News & Commentary

Civil Rights Lawyers in Chicago
The only United States citizen residing in the U.S. designated as a  “terrorist” by the Department of Treasury filed suit today in federal court to challenge as unconstitutional the onerous restrictions imposed on him by that designation for the past 17 years. Under the restrictions, which bar virtually all economic transactions, even those necessary for survival, Muhammad Salah is not
Survivors of Chicago Police Torture
The Torture of Darrell Cannon: A Case that the City of Chicago Cannot Win By Flint Taylor, People’s Law Office On November 2, 1983 three charter members of Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge’s torture crew took African American murder suspect Darrell Cannon to an isolated area on the South Side of Chicago and tortured him. They repeatedly pressed an electric
Richard Daley relationship to civil rights cases for Chicago Police Torture
Richard M. Daley: A Central Figure in the Chicago Police Torture Scandal By Flint Taylor, People’s Law Office Originally published at Huffington Post Recently, the Chicago City Council approved a $5.375 million settlement to police torture victim Michael Tillman. Tillman had named former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley along with Jon Burge and numerous Chicago police detectives, supervisors, and high-ranking
The Town of Cicero settled a civil rights lawsuit brought by Bianca Feliciano, a young Latina transgender woman, who alleged she was illegally stopped, searched and harassed by Cicero Police Officers.  In settling Ms. Feliciano’s litigation, Cicero agreed to enact a new policy regarding the treatment of transgender people by Cicero Police Officers, becoming one of the first metropolitan police
People's Law Office: civil rights lawyers in Chicago
IPRA, Police Accountability and All of Us by Janine Hoft of People’s Law Office, July 27, 2012 Chicago’s Independent Police Review Authority (IPRA) recently released their second quarterly report of 2012 summarizing their work investigating police misconduct and brutality allegations brought against Chicago police officers. The People’s Law Office continues to encourage and promote government transparency and all efforts to
People's Law Office: civil rights lawyers in Chicago
Testimony on Police Shootings, Excessive Force and Other Misconduct This past Saturday, July 21, there was a Peoples Hearing on Police Crimes held in the Englewood neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago. The hearing was organized by the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression with the purpose of providing a public forum for individuals to share their experiences
Michael Tillman settles civil rights lawsuit for police brutality and torture
Full City Council Approves Tillman Settlement, yet No Statement from Mayor Rahm Emanuel July 25, 2012 Today, twenty-six years after his July 21, 1986 arrest, the full Chicago City Council approved the payment of a $5.375 million settlement to police torture survivor Michael Tillman. After exchanging accolades to a series of Chicago citizens from baseball hero Ron Santo to restaurateur
Torture survivor Michael Tillman talks about settling civil rights lawsuit for police brutality
STATEMENT OF MICHAEL TILLMAN First off, I want to say that I am very relieved that my 26 year nightmare is finally ending. I was tortured and convicted of crimes for which I am completely innocent. I spent 23 ½ years in prison, and every day I still feel the awful mental pain that my torture and wrongful imprisonment has
Michael Tillman settles civil rights lawsuit for police brutality and torture
City of Chicago Settles Michael Tillman Police Torture Case July 23, 2012 Today, almost exactly twenty-six years after his July 21, 1986 arrest, the Finance Committee of the Chicago City Council has approved the payment of a $5.375 million settlement to police torture victim Michael Tillman. During his four day interrogation, Tillman was repeatedly suffocated with a typewriter cover, beaten
Occupied Chicago Tribune first amendment
People’s Law Office Helps Obtain Free Speech Victory for the Media for the 99% An administrative panel of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) ruled today that Occupied Chicago Tribune had the right to retain their internet domain name despite the efforts of the Chicago Tribune Company to shut it down. The Occupied Chicago Tribune is a volunteer-run alternative news