CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY FIFTH THIRD BANK AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

[MUSIC] >> Brandis: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, WHAT STATE GOVERNMENTS ARE DOING AND WHAT SOME THINK THEY SHOULD BE DOING TO INCREASE COVID-19 VACCINATION RATES IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

>>> LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE TO WRITERS STORMING THE CAPITAL AND WHAT CAN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL PARENTS EXPECT FOR THEIR KIDS TO RETURN TO IN PERSON LEARNING TOMORROW.

WTTW REPORTER MATT MASTERSON JOINS US TO BREAK IT DOWN.

[SINGING] >> Brandis: THE MUSICAL HUSBAND AND WIFE DUO GIVE US THE LAST WORD ON WHY THEY THINK EACH OF US HAVE SOMETHING TO GET TO OUR COMMUNITIES.

>>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT THE DAWNING OF A NEW YEAR IN THE EARLIEST VACCINE ROLLOUTS HAVE YET TO INCLUDE BILLY IMPROVE THE GRIM NUMBERS OF THE COVID-19 INFECTION AND WILL COVID-19 RATES AMONG BLACK AMERICANS ARE THE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY SKEPTICISM IS ALSO DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH.

A DECEMBER UBLICA SAY THEY DO NOT HAVE A PLAN TO ADDRESS THE HESITANCY AMONG LACK AMERICANS OR HAVE SOLID DATA ON WHO IS GETTING THE VACCINE.

JOINING US TONIGHT ARE PROPUBLICA REPORTER CAROLINE CHEN ONE OF THE AUTHORS OF THE PROPUBLICA STORY AND DR. HELEN GAYLE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST.

WELCOME BACK TO CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES.

DR. HELEN GAYLE, CAN YOU TELL US WHAT YOU ARE HEARING ABOUT HOW BLACK COMMUNITY IS RESPONDING TO THE VACCINE?

>> Guest: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US ON.

I THINK WE KNOW THERE IS A FAIR AMOUNT OF SKEPTICISM ABOUT THIS VACCINE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND STILL A WAIT AND SEE ATTITUDE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS ENCOURAGING IS AS WE GET MORE EXPERIENCED WITH THE VACCINE AS IT ROLLS OUT AND MORE PEOPLE ARE GETTING THE VACCINE SOME OF THAT HESITANCY OR LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE VACCINE IS ACTUALLY DECREASING SO I THINK IT SHOWS THAT WITH THE RIGHT KIND OF INFORMATION YOU CAN REALLY MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN HOW THE VACCINE IS USED IN THE LACK COMMUNITY AS WELL AS OTHER COMMUNITIES.

>> I WANT TO COME BACK TO THAT BUT CAROLINE CHEN THERE IS A LOT OF INSTANCES OF DISTRUST IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND MEDICAL COMMUNITY.

THERE WERE EXPERIMENTS THAT WERE CONDUCTED ON BLACK WOMEN WHO WERE ENSLAVED.

YOU POINT TO SOME MODERN EXAMPLES OF THAT.

TELL US WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED.

>> I THINK ONE THING THAT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO POINT OUT IS HAVING DONE A LOT OF INTERVIEWS AND HAVING TALK TO BOTH PATIENTS AND DOCTOR RODGERS, THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY IS NOT ONE MONOLITH.

THERE IS NOT ONE REASON FOR VACCINE HESITANCY.

SURE THERE'S PEOPLE WHO POINT TO STUDIES AND HISTORIES AS REASON TO THEIR DOUBTS OR WORRIES BUT SOME PEOPLE IT POINTS TO THEIR DISTRUST OF THE GOVERNMENT NOW.

JOSI LOOK AT THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY NOW.

LOOK AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN RECENT ENTERPRISE NOW AND ONE OF THE DOCTORS THAT I INTERVIEWED THEY SAID WE DON'T SEE PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE US AT THE RESEARCH TABLE NOW SO, WE DON'T THINK THEY HAVE OUR INTEREST IN MIND NOW.

I DO THINK THERE IS AN INCREASED AWARENESS OF THE LACK OF REPRESENTATION IN RESEARCH TRIALS AND THERE WAS ACTUALLY A REALLY REALLY BIG PRESSURE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS REPRESENTATION IN THE VACCINE TRIALS WHICH I THINK WAS REALLY GOOD.

