America’s so-called war on drugs was initially aimed at curbing illegal drug use but instead resulted in widespread criminalization, the incarceration of millions, and escalating violence.
For some residents of Chicago’s South Side, this deeply ingrained injustice is a reason to push for a form of reparations.
A recent report by the Chicago Urban League and the South Side Community Reparations Coalition (SSCRC) highlights this issue, focusing on ten neighborhoods: Douglas, Englewood, Fuller Park, Grand Boulevard, Greater Grand Crossing, Oakland, South Shore, Washington Park, West Englewood, and Woodlawn. The findings are the result of three years of research.
In 2021, the Chicago Urban League secured funding through the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority’s (ICJIA) Restore, Reinvest, Renew (R3) initiative to explore community-based reparations. Researchers engaged with residents through meetings and surveys, examining five key areas: civil legal aid, community economic development, reentry, violence prevention, and youth development.
