abuse came forward during his tenure.

Among other actions, victims’ advocates are calling for new trials for torture victims still incarcerated and for the U.S. Attorney’s Office to step in and investigate. If that were to happen, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern Illinois District would be Patrick Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald, of course, successfully prosecuted Scooter Libby, former chief of staff to Dick Cheney, for perjury and obstruction of justice - the same charges that would likely be available to prosecute police torturers.

Torture victim David Bates speaks at yesterday’s hearing

The hearing included testimony by victims’ attorneys and legal advocates, human rights advocates, and community organizers. The most powerful testimony came from the victims and family members of victims. Much of the hearing was intensely emotional, heart-wrenching, and profoundly compelling. Thirty years of anger, frustration, and outrage boiled forth as witness after witness expressed dismay at the fact that justice has yet to be served in this sordid history. It remains to be seen whether the Cook County Board was also moved. Soon they must decide if they will side with the victims and their advocates by requesting a Federal investigation or by calling for new trials for torture victims still incarcerated.

EDIT 6/27: The Board will vote on four resolutions July 10th, I’m told. The resolutions involve whether to request the U.S. Attorney’s Office to investigate, whether to request new trials for torture victims, whether to pass legislation that removes any statute of limitations for crimes involving torture, and whether to cut off any further payments to the office of Special Prosecutor Edward Egan.

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On a personal note, the hearing provided a wealth of important and compelling footage for my documentary. You’ll be seeing some of that footage soon as I cut a new trailer within the next month or so.