While so much can be said about the recent Supreme Court opinions, including gutting the right to reproductive freedom and weakening tools available to protect communities from gun violence, now is the time for action. The Court's efforts to turn back the clock are destructive to our communities, and they warn of future harms to our LGBTQIA+ community, people of color, women, and our working poor.
 
Utilizing this "justice system," the Court is on the precipice of negating decades-long efforts to build a more diverse and inclusive country that protects all its residents regardless of race, gender, identity, or class. Its recent actions directly contradict BPI's work to build a just society, and they must be countered.
 
We understand that the Court's rulings do not sit in isolation of a women's right to choose or a technical understanding of the Second Amendment. We know that this reduction of choice and creation of risk also speaks to the employment, housing options, and freedom – or lack thereof – that these rulings will have on individuals and families. We know that it runs in parallel with increased poverty and a decrease in safety and restorative justice. As a society, we are woefully deficient in the development and availability of resources to address those challenges. And yet, the Court has pushed forward rulings that will detrimentally change our lives.
 
BPI is committed to standing up for what is truly just, and we will work to reduce the perpetual and pervasive harm that will likely result from the Court's recent actions. We will continue to do this through our housing work, our efforts to reduce the footprint of the criminal legal system, and our continued push for police accountability. We will continue to stand up and advocate for what is just. Join us in this fight.
Building Public Interest

BPI launched a new event series, Building Public Interest earlier this year. This series sets out to inform, educate, and activate a broad and diverse audience around issues of social justice, racial equity, and their inherent intersection with other areas of concern that impact us all.  

In May, we hosted a  poignant conversation: The Right to Choose and the Broader Fight for Rights. Panelists included Felicia Davis Blakley, President and CEO of the Chicago Foundation for Women; Julie Hamos, Senior Policy Advisor at the Office of Medicaid Innovation; and Carolyn Shapiro, Founder and Co-Director of the Institute on the Supreme Court of the United States at Chicago Kent College of Law. BPI's Staff Counsel, Loren Jones, moderated this discussion.

Our panelists reflected on the impact of the right to reproductive freedom and ways to take action. If you missed it, watch it now.
Gautreaux Civil Rights Litigation

On July 11, join BPI for our next virtual event in our Building Public Interest Series, Panel Discussion on Civil Rights Litigation and Housing.

The expansion of the Clearinghouse at the University of Michigan Law School will include an extensive archive of Gautreaux v. Chicago Housing Authority, one of the longest-running civil rights cases in the country. A panel, including Margo Schlanger, the Wade H. and Dores M. McCree Collegiate Professor of Law; and Dr. Norrinda Hayat, Associate Professor of Law and Director of the Civil Justice Clinic at Rutgers Law School, will discuss equity and justice in housing and the future of civil rights litigation as a mechanism for structural reform. 
Meet Chicago's New Inspector General

Join BPI for our Building Public Interest series event, An Interview with Chicago's New Inspector General, on July 20 at noon. Chicago's Inspector General is an independent, non-partisan watchdog that promotes effectiveness, efficiency, and integrity by identifying corruption and mismanagement. The office's priorities and investigations have a significant impact on the people of the City of Chicago.

Deborah Witzburg was appointed Inspector General in April 2022. She served as the Deputy Inspector General for Public Safety, overseeing independent, objective evaluations and reviews of the Chicago Police Department, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, and the Police Board.
BPI: Past, Present, and Future

For over 50 years, BPI has been committed to addressing the structural racism and systemic oppression that has led to inequities and injustices. Today, we continue to guide and support efforts to dismantle systems of injustice, create structures that empower communities, and reduce the harms caused by racism and oppression.

Watch this short film, which debuted at our annual event, and learn more about BPI's past, present, and future.
Meet BPI's Newest Team Member

Ariel Hairston joined BPI as Staff Counsel for Police Accountability and Criminal Legal System this Spring.

Before joining BPI, Ariel worked as a litigator at a national law firm focused on fiduciary disputes and government investigations. She was part of the team monitoring the enforcement of the consent decree to reform the Chicago Police Department, concentrating on community policing, impartial policing, and crisis intervention. 
BPI's 2022 Summer Interns
Consider donating to BPI as we continue our work, grounded in racial and social justice, to meet today's needs and challenges.