>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW, VOTERS ELECT A NEW MAYOR FOR CHICAGO.

WE HEAR FROM MAYOR-ELECT BRANDON JOHNSON'S PLANS FOR THE CITY, AND CALLING A FOWL ON THE WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP BASKETBALL GAME, AND THE TRAFFIC STOPS IN CHICAGO AND THE RACIAL INEQUITIES.

A LOCAL ACTIVIST PRO MOSTS A NEW CLUB BUT IT MAY NOT BE WHAT YOU ARE THINKING.

>> YOU MAY NOT HAVE EXPERIENCE ON WHAT YOU ARE SEEING.

>> AND A MURDER MYSTERY TAKES THE MAIN STAGE AT TIBC THEATER.

ALL THAT COMING UP BUT THE FIRST STORY TONIGHT, THE SECOND BLACK MAN EVER TO BE ELECTED CHICAGO MAYOR RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> BRANDON JOHNSON IS PREPARING TO TAKE OVER THE HELM AS MAYOR OF CHICAGO AFTER HIS ELECTION NIGHT WIN OVER PAUL VALLAS THIS WEEK.

IN HIS VICTORY SPEECH, JOHNSON REFLECTED ON THE PROGRESSIVE MOVE MENT THAT MOBILIZED HIS CAMPAIGN AND THE ASSASSINATION OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING ON THAT VERY DAY.

>> TODAY, WE DID NOT JUST COMMEMORATE THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF ONE OF THE GREATEST HUMANITARIANS WHO EVER WALKED THE PLANET EARTH.

TODAY, WE DO NOT JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE ASSASSINATION OF A DREAMER.

TODAY, THE DREAM IS ALIVE, AND SO TODAY, WE CELEBRATE THE REVIVAL AND THE RESURRECTION OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO!

IT IS TIME FOR CHICAGO TO COME ALIVE, COME ALIVE, CHICAGO!

MY NAME IS BRANDON JOHNSON, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO BE SWORN IN AS THE NEXT MAYOR OF THE GREATEST CITY IN THE WORLD!

>> MAYOR-ELECT BRANDON JOHNSON GIVING HIS VICTORY SPEECH EARLIER THIS WEEK.

IT WAS THE MOST-WATCHED NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL FINAL IN TELEVISION HISTORY.

LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY BEATING THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA IN THE WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP BUT WHAT GOT ALL THE ATTENTION WAS WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LAST FEW SECONDS OF THE GAME.

LSU STAR ANGEL REESE MADE A FEW COMMENTS AT ANOTHER PLAYER, WITH THE "YOU CAN'T SEE ME" GESTURE TO CLARK, WHO IS WHITE.

JOINING US NOW ARE A SPORTS CONSULTANT AND FOUNDER OF THE NON-PROFIT "GROW TO GAIN" ABOUT INCREASED INVOLVEMENT IN WOMEN'S SPORTS, AND ANDREA WILLIAMS, HEAD COACH OF THE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM AT CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY AND BRANDON POPE, REPORTER AT CW 26 CHICAGO AND PODCAST HOST AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS, CHICAGO CHAPTER.

WELCOME BACK, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SOME OF THE BACKLASH AGAINST ANGEL REESE INVOLVED SOME FAIRLY UGLY NAME CALLING.

SHE IS A COLLEGE SOPHOMORE AT LSU.

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION?

>> I WAS UPSET.

I WASN'T SURPRISED.

BUT I MEAN, I CAN'T WRAP MY HEAD AROUND HOW MANY GROWN ADULTS CAN TAKE -- REAL, IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS, IT'S A BASKETBALL GAME, A GREAT GAME BUT THAT'S WHAT THEY FOCUS ON.

>> MALE AND FEMALE, AND THEY WERE MAKING IT ABOUT SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS, AND ITWAS TWO COMPETITORS, COMPETING.

THE FINAL GAME, THEY WANTED TO WIN, AND THEY BOTH HAD GREAT RUNS, AND BOTH HAD DONE THE GESTURE, AND YOU ARE SEEING THE BACKLASH FROM ONE SIDE AND HOW THEY GREW FROM IT AND THE GREAT RESPONSES TO THE ADULTS, AND MAYBE SOME DIFFERENT REACTIONS MAYBE ON TWITTER.

>> I CAN'T PLAY MUCH SPORTS, BUT I GET THE IMPRESSION THAT THAT TAUNTING A BIT IS PART OF THE GAME.

