Chicago FOP President has gone too far. Defending the attack on the U.S.
Capitol is simply unacceptable. 

[ [link removed] ]Color Of Change logo[ [link removed] ][IMG]

Sign the petition. Demand Chicago officials #FireCatanzara NOW. 
  

[ [link removed] ]Take Action


Dear John, 

On January 6, 2021, the U.S. Capitol was stormed by white
supremacists—incited by Trump and his allies— in an attempt to violently
overturn the results of the election. 

It left at least five people dead and threatened the lives of members of
Congress, top government officials, Capitol police officers, and all
Capitol employees. Rioters armed with guns, mace, handcuffs, and tactical
gear entered the Capitol, looted offices, and almost reached areas where
members of Congress and others were hiding.

Meanwhile, the president of Chicago’s FOP, John Catanzara, is defending
the rioters. He’s come out in support of their violent actions justifying
and normalizing their attack on the Capitol and downplaying the threat
they posed. It’s dangerous and needs to be stopped. 

That’s why we’re calling on Chicago’s top officials: Mayor Lori Lightfoot
and the Chicago Police Board to fire Catanzara NOW. 

[ [link removed] ]Catanzara has gone too far. Defending the violent attack on the Capitol
will only empower these white supremacists to continue their attacks
against our communities and the safety of our democracy. Sign the
petition.

Just last month Catanzara was placed under investigative review. He is now
facing possible firing over racist and offensive posts on social media
that read, “savages they all deserve a bullet,” when referring to Muslim
people.^1 Along with these comments, he’s also posted similarly bigoted
remarks about women,  “liberals,” and about former First Lady Michelle
Obama.^2 The Police Board is still considering whether or not to fire
Catanzara over these atrocious remarks -- this is a board composed of
civilians who are appointed by Mayor Lightfoot.^3 The Police Board has the
power to fire Catanzara at any point.

Mayor Lightfoot has made several public statements in opposition to
Catanzara’s comments. In a recent tweet, she called on him to resign and
pushed back against the FOP’s attempt to walk-back Catanzara’s defense of
the attack on the U.S. Capitol.^4 But this isn’t enough. Mayor Lightfoot
has the power to put pressure on the Police Board to ensure Catanzara is
stripped of his title, and no longer at the helm of the police union. 

[ [link removed] ]Sign the petition. Tell Mayor Lightfoot and the Chicago Police Board
#CatanzaraMustGo.

When law enforcement signals to right-wing militias and white supremacists
that they’re on the same side, it encourages more serious acts of violence
and sends the message that they may get away with it. Last year, we saw
how dangerous statements from police union leaders escalated violence in
Kenosha, Portland, and elsewhere, with tragic results.

This week, we’ve seen it play out first hand. A man in Chicago Heights, IL
is threatening the safety of members of Congress, in addition to
President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris. He left several
disturbing voicemails, where he’s quoted in a complaint as saying "we will
kill any motherfucking Democrat that steps on the motherfucking
lawn." ^5 Even though he’s been arrested and charged with transmitting a
threat, we know he’s just one of many white supremacists who feel
emboldened to act out. Make no mistake, Catanzara is fueling the actions
of people like this man in Chicago Heights. Chicago officials must
intervene now to ensure Catanzara is no longer in power. 

Here’s what Catanzara said about the white supremacist attack on the U.S.
Capitol:^6 

* “Do I support [the Capitol attack]? I wouldn’t have partaken in it.
They’re individuals. They get to do what they want. Again, they were
voicing frustration. They’re entitled to voice their frustration.”
* “They clearly have been ignored and they’re still being ignored as if
they’re lunatics and treasonous now, which is beyond stupid.”
* “Do I support the frustration? Listen, I don’t have any doubt that
something shady happened in this election. You’re not going to
convince me that that many people voted for Joe Biden. Never for the
rest of my life will you ever convince me of that.”
* “If the worst crime [at the Capitol] is trespassing, so be it.”
* “it’s an inconvenience at this point, is all it is.”

After Catanzara made these statements, it was reported that a Capitol
Police officer died as a result of the riot.

The longer Catanzara remains in power, serving as the mouthpiece for
12,000 Chicago police officers, the more these pro-Trump white
supremacists will feel empowered in their violent actions — in Illinois,
in D.C., and across the country

[ [link removed] ]Sign the petition. Demand Cantazara is fired immediately.

Until justice is real, 

--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Megan, Ernie, Madison, Ariel,
Trevor, Ericka, Ana, McKayla, and the rest of the Color Of Change team

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 References:

 1. "Controversial president of Chicago police union faces possible firing
over inflammatory posts on social media." Chicago Tribune.
[link removed]
 2. Ibid. 
 3. Chicago Police Board.
[link removed]
 4. [ [link removed] ]Twitter
 5. [ [link removed] ]Twitter
 6. "How Police Unions Responded to the Assault on the Capitol." Mother
Jones.
[link removed]


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[ [link removed] ]ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black
folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.

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