Dear Chicago,
This week has been incredibly difficult for our city as a violent repeat offender, given too much sympathy in the courthouse, shot two police officers inside a hospital. One officer, John Bartholomew, was killed instantly. The second officer is fighting for his life despite having a bullet lodged in his spine.
The tragedy is not simply one felt by our police officers. This is the fifth ongoing murder case involving a first responder and a repeat dangerous offender who should have been in jail. Officer Preston. Officer Martinez. Fire Captain Meyer. Firefighter Altman. And now Officer Bartholomew. Yet our governor, our mayor and their legislative allies all defend the law that allowed their murders to run free within Chicago: the SAFE-T Act!
While these are high-profile cases, the fact of the matter is that dangerous criminals are routinely sent back to the communities they terrorize. There is no justice for victims or the innocent when dangerous criminals are allowed to go home time and time and time and time again. This is especially egregious as it overwhelmingly and negatively impacts communities of color – usually the standard “black & brown” demographic point liberal politicians like to use for their advantage, regardless of how negative those policies are to those same ethnic neighborhoods.
The time for complaining is over. We must act in every way possible. Springfield must be reminded their laws don’t exist within a vacuum. We feel their policy choices daily, and it is exhausting. Additionally, Cook County judges must learn that their courtroom decisions are not without consequences. If that means voting them out, so be it.
Victims deserve justice. But they also deserve accountability and action that hopefully prevent the next tragedy. I am willing to do what we must to honor them. Are you?