>> I WOULD SAY, YES, AND I WOULD SAY MORE THIS GENERATION, YOU KNOW, AND WE ARE GOING TO EMULATE SOMETHING THAT IS COOL AND BOTH PLAYERS COULD BACK IT UP.

IT WAS GREAT TO SEE FOR THE GAME, THE ATHLETICISM AND WHAT THEY BRING TO THE TABLE, AND PEOPLE WANT TO CHIME IN AT THE LAST SECOND WITH THE NINE MILLION VIEWERS THAT WERE ALREADY WATCHING OUR SPORT.

THAT'S THE DISAPPOINTING PART.

>> BRANDON POPE, WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO THAT?

>> NOT SURPRISED BUT DISAPPOINTED FOR SURE.

I AM A BIG SPORTS GUY, COVERAGED IT FOR A WHILE AND THIS IS WHAT THEY DO, AND THIS IS WHAT MAKES SPORTS GREAT, THE GREAT INTENSITY, AND PEOPLE ACTED LIKE THEY HAD NEVER SEEN A SPORTING EVENT IN THEIR LIFE, AND IT WAS THE SAME OLD THAT WE WERE FIGHTING FOR YEARS AND DECADES.

WE HAVE TO DO BETTER NOT JUST FOR WOMEN'S BASKETBALL BUT SOCIETY AND THIS IS NOT RIGHT THE WAY THAT THE DIALOGUE HAS GONE.

>> HOW DO YOU THINK THAT BLACK WOMEN ARE TREATED DIFFERENTLY IN SPORTS?

>> I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A LONG ENOUGH SEGMENT FOR THAT.

BUT FIRST, I WANT TO SAY ALREADY WOMEN ARE TREATED DIFFERENTLY.

SO WE WOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION IF THIS HAPPENED IN THE MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

WE DON'T HEAR ABOUT IT.

BUT BLACK WOMEN ARE NOT GIVEN THE SAME FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.

THEY CAN'T DO THE SAME MOVES.

THEY ARE ALLOWED MORE CONTACT WHERE HAVE NON-BLACK PLAYERS PROBABLY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN A WHISTLE.

THEY HAVE TO BE TOO FEMININE.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO TO LIVE UP TO THE STANDARDS.

>> THIS WAS MOST-WATCHED WOMEN'S GAME IN NCAA HISTORY, AND THIS WAS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED.

THIS WAS AT THE END OF THE GAME BUT WHAT CHANGED GET SO MANY PEOPLE TO TUNE IN?

>> PART OF IT, THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1965 THAT UCONN, TENNESSEE, OR STANFORD WAS NOT IN THE FINAL FOUR, AND YOU HAD NEWCOMB COMPETITORS, AND NEW COACHES AND TEAMS AND ANGEL REESE LOVES SEIMONE AUGUSTUS.

AND YOU HAVE CAITLIN CARTER LOOKING UP TO LINDSAY WHALEN, AND IT WAS JUST THAT WHOLE GENERATION OF COMING TOGETHER TO WATCH THE EXCITEMENT AND HAVE A NEW CROWNED CHAMPION AND ATHLETICISM, AND I WANTED TO SEE CAITLIN CLARK SHOOT AND SHOOT AND REFUSE IT AND SHOOT AND SEE ANGEL REESE GET TO THE RIM AND DO WHAT SHE DOES WELL, AND IT WAS GREAT ENTERTAINMENT AND WHAT WE CAN CARRY FORTH.

THE STARS, THEY SHOWN.

>> AND IN AN INTERVIEW, CLARK SAID LATER THAT SHE DOESN'T THANK ANGEL REESE SHOULD BE CRITICIZED.

DOES THAT EVEN MATTER?

>> NO IT SHOULDN'T, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT SHE WAS ASKED THAT QUESTION WHEN SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE RECEIVING HER AWARD, AND THERE WAS BACKLASH, ANDINNED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BUT TO ASK HER THAT QUESTION ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU KNOW IT'S NOT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANGEL REESE NOT TO COME AND SPEAK AS L FOR ME, IT WAS THE NEED FOR WHITE VALIDATION.

IF WE ALL SAID THAT IT WAS FINE AND ANGEL SAID IT WAS FINE, THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH, AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE ASK CAITLIN CLARK TO END THE CONVERSATION.

>> BRANDON, AS YOU SAID, YOU COVER SPORTS A LOT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE FOR A LITTLE BIT.

RIGHT?