THERE WERE PEOPLE OF EOPLE OF COLOR IN THE VACCINE TRIALS AND SO WE ARE ABLE TO POINT TO THE DATA IN THE TRIAL TO SAY THEY WEREN'T JUST WHITE PEOPLE IN THIS TRIAL WE KNOW THAT IT WAS ADVANTAGEOUS.

THERE IS STILL HESITANCY.

>> Brandis: FRIDAY MORNING THE CITY ORGANIZE A VACCINE EVENT AT A HEALTHCARE FACILITY WHERE REGISTERED NURSE TO TENE TILLERY URGED OTHERS TO GET THE VACCINE AS WELL.

>> THE TIME IS NOW TO BE A CHAMPION AND GET VACCINATED.

THIS VACCINE HAS SHOWN TO PROVIDE A GREAT DEAL OF PROTECTION AGAINST THE VIRUS AND THE MORE OF US THAT GET VACCINATED THE BETTER WE CAN PROTECT WHEN ANOTHER AND OUR RESIDENTS FROM COVID-19.

TO THOSE HEALTHCARE HEROES WHO HAVE AND WILL BE VACCINATED WE THANK YOU.

OUR RESIDENTS ARE DEPENDING ON US TO ACT IN THERE BEST INTEREST.

>> Brandis: DR. HELEN GAYLE DO YOU THINK THESE PUBLIC VACCINATIONS OR HAVING HIGH PROFILE INFLUENCE OTHERS RECEIVE THEIR VACCINE PUBLIC LATE DOES THAT INCREASE THE VACCINE UPTAKE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY?

>> Guest: THIS HAS TO BE A MULTIPRONGED CAMPAIGN IF YOU WILL.

THIS HAS TO BE AT A NATIONAL LEVEL AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GETTING THE INFORMATION OUT ABOUT THE VACCINE ABOUT WHY THEY ARE AFFECTED AND WHY THEY CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

AT THE LOCAL LEVEL THE COMMUNITY LEVEL THERE NEEDS TO BE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN WAYS THAT PEOPLE RELATE TO INFORMATION AND TO INFORMERS OR MESSENGERS THAT CAN GIVE THE MESSAGE IN WAYS THAT HAVE CREDIBILITY.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE SEE PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE US TAKE THE VACCINE BUT I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE THEY TRUST AND I THINK HOW THIS VACCINE IS ROLLED OUT WILL REALLY HELP TO BRIDGE SOME OF THE DIVIDE AND BRIDGE SOME OF THE LACK OF TRUST SO AS PEOPLE SEE OTHERS JUMPING THE LINE BEFORE THEM AND IF PEOPLE DON'T THERE IS A REAL SERIOUS EFFORT AROUND EQUITY AND MAKING SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS BORNE THE BRUNT OF THIS PANDEMIC ARE THE ONES THAT ALSO HAVE ACCESS AND PRIORITY FOR THE VACCINE.

I THINK THE MISTRUST WILL CONTINUE.

AS WE MENTIONED IT'S NOT JUST HISTORICAL IT IS CURRENT MISTRUST AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT THAT COULD BE DONE TO BRIDGE THAT DIVIDE AND BUILD THE TRUST AND BE ABLE TO HAVE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ACCESS THIS VACCINE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THERE LIFE AND THE LIVES OF THEIR FAMILY.

>> Brandis: CAROLINE, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS OF THE VACCINE AND WATER PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD?

>> Guest: THE CDC AND IT'S PLAYBOOK FOR THE STATE SAID IT WANTS THE STATE TO REPORT DATA TO THE FEDERAL AGENCIES WHICH INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE RACE AND ETHNICITY OF EVERYONE WHO'S BEEN VACCINATED.

IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY ASK EXCEPT PLEASE TELL US.

I'VE TALK TO A LOT OF PHARMACISTS WHO SAY THERE'S NOT A NEED TO HAVE BUT IT'S NICE TO HAVE IN THE SYSTEM AND IT'S REALLY NOT IN THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CDC IS HOPING TO COLLECT BUT IT ISN'T SOMETHING THAT WE KNOW WE ARE GOING TO RELIABLY BE ABLE TO GET.

