Community meeting gets heated over alleged collaboration between Chicago police, immigration agents
By Cate Cauguiran
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CHICAGO (WLS) — The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability hosted a meeting Thursday evening on Chicago’s Southwest Side.
As the CPD superintendent ended his questioning, several people stood up and shouted at him, making clear this community demands more.
Tempers flared at the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability meeting in Brighton Park, where Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling fielded questions regarding concerns over alleged collaboration between CPD and immigration enforcement officers.
“When it comes to the Chicago Police Department and Chicago police officers, our officers showed up to keep down violence,” Snelling said.
During public comment, a limited number of speakers were given a chance to voice their own concerns.
“The community knows that CPD and ICE are collaborating with each other,” one person said. “We have seen it with our own eyes, we have seen it within our communities.”
“It’s really clear that under Superintendent Snelling, if you wear a badge you can commit whatever crime you want to in Chicago,” a person said.
“Where is the investigation? Where is the accountability?” another person said.
As Superintendent Snelling addressed commissioners and the dozens in attendance, he was faced with several interruptions from the crowd.
“I believe that sometimes, when people are looking for answers they point fingers,” Snelling said. “I don’t know, but I can tell you if we’re going to have a conversation around things like this it has to be with people walking in with an open mind. If you don’t have an open mind, then we know your mind is made up. And we’re never going to have a respectful discourse so that we can get to the bottom of what it is you’re trying to understand.”
The crowd there Thursday night was clearly not satisfied with the answers they were provided, leaving with louder calls for accountability.
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