EARLIER THIS WEEK, WE HEARD THE FIRST LADY JILL BIDDEN SUGGESTED THAT BOTH TEAMS SHOULD JOIN HER AT THE WHITE HOUSE BECAUSE IT WAS A HISTORIC GAME.

WHAT WAS THE REACTION TO THE IDEA?

>> THE REACTION WAS POLARIZING WITH ANGEL REESE SAYING THAT AIN'T HAPPENING AND A WAVE OF SOCIAL MEDIA USERS SAYING THIS MAKES NO SENSE.

WHY?

IF IOWA WOULD HAVE WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP, DO YOU THINK JILL BIDEN WOULD BE INVITING LSU TO COME TO THE WHITE HOUSE?

NO, NOT AT ALL.

NOW, IT MAY HAVE BEEN A -- AN OVERALL GOOD GESTURE FROM JILL BIDEN SUPPORTING WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, BUT IN THE WIN, THE WINNERS ARE GOING TO THE WHITE HOUSE, AND I THINK IT SPEAKS TO A WIDER WAY THAT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL IS COVERED.

AND IT HAS TO CHANGE.

WE CAN'T HAVE ONE PLAYER OR ONE TEAM WITH ONLY ONE TO SHINE WHEN IN REALITY YOU LOOK AT THE NFL AND THE NBA, IT'S A LEAGUE OF STARS AND TEAMS, AND WE UNDERSTAND WHEN THE TEAMS SUCCEED, WE GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITIES BY GOING TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

THE SAME SHOULD APPLY IN BASKETBALL, AND, OF COURSE, THE BACKLASH WAS SWIFT AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

>> COACH, HOW DO YOU DISCUSS THIS WITH YOUR PLAYERS?

WHAT DO YOU TELL THEM?

>> YOU WATCH THE GAME, AND WE ARE STILL DEALING WITH THE POLARIZATION FROM THE SHUTDOWN AND GEORGE FLOYD, WHICH I FULLY UNDERSTAND, AND IT WILL TRICKLE TOGETHER WITH SPORTS AND IT TURNS INTO A BLACK-WHITE ISSUE OR THIS TEAM AND THAT TEAM AND TWO DIFFERENT STYLES BUT IT WILL BRING MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT INVESTED IN THE GAME HAVE A SAY ON TWITTER, THE LITTLE TWITTER WARRIORS, AND THAT'S THE MAIN THING WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

OUR TEAM DOES WHAT THEY DO THERE AND THAT TEAM DOES WHAT THEY DO WELL, AND WE WILL GO WITH THAT ASPECT, AND NOW, ANGEL REESE IS THE BAYOU BARBIE, AND THREE OTHER PEOPLE WANT TO GET THE BAYOU BARBIE ON TWITTER, AND COACHES AND PLAYERS ARE EMULATING WHAT SHE IS DOING.

AND NIL, IT NEEDS TO BE TALKED ABOUT AND BLACK AND WHITE, WHAT THEY WERE DOING IS GOOD FOR THE GAME, AND THE YOUNG KIDS ARE GROWING IN THAT CORRECTION.

>> WE HAVE ABOUT 20 SECONDS LEFT.

WHAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO SUPPORT WOMEN'S SPORTS?

>> IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD, THEN DON'T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL.

IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD, START WHAT YOU CAN DO.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO START NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION.

JUST SHOW UP, SUPPORT, BRING A FRIEND AND SAY NICE THINGS OR NOTHING AT ALL.

>> IF YOU CAN'T SAY NICE THINGS, SIT BY ME.

>> BRANDON IS NODDING HIS HEAD, AND THANKYOU.

>>> UP NEXT, THE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT OF TRAFFIC STOPS IN CHICAGO IN A CONVERSATION REPORTED EARLIER.

.

>>> THE CHICAGO MAYORAL ELECTION HAS PUT A SPOTLIGHT ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND A NEW REPORT ON TRAFFIC STOPS OFFERS FRESH INSIGHTS ON POLICING IN CHICAGO AND SOME INEQUITIES THAT MAY PERSIST.

THE AVERAGE BLACK DRIVER IS SIX TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE STOPPED HERE THAN THE AVERAGE WHITE DRIVER.

JOINING US WITH MORE, LAUREN JONES, THE STAFF ATTORNEY OF PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE FOR THE PUBLIC INTEREST OR PPI AND THE DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY AND MOVEMENT BUILDING AND COORDINATOR FOR THE FREE TO MOVE COALITION THAT WORKS TO CREATE A MORE RACIALLY EQUITABLE TRAFFIC SAFETY SYSTEM, AND WE INVITED THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT BUT THEY DECLINED BUT SENT A STATEMENT WHICH WE WILL READ LATER.