THE ISSUE THAT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT HERE IS THAT WE WON'T BE ABLE TO KNOW ON A NATIONAL LEVEL AT HOW SUCCESSFUL WE ARE IN GETTING THE VACCINE TO THESE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.

I'M NOT JUST THINKING ABOUT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR BUT ALSO TO RURAL POPULATIONS AND OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVING DATA REALLY HELPS US DETERMINE HOW SUCCESSFUL WE ARE.

IT IS GOING TO DEPEND A LOT FROM STATE TO STATE.

SOME STATES HAVE MUCH MORE USE GATHERING DATA SOME DON'T HAVE THAT SORT OF SYSTEM AND WE MIGHT HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE THERE IS DIFFERENT STORIES GOING ON.

>> Brandis: IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT MORE WORK TO BE DONE.

PROPUBLICA CAROLINE CHEN AND DR. HELEN GAYLE OF CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

>> Guest: THANK YOU.

>> Brandis: UP NEXT PREPARING LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE TO THE RIOTS IN THE CAPITAL TO THE SUMMER OF THE BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTEST AND A CONVERSATION THAT WAS RECORDED EARLIER.

[MUSIC] >> Brandis: AFTER PROTESTERS, RIOTERS AND LOOTERS STORMED THE CAPITAL LAST WEEK MANY WERE LEFT WONDERING WHY CAPITAL LAW ENFORCEMENT APPEARED SO UNPREPARED.

AND, SOME ARE POINTING TO STARKLY DIFFERENT LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE IS AT BLACK LIVES MATTER DEMONSTRATION SAYING THE INSURRECTION REVEALED A DOUBLE STANDARD.

JOINING TO DISCUSS ALL OF THAT AND MORE ARE RUBEN JONATHAN MILLER A PROFESSOR AT UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND AUTHOR OF THE FORTHCOMING BOOK HALFWAY HOME, RACE, PUNISHMENT AND THE AFTERLIFE OF MASS INCARCERATION AND A SECURITY RISK MANAGEMENT FIRM WHICH IS AGENTS AND HUES COMPANY AND A RETIRED WEST SECRET SERVICE AGENT WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THE NATIONAL THREAT ASSESSMENT CENTER.

GENTLEMEN WELCOME BACK TO CHICAGO TONIGHT.

MATT, GIVEN YOUR ROLE IN THE SECRET SERVICE WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO THE STORMING OF THE CAPITAL YESTERDAY?

>> Guest: PRIOR TO THAT I WAS A U.S. CAPITAL POLICEMAN.

I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.

WHATEVER CONTINGENCY PLANS WERE IN PLACE FOR THE MAYOR TO CALL FOR THE NATIONAL GUARD AND GOT THEM TWO DAYS PRIOR, IT WAS APPALLING THAT THE ENTIRE PERIMETER SECURITY COMPLETELY BROKE DOWN.

MUST HAVE BEEN A CONTINGENCY PLAN AND WHATEVER CONTINGENCY PLAN THAT WAS IN PLACE UTTERLY FAILED.

THAT WAS MY FIRST IMPRESSION.

>> Brandis: TODAY PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN SPOKE ABOUT YESTERDAY'S EVENT.

HERE IS A QUICK LOOK AT THAT.

>> NO ONE CAN TELL ME IF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GROUP OF BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTING YESTERDAY THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN TREATED VERY, VERY DIFFERENTLY THAN THE MOB OF THUGS THAT STORMED THE CAPITAL.

>> WE SPOKE TO YOU AFTER THE CIVIL UNREST OF GEORGE FLOYD AND WHAT DIFFERENCES DO YOU SEE IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OVER THE SUMMER COMPARED TO WHAT WE SAW YESTERDAY?

>> Guest: IS NOT ONLY WHAT WE SAW ON THE NEWS BUT WHAT HAS BEEN INHERENTLY VERIFIED OF POLICE RESPONDING VERY DIFFERENTLY TO ANTI-POLICING PROTEST THAN THEY DO TO OTHER KINDS OF PROTEST.

WE KNOW THAT POLICE RESPOND VERY DIFFERENTLY TO BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTEST THAN THEY HAVE TO WRITE WING PROTESTS.

