Chicago: Making Reparations for Harm

Last week, Martha Davis reported on reparations made by the city of Chicago for human rights abuses resulting from police torture that occurred in the 70’s and 80’s.  The torture occurred under the command of Jon Burge. Burge was fired in 1993.  Since then Chicago has paid out $85 million in reparations.

On April 15th, the New York Times reported that Chicago has made a $5,000,000.00 settlement with the family of black teen who was shot and killed by Chicago police officers last fall.  Laquan McDonald was only seventeen when a single police officer shot him sixteen times.  Laquan’s weapon, according to police was a three inch knife. In settling the case, the city was aware of a video made by the mounted police car camera.  The Department of Justice is investigating McDonald’s death.

In the attention brought by Ferguson, and the frustrating attempts by citizens to seek acknowledgment by municipalities that human rights violations occurred, it is hopeful that Chicago has stepped up and is resolving old and new claims without the political sleight of hand that we have seen in other cases.

We know the power of  apology.  What is not discussed as often is the power of a swift acknowledgement.  In contrast to the three or four decades it has taken Chicago to resolve claims of Burge’s victims, the family of Mr. McDonald received swift resolution.  A speedy acknowledgment spares the survivors years of additional anguish.  While lawyers  often advise not admitting liability, when human rights violations are undisputed, swift resolution is not only humane, but is its own human right.