LAUREN JONES, WHAT IS THE TAKEAWAY FROM THIS?

>> THANK YOU.

THE MAIN THINGS THAT WE TAKE AWAY IS THERE WERE AN ALARMING NUMBER OF TRAFFIC STOPS IN THE PAST CIVIL YEARS.

IN 2016, 86,000 AND IN 2019, THE NUMBER WAS AT 600,000.

WHILE IT'S DROPPED A LITTLE BIT SINCE COVID-19 STARTED IT'S BACK ON THE RISE IS 37,000STOPS.

>> WHY IS THE INCREASE?

>> BEFORE, WE HAD THE STOP AND FRISK.

THEY WERE STOPPING AND FRISKING PEOPLE ON THE STREET, JUST BEING PEDESTRIANS.

AFTER THE CONSENT DECREE, THEY FOUND THAT STOP AND FRISK WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, AND NOW IT'S STOPPING THE VEHICLES AFTER THAT.

>> AND LAUREN JONES, ASIDE FROM THE SPIKE IN THE NUMBER OF STOPS THAT YOU DISCOVERED IN THE STUDY, WHAT ELSE DOES THE STUDY TELL YOU ABOUT RACIAL INEQUITY?

>> WE USED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO DATA SCIENCES INSTITUTE AND TOOK A CLOSER LOOK AT THE INEQUITIES AND IT WAS MENTIONED THAT BLACK DRIVERS ARE SIX TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE STOPPED THAN WHITE DRIVERS, AND WE ALSO SEE GEOGRAPHIC DISPARITIES.

20% OF TRAFFIC STOPS HAPPEN IN TWO POLICE DISTRICTS, THE SEVENTH AND 11th ON THE WEST AND SOUTHSIDE OF CHICAGO, GARFIELD PARK AREA AND ENGLEWOOD AREA AND ONLY CONTAINS 5% OF THE CITY'S POPULATION AND THE MAJORITY IS BLACK.

AND IN THE WHITE NEIGHBORHOODS, BLACK AND LATIN DRIVERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE STOPPED AS WELL.

>> AND JOSE, YOU HAVE PERSONALLY HAD EXPERIENCE.

WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE?

>> I HAVE BEEN GETTING PULLED OVER BY POLICE ALL MY LIFE, AND AS A TEENAGER GETTING MY LICENSE, MY EARLY 20s.

I FIGURE ONCE I GET OLDER, THIS WILL STOP.

BUT THEY HAVEN'T.

I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER A FEW TIMES THIS YEAR SO FAR, AND EACH TIME, YOU KNOW, I GET A PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE, AND I GET NERVOUS AND I START STUTTERING.

I ASK MYSELF, AM I LOOKING SUSPICIOUS?

THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT I HEAR FROM FOLKS ALL OVER THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO.

PEOPLE HAD THE SAME REACTION.

>> LAUREN JONES V YOU BEEN STOPPED AS WELL?

>> I HAVE BEEN STOPPED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO LEAVING MY JOB AND IT ECHOED SOME OF THE DATA THAT WE SEE.

I WAS PULLED OVER AND ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT WHERE I WAS GOING AND TOLD ME I HAD AN EXPIRED REGISTRATION TAG WHICH IS A HUGE PART OF THE STOPS WE ARE SEEING.

>> DID YOU?

>> I DID.

IT JUST EXPIRED.

I GOT THAT FIXED.

BUT I WASN'T CITED.

LESS THAN 5% OF STOPS RESULT IN ANY CITATION.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE WATCHING AND SAY, OKAY.

SAY MY REGISTRATION STATION EXPIRED.

IT'S CLEAR FROM THE LICENSE PLATE AND THE OFFICER PULLS ME OVER AND THEY GIVE ME A CITATION OR DON'T AND NO HARM NO FOUL AND IT GOES AWAY.

>> AND I THINK JOSE'S EXAMPLE PAINT THE PICTURE OF HOW THE STOPS AFFECT PEOPLE WITH THE PSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSE AND THE FEAR AND GETTING FROM POINT A TO POINT B IS A BIGGER IMPACT ON BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITIES, AND WE ARE SEEING THAT THEY DON'T IMPACT STOPS LIKE ARREST AND CITATIONS THAT ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGHER IN BLACK AND LATINO PEOPLE.

>> AS I MENTIONED, WE DID RECEIVE A STATEMENT FROM THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

HERE'S WHAT THEY SAID.