THE LATEST NUMBERS AROUND 68 ALTOGETHER ARRESTS THAT HAPPENED IN AND AROUND WHAT WE ARE CALLING IN INSURRECTION IS LIKE 58 TOTAL ARRESTS AND WE KNOW THERE WERE OVER 300 AT THE LAST BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTEST JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO IN D.C..

THIS MIRRORS IN STARK WAYS THE 5 TO ONE RACIAL DISPARITY THAT WE KNOW EXISTS IN INCARCERATION RATES IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE DIFFERENCE IT IS IS THAT POLICE MEET BLACK PROTESTERS WITH GREATER FORCE AND A DIFFERENT KIND OF SENSE OF VICTORY BUT THE COVERAGE OF THE BLACK PROTEST LOOK VERY DIFFERENCE RECALL IT RIOTING AND LOOTING AND THINGS WERE STOLEN OUT OF THE CAPITAL AND WINDOWS WERE BROKEN BUT WERE NOT USING THAT KIND OF LANGUAGE WITH THE SAME SPEED IN RELATION TO THESE PROTESTS.

>> Brandis: MATT, WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF RESPONSE AND FORCES THAT WERE DEPLOYED YESTERDAY VERSES ANY BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTEST?

>> Guest: I THINK RUBEN BRINGS UP A GREAT POINT THE SECRET SERVICE HAS PRIDED THEMSELVES OF BEING APOLITICAL.

I PUT MY LIFE ON THE LINE FOR A YEAR IN THE 80S PROTECTING REVEREND JACKSON AS HE RAN FOR PRESIDENT.

MORE OF MY THEME IS WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN?

WAS IT AN INTELLIGENCE ANALYSIS OF DEMONSTRATIONS?

OBVIOUSLY BLACK LIVES MATTER PREDOMINANTLY HAS A PEACEFUL MISSION OF REFORMING POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

THE TRUMP RALLY HAS A LOT OF VITRIOL AND ESCALATION BUT PREDOMINANTLY THOSE WERE LAW ABIDING CITIZENS, TOO.

WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A GOOD ANALYSIS OF WHAT I CALL INFILTRATORS IN DEMONSTRATIONS THEY TOTALLY DISRUPT THE PEACEFUL MISSION AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT THAT CERTAINLY BLACK LIVES MATTER JUST LIKE A TRUMP RALLY HAS THE RIGHT FOR A PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY AS GUARANTEED IN THE CONSTITUTION.

I THINK THERE IS A LACK A SEVERE FAILURE OF INTELLIGENCE GATHERING TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE WITH VIOLENT TENDENCIES IN THOSE TRUMP RALLIES MARCHING UP TO THE CAPITAL.

CERTAINLY THE RHETORIC DIDN'T HELP ANY BUT SOME VALID POINTS BY RUBEN.

>> Brandis: FORMER FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA REALLY STATEMENTS HER THOUGHTS ON YESTERDAY'S EVENTS ALSO COMPARING IT TO BLACK LIVES MATTER TESTS WHICH WERE OVERWHELMINGLY PEACEFUL AND SHE SAID IN PART " IN YET CITY AFTER CITY DAY AFTER DAY WE SAW PEACEFUL PROTESTERS MET WITH BRUTE FORCE.

CRACKED SCHOOLS, MASS ARRESTS, LAW ENFORCEMENT PEPPER SPRAYING IT'S WAY THROUGH A PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION.

[INDISCERNABLE] HOW WAS THE TREATMENT BY LAW ENFORCEMENT DIFFERENT YESTERDAY?

>> Guest: I THINK WE SAW A KIND OF LENIENCY FROM THE SHOTS THAT WERE CAPTURED ON BEHALF OF CAPITAL POLICE AND AS WE DISCUSSED A SECOND AGO, THE SHEER NUMBERS.

IF WE THINK ABOUT EMPIRICALLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED.

HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED, HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE CHARGES BEEN ABOUT, START DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THESE.

>> Brandis: MATT, OBVIOUSLY IT WAS HORRIBLE YESTERDAY.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORST BUT TERRORISTS WHEN THEY LOOK AT THIS DO THEY SEE VULNERABILITY?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> Guest: NO DOUBT ABOUT IT AND FROM A SECURITY PERSPECTIVE THE WHITE HOUSE IS NOT A PUBLIC HOUSE.

YOU GIVE TOURS THEY HAVE TO BE BY APPOINTMENT AND BY NAME AND IS OUR LEGISLATOR A PUBLIC HOUSE A PUBLIC FACILITY.

I THINK THAT PREDOMINANTLY AT THE CAPITAL ARE GOING TO INSIST IT STAY OPEN BUT AGAIN IT WAS APPALLING HOW THE OUTER PERIMETER AND INNER PERIMETER, IT'S NOT LOST ON ME THAT YOU DIDN'T SEE THE NATIONAL GUARD REALLY DEPLOYED UNTIL THERE WAS A RESPONSE.

I THINK DEFINITELY I CAN AGREE WITH RUBEN I WOULD HAVE WANTED TO SEE A LOT MORE ARRESTS AROUND THE OUTER PERIMETER FOR THAT CLEARLY UNLAWFUL ACTIVITY.

AND NOW, BY MEDIA REPORTS THERE WERE FOUR DEATHS.

CLEARLY UNCALLED FOR, A LACK OF SECURITY PLAN AND THE SPACE IT.

POLICE RESPONSIBILITY SHOULD BE PUBLIC SAFETY.

THEIR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY PUBLIC SAFETY OF PEACEFUL, LAW-ABIDING PEOPLE WHO ARE ASSEMBLING AS IS THEIR RIGHT TO THE CONSTITUTION.

I DO THINK THE CAPITAL POLICE ON THE INNER PERIMETER WERE VERY HEROIC.

ONCE THE INNER PERIMETER BREAKS DOWN IN SECRET SERVICE TERMINOLOGY AND GUNS COME OUT THE SECURITY HAS FAILED.

BUT THEY WERE HEROIC IN EVACUATING PEOPLE AND INSURING CONGRESSMEN AND STAFF WERE NOT HARMED HERE AND CERTAINLY, THE PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE LAST YEAR REALLY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO BE PROTECTED AS THEY ARE LAWFULLY ASSEMBLING IN THERE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.

NONE OF US I'M SURE WOULD AGREE THAT WE ARE CONDONING THIS ILLEGAL ACTIVITY BY SOME PEOPLE OUT OF THE MANY THAT ARE PEACEFULLY ASSEMBLING.

>> Brandis: I'M SURE THERE'S A LOT OF SECURITY TO CONSIDER AS WE APPROACH INAUGURATION IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

MY THANKS TO JONATHAN MILLER AND OTHERS FOR JOINING US.

MORE WITH CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES BUT FIRST WITH PARIS SCHUTZ AND WHAT'S ON TAP TOMORROW.

NEXT GRANDIS, WE HAVE A LOT PLANNED ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

WE ARE LIVE IN SPRINGFIELD.

WILL A NEW LEGISLATION BRING A NEW SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE?

IT MASSIVE OVERHAUL OF THE RED AND PURPLE LINES ON THE NORTH SIDE.

THAT'S THIS WEEK AT 7:00.

BRANDIS, BACK TO YOU.

>> Brandis: PARIS, THANK YOU.

THE FIRST TIME IN 10 MONTHS CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE SET TO RETURN TO THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS THROUGH MONTHS OF WRANGLING BETWEEN THE DISTRICT AND CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION.

THE MAJORITY OF WHICH IS OPPOSED TO RETURNING TO IN PERSON LEARNING.

THERE IS THE MAYOR ON FRIDAY IN ADVANCE OF TOMORROW'S REOPENING.

>> THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, HOWEVER, THAT IT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.

NOT OVER THE LONG-TERM.

BECAUSE, IT DOES NOT SERVE EVERY STUDENT EQUALLY.

ESPECIALLY THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE YOUNGER, WHO REQUIRE SUPPORT, OR SIMPLY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO A SUSTAINABLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

>> Brandis: WTTW REPORTER MATT MASTERSON HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE STORY AND JOINS US NOW.

MATT, WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN TOMORROW WHEN SOME STUDENTS RETURN TO THEIR SCHOOL BUILDING?