THEY SAID IN PART, OFFICERS ONLY CONDUCT TRAFFIC STOPS WHEN THEY HAVE PROBABLE CAUSE OR REASONABLE, ARTICULATABLE SUSPICION THAT A CRIME WAS COMMITTED OR ABOUT TO BE COMMITTED OR WAS COMMITTED, AND CPD MANDATES IMPLICIT FOR ALL POLICE OFFICERS, AND JOSE, YOUR REACTION TO THE STATEMENT.

>> THAT DOESN'T ADD UP TO MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS I HAVE SPOKEN TO.

IT SEEMS THAT POLICE ARE FISHING FOR SOMETHING.

WE ARE PULLED OVER FOR AN UNLIT LICENSE PLATE AND THEY ARE ASKING IF YOU HAVE A GUN AND WHO ELSE IS IN THE CAR AND THEY ARE ASKING FOR NAMES AND OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH HAVING A TAILLIGHT BROKEN.

>> LAUREN, YOUR REACTION TO THE STATEMENT.

>> I WILL PIGGYBACK OFF WHAT JOSE SAID.

THEY SUGGEST THAT THEY ARE MAKING STOPS BECAUSE THEY HAVE A SUSPICION OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY BUT THE FACT THAT WE LOOK AT THIS REPORT, IT'S BASED ENTIRELY ON THE STOP THAT THEY ARE MAKING BECAUSE THEY SAW A TRAFFIC VIOLATION AND DECIDED TO CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE FOR SIGNS OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY WHERE THERE ARE VERY RARELY ANY SIGNS.

THIS NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK APPROACH IN CHICAGO.

>> JOSE, AS YOU KNOW IN THE CURRENT MAYORAL RACE, THERE WAS A LOT OF ATTENTION PUT ON THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

HOW DOES THIS STUDY SORT OF INFORM SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MAYBE SHOULD BE ON THE TABLE?

>> I THINK WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT WHAT THE DATA IS SAYING.

WE NEED TO REALLY LISTEN TO WHAT THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE SAYING AND USE IT TO FORM POLICIES BECAUSE OFTENTIMES, THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE LEFT OUT.

IF THEY ARE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE IN THE BEGINNING WE WOULD NOT BE HERE RIGHT NOW.

>> LAUREN AND JOSE, APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

BLACK WITH MORE CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> A MURDER MYSTERY IS TAKE CENTER STAGE AT THE CIBC THEATER ON A BROADWAY PRODUCTION BASED ON A FILM FROM THE '80s.

NORM LEWIS AND HIS RENDITION OF "A SOLDIERS' PLAY.." >>> IN 1984, A DEPICTION OF A BLACK SOLDIER IN WORLD WAR II HIT THE BIG SCREEN FOLLOWING RICHARD DAVENPORT, A BLACK OFFICER SENT TO INVESTIGATE THE MURDER OF THE TROOP'S CAPTAIN.

>> LIKE IT OR NOT, I AM ALL YOU HAVE.

>> Reporter: THAT WAS NOW ADAPTED INTO "A SOLDIER'S PLAY" STARRING NORM LEWIS PLAYING DAVENPORT.

>> MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WAS THE MOVIE "A SOLDIER'S STORY" IN THE MID-80s WITH DAVID ALAN GRIER AND HOWARD ROLLINS AND MADE IT TO BROADWAY AND ALL THESE YEARS, IT WON A PULITZER PRIZE AND TOOK THAT LONG.

THERE IS A MURDER RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING.

I'M THERE TO INVESTIGATE THAT.

SO IT'S THAT ELEMENT AND IT'S SHROUDED IN RACISM.

IT'S ALSO SHROUDED IN SELF HATRED, BROTHERHOOD AND ELEMENTS OF THESE MEN WHO WANT TO FIGHT FOR THEIR COUNTRY, TO BE RESPECTED ONCE THEY COME BACK BECAUSE THEY THINK THAT THAT WILL HELP THEIR CAUSE.

AND WE KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT TRUE.

THE ENTIRE SHOW IS THROUGH MY EYES, AND I'M INTERVIEWING PEOPLE TO FIND OUT WHO DID THIS, THIS MURDER.

AND THEY ARE TELLING THEIR STORY.

>> Reporter: WHEN ASKED ABOUT VETERANS WHO CANNOT RELATE TO SERVING WHILE BLACK, LEWIS SAID THE DEPICTION OF SERVING IN VIETNAM WHILE BLACK.