>> Guest: WE KNOW THAT THE FIRST COHORT OF STUDENTS GOING BACK TOMORROW IS PRE-K AND SPECIAL EDUCATION CLUSTER STUDENTS.

NOT EVERYONE WITHIN THOSE GROUPS, JUST SPECIFIC ONES.

SO, C.P.S.

SAID THIS IS BEING DONE WITH SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WITH MASK WEARING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING AND THEY ARE TAKING ADDITIONAL STEPS TO PROTECT STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS FROM COVID-19.

THE BIGGER QUESTION IS HOW MANY TEACHERS AND STAFF ARE GOING TO SHOW UP.

OF ABOUT 6000 EDUCATORS AND STAFFERS WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE ON MONDAY ONLY 60 PERCENT SHOWED UP.

C.P.S.

SAID THAT NUMBER GREW THROUGH THE WEEK AND ONLY GREW TO 65 PERCENT AS OF THURSDAY.

THE TEACHER SPECIFICALLY THAT WAS 1200 OUT OF THE 2000 THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE ON THURSDAY ACTUALLY SHOWED UP.

>> Brandis: AS YOU AND I SPOKE ABOUT THIS ON FRIDAY WE KNOW THAT THE PO HAS BEEN RESISTANT TO RETURNING TO THE BUILDING.

HERE IS THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SPEAKING OF THE REASON THEY ARE RETURNING.

>> YOU HAVE THE CITY COUNCIL, SCHOOL COUNCILS ACROSS THE CITY AND TEACHERS AND NATIONALS AND CLINICIANS TELLING YOU THAT WE NEED THESE AGENCIES PAID WHAT THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO DO IS MAKE A PLAN TO THE BENEFIT OF ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS AND TELL US TO TRUST THEM.

WHAT MANY MEMBERS ARE FINDING WHEN THEY COME INTO THE SCHOOLS IS THAT YOU CANNOT TRUST THEM BECAUSE ALL THE MITIGATION FACTORS THAT THEY HAVE SAID ARE NOT THERE.

>> Brandis: MATT, THE TEACHER UNION DISPUTES JANICE JACKSON CLAIMS THAT THE WILL THINGS ALREADY.

WHAT DO YOU HEAR?

Guest: THEY DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO A SCHOOL BUILDING WITH COVID-19 STILL GOING ON.

THEY WANT TO BE INSURED THAT CERTAIN SAFETY PROTOCOLS ARE ENFORCED, THEY WANT STAFF TESTING, AND THEY WANT TO RELIANCE ON EIGHT RELIABLE PUBLIC HEALTH METRICS ON WHEN IT'S SAFE TO OPEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AGAIN.

THE UNION ON FRIDAY SAID TEACHERS WHO HAVE SHOWN UP ALREADY THIS WEEK RAN INTO CLEANLINESS ISSUES STEMMING FROM A LACK OF PPE TO A LACK OF HAND SANITIZER AND THINGS THAT THEY ALREADY HAD RECEIVED AT THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

>> Brandis: WE HAD A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN ON A ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW WITH JANICE JACKSON LAST WEEK.

LET'S HEAR ABOUT WHAT SHE SAID ABOUT THE REOPENING.

>> LET'S NOT FORGET THAT INDIVIDUALS WERE WORKING IN THE BUILDING SINCE SPRING.

PRINCIPLES, JANITORIAL STAFF, WE HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTING THESE PROTOCOLS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

OBVIOUSLY THAT IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAT WE DO IT WILL BECAUSE CHILDREN WILL BE COMING BACK TO THE BUILDING AND EVERYBODY SHARES IN THIS EXCITEMENT BUT ALSO THE DISK CONCERN THAT WE HAVE TO DO THIS RIGHT BECAUSE THE STAKES ARE SO HIGH.

>> Brandis: MATT, I APOLOGIZE WE ONLY HAVE 10 MINUTES BUT WHAT DOES THE DESERT SAY ABOUT THE TEACHERS WHO DO NOT REPORT HE MET.

>> Guest: THEY WILL WARN THEM OF THEIR EXPECTATION TO BE THERE.