>> WHAT I FOUND OUT WAS THAT WAS THE FIRST WAR THAT THERE WAS NOT A SEPARATE ARMY, NOT A BLACK AND A WHITE ARMY.

IT WAS ALL MIXED TOGETHER.

>> MY MAMA TOLD ME THAT MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL >> Reporter: WHAT ROLE DO YOU SEE PLAYING AMONGST THE AUDIENCES THAT WILL COME TO SEE THIS PREDICTION?

>> IT'S ART THAT REALLY GUIDES US AND REACHES TO THE HEART AND SOUL.

IF THEY CAN SEE SOMETHING DEPICTED ON THAT STAGE, HOPEFULLY F WE BRING THE REAL ELIMINATE AND AUTHENTICITY OF IT, HOPEFULLY, THEIR HEARTS AND MINDS WILL CHANGE OR BE INSPIRED.

>>> AND YOU CAN SEE "A SOLDIER'S PLAY" NOW THROUGH APRIL 16th.

>>> SINCE FEBRUARY 8, ENGLEWOOD ACTIVIST ALITA CLARK HAS BEEN AT CLUB 51 AND THE CLUB HAS CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF CELEBRITIES AND PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY BUT IT MIGHT NOT BE THE CLUB YOU THINK IT IS.

IT'S UNDER A VIADUCT, AND CLARK IS SPEAKING THERE EVERY NIGHT IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE, THE PEOPLE SHE COLLECTIVELY CALLS THE FRIENDS.

SHE WILL KEEP SLEEPING THERE UNTIL SHE RAISES ENOUGH MONEY TO BUILD A SHELTER.

SHE GIVES THE LAST WORD ON WHAT THE FRIENDS REALLY NEED.

>> THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE PUT ON THE POSTER BOARD FOR UNTREATED MENTAL ILLNESS, AND THEY SUFFER FROM ADDICTION, AND THEY DON'T IS HAVE JOBS SO PEOPLE LOOK AT THEM LIKE THEY IS NOTHING.

AND I AM OUT HERE, AND MY GOAL HAS BEEN TO RAISE $14000 SO FAR AND I HAVE ENCOURAGED PEOPLE TO COME OUT IN SOLIDARITY AND TELL THEM THEY ARE NOT ALONE, AND THAT'S WHY I DON'T CALL THEM HOMELESS.

I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE LOVE AND RESPECTED, AND I WANT THEM TO DO THE SAME THING AND THEY TREAT THEM WITH LOVE OR THEY NOT GOING TO BE AROUND THEM.

TELL ME HOW YOU WOULD FEEL IF PEOPLE CALLED YOU FAT OR UGLY INSTEAD OF BY YOUR NAME.

YOU COME OUT HERE AND SAY I SEEN THE HOMELESS PEOPLE AND YOU REMIND THEM INSTEAD OF SAYING WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

HEY, YOU HUNGRY?

YOU WANT SOME OF THIS?

DROPPING OFF A HALF-EATEN PLATE IS NOT HELPING.

HOW WOULD YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

I KNOW PEOPLE CAN'T BE OUT HERE BUT YOU CAN POST AND SHARE AND DONATE, AND THE FRIENDS ARE YOUR REGULAR PEOPLE AND AUNTS AND UNCLE, MOTHER, FATHERS AND BROTHERS AND THEY ARE YOU.

THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE SUPPORT YOU HAVE.

INSTEAD OF JUDGING THEM, WHY NOT HELP THEM?

SUPPORT ME AND HELP ME GET THE WORD OUT HERE.

I I AM OUT HERE GANG BANGING AND I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT HURTING PEOPLE BUT LOVING PEOPLE.

THIS IS WHAT I CALL GANG BANGING.

YOU HEAR THAT?

>> YEAH.

WE HEAR YOU.

CLARK HAS BEEN WORKING TO SUPPORT THE FRIENDS FOR YEARS BUT THIS BEGAN WHEN SHE USED DONATIONS TO BOOK A MONTH-LONG RESERVATION FOR THE GROUP AT A HOTEL AND LEARNED THAT THE HOTEL CANCELED THE RESERVATIONS.

YOU WILL FIND MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT WTTW.COM/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST ON WTTW NEWS AND IF YOU ARE WATCHING ON SATURDAY NIGHT YOU CAN CATCH BLACK CHOICE AND LATINO VOICES ON SUNDAY.

AND FOR ALL OF US HERE ON SUNDAY TONIGHT BLACK CHOICES, I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.