THE DISTRICT SAID THAT PEOPLE WHO DON'T SHOW UP WILL FACE PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE AND ON FRIDAY THEY SAID THOSE WHO DON'T SHOW UP AGAIN ON MONDAY WILL BE DEEMED A WALL AND THAT CAN BE REMEDIED AS SOON AS THEY COME BACK TO WORK BUT FOR NOW THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT IF THEY DON'T SHOW UP.

>> Brandis: I WANT TO MENTION THAT ON MONDAY CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL EDUCATION COMMITTEE IS HAVING A MEETING ABOUT THIS VERY THING.

MATT MASTERSON, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

MAC FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC SHUTDOWN THROUGH FOURTH OF JULY IS 105 DAYS STRAIGHT SNOW, RAIN, SHINE, EDUCATORS JEAN-PAUL COFFY AND YAKINI AJANAKU-COFFY MADE THEIR PORCH A MUSICAL COMMUNION FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS.

TONIGHT THEY GIVE US THE LAST WORD ON HOW THEY BELIEVE WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING TO CONTRIBUTE IN DIFFICULT TIMES.

>> I AM JEAN-PAUL COFFY.

>> I AM YAKINI AJANAKU-COFFY.

>> WE CREATED A PROGRAM CALLED MUSIC MAGIC TIME AND WE GET FIRED UP WHERE WE COME OUT HERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND PROVIDE SOME UPLIFTING, ENERGETIC MUSIC FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE KNOW THAT MUSIC IS A UNIFYING FORCE AND IS REALLY BROUGHT ALL OF US TOGETHER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> WHAT WE LEARNED IS UNLIKE MOST PEOPLE THAT COVID-19 SEPARATED THEM AND ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORS BROUGHT US TOGETHER.

THIS IS A TIME TO DIG DEEP AND GIVE.

GIVE OF YOURSELF.

WHEN WE DO THAT THE WORLD LOOKS LIKE A BETTER PLACE.

WE DO THIS MUSIC.

TO MUSIC WE LEARN.

TO MUSIC WE LAUGH AND TO MUSIC WE LOVE.

WE ARE HONORED TO BE THE AMBASSADORS SO TO SPEAK OF CONSCIOUS MUSIC WITH A MESSAGE TO HEAL AND TO ENTERTAIN BUT MOSTLY TO LOVE.

>> LIFE IS STILL HERE EVEN THOUGH THE PANDEMIC IS TRYING TO CRIPPLE EVERYTHING BUT WE ARE STILL HERE AND WE STILL HAVE TO MAKE IT WORK.

WE ARE STILL DOING THIS PROGRAM ONLINE.

WE HAVE THIS MUSIC TIME WHERE THE MUSIC IS STILL GOING ON FOR THE CHILDREN THAT WE PLAY MUSIC EVERY DAY WITH THE KIDS THAT BRING THEIR INSTRUMENT AND SING ONLINE AND IT IS A POSITIVE ENERGY.

WE FEEL ANGUISH AND ANXIETY AND THE BEST THING WE CAN ALL DO IS STAY POSITIVE, BE POSITIVE AND ALSO GIVE WHATEVER YOU CAN GIVE.

AND IN OUR CASE WE ARE MUSICIANS SO OUR GIFT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS MUSIC.

>> WE ASK EVERYONE WHAT CAN YOU DO DURING THIS TIME SO WHEN YOU LOOK BACK YOU CAN SAY OH WOW, WE DID SOME THING.

EACH PERSON THAT YOU ENCOUNTERED, THEY MATTER.

YOU CAN SAY HEY, HOW ARE YOU?

A SMILE UNDER THE MASK.

YOU SEE THEM AND THEY MATTER EACH INDIVIDUAL THAT YOU TOUCH AND I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT.

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL, YOU MATTER AND WE NEED YOU.

>> YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT THEIR SUMMER OF MUSIC ON OUR WEBSITE AND WHILE YOU ARE THERE YOU CAN WATCH A FEW MORE OF OUR LAST WORLD SERIES.

THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS SUNDAY NIGHT.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FROM THE VERY LATEST ON WTTW NEWS INCLUDING THE VERY INFORMATION ON THE STATES COVID-19 VACCINE ROLLOUT.

AND, JOIN PARIS SCHUTZ AND ME TOMORROW NIGHT ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

ALL OF US AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF OUR WEEKEND.

STAY HEALTHY.

[MUSIC]