>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES.

I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN .

TONIGHT , IN THE WAKE OF THE SUPREME COURT DECISION IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, A LOOK AT THE ROAD AHEAD FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.

>>> A NEW LAWSUIT ALLEGES POLICE ARE STOPPING BLACK AND LATINO DRIVERS MORE IN TRAFFIC STOPS.

>>> CELEBRATING AFRICAN AND CARIBBEAN CULTURE.

>> I HAD NOT PLANNED TO DO ANY OF THIS.

>> Reporter: AN EXHIBITIONIST PORTRAIT AND PERSONALITY OF GAY BLACK MEN IN CHICAGO IN THE 1980s.

>>> FIRST, COLLEGE ADMISSIONS IMPACT AFTER AFFIRMATIVE ACTION WAS REVERSED.

RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT : BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THESE DONORS.

>> WE BELIEVE WHEN DIVERSE VOICES ARE HEARD , COMMUNITIES CAN BE STRONGER.

THAT IS WHY WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES , TOGETHER , WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND DRIVE CHANGE.

>> THE SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS , A POLICY THAT HAS WITHSTOOD CHALLENGES GOING BACK TO 1978.

JUSTICE JACKSON CALLED THE DECISION A TRAGEDY, SAYING, WITH OBLIVIOUSNESS , THE MAJORITY PULLED THE REPORT AND ANNOUNCED : IS FOR ALL BUT THE MAIN RACE IRRELEVANT IN LAW DOES NOT MAKE IT SO IN LIFE.

HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS WISHING TO ACHIEVE DIVERSITY STUDENT BODIES NEED TO FIND A NEW WAY FORWARD.

JOINING US IS CHRISTIAN PERRY WITH THE PARTNERSHIP FOR COLLEGE , NICHOLAS JONES, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS SYSTEM, AND PROFESSOR OF LAW AND ASSOCIATE DEAN OF RESEARCH AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

PAUL, GIVE US A HISTORY ON HOW AFFIRMATIVE ACTION CAME TO BE.

>> THE COURT , IN THE LATE 1970s, ULTIMATELY , IN THE EARLY 2000'S, ARTICULATING THIS THEORY , ACCORDING TO WHICH, EVEN THOUGH THEY 14th AMENDMENT REQUIRES A STATE NOT ENGAGE IN ACTION THAT IS CONSCIOUS OF RACE.

YOU CAN DO SO AFTER THE STATE HAS A COMPELLING INTEREST TO DO SO.

THE COURT ARGUED UNTIL YESTERDAY , SOLIDLY ACCEPTING THE IDEA THAT EDUCATIONAL DIVERSITY IS A COMPELLING INTEREST.

THE IDEA OF HAVING EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS THAT INCLUDE PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT KINDS OF BACKWARDS -- BACKGROUNDS , DIFFERENT RACIAL GROUPS AND OTHER TYPES OF PEOPLE UNDERREPRESENTED IN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

THE IDEA -- GO AHEAD.

>> WE JUST HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT JUSTICE JACKSON SAID.

THIS IS ABOUT THE CARVEOUT FOR MILITARY CARVEOUTS, RACIAL DIVERSITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION THEY SAY IS ONLY WITH POTENTIALLY PRESERVING IN SO FAR AS IT MIGHT BE NEEDED TO PREPARE BLACK AMERICANS AND OTHER UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES FOR SUCCESS IN THE BUNKER, NOT THE BOARDROOM.

CHRISTIAN PERRY, WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU?

>> AS A NAVY VETERAN, 13 YEARS, IT HITS MY YEARS INTERESTINGLY , THE CHIEF JUSTICE COULD CARVEOUT FOR DISTINCT INTEREST OF MILITARY INSTITUTIONS AND SAY THAT IS GOOD FOR OUR MEN AND WOMEN SERVING IN UNIFORM BUT NOT GOOD FOR OUR ELITE INSTITUTIONS IN THE COUNTRY.

I THINK IT IS HYPOCRISY.

>> NICK, THIS RULING WAS NOT UNEXPECTED.

DOES YOUR INSTITUTION, THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, DO YOU HAVE PLANS IN PLACE TO MOVE FORWARD TO MAINTAIN A DIVERSE STUDENT BODY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE BEEN ANTICIPATING THIS OUTCOME FOR SOME TIME.

THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS SYSTEM CORE BELIEFS REMAIN UNCHANGED.

A RULING WE ARE NOT CRAZY ABOUT AT ALL.

BUT OUR MISSION IS TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

THAT IS ALL CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE DOING THAT.

IF IT MEANS WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK UP ALL OF OUR PRACTICES AND MAKE SURE WE FOLLOW THE LAW, THAT COMMITMENT IS ROBUST.

>> PAUL, YOU SAID IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER WHAT THE RULE DOES NOT PREVENT SCHOOLS FROM DOING, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> ALL THE CASES CONSIDERED , THE SPECIFIC ADMISSIONS POLICIES THE COURT CLAIMED COULD MAKE RACE AND RACE ALONE DETERMINE THE OF ADMISSION.

THE COURT SPECIFICALLY SAID YOU COULD STILL THINK ABOUT RACE IN INDIVIDUAL CASES IF A STUDENT SAYS HE HAS A STORY OF HOW RACE INTERACTED WITH SOME OTHER QUALITIES .

THAT IS OKAY TO ADMISSIONS USE.

IF THEY SAID HOW THEY OVERCAME RACIAL DISSEMINATION.

THE UNIVERSITY CAN CONSIDER THAT .

THE COURT DECISION ALSO ROLLS OUT PIPELINE PROGRAMS , TRYING TO INCREASE APPLICANTS FROM ALL KINDS OF BACKGROUNDS.

>> CHRISTIAN, DO YOU ANTICIPATE INCREASED PRESSURE ON HIGHER EDUCATION TO CONSIDER LEGACY ADMISSIONS AS A RESULT OF THIS DECISION?

>> WE ARE CONCERNED WITH MAKING SURE COLLEGES DO NOT OVERREACT .

THINKING THAT THEY HAVE TO BE OVERLY LEGALISTIC AND HOW THEY INTERPRET THIS , BUT ARE INTENTIONAL ABOUT EXPANDING THEIR EFFORTS TO AFFIRM DIVERSITY IN THE CLASSROOM.

THERE WILL BE SOME INSTITUTIONS THAT TAKE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY AND WE HOPE THAT HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND STATE LEGISLATURES LEAN IN AND FIGHT BACK.

>> NIC JONES, WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE A RACIALLY DIVERSE STUDENT BODY?

>> FOR TWO PRIMARY REASONS, WE WANT OUR STUDENT BODY TO REFLECT THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

WE ARE A INSTRUMENTALITY OF THE STATE AND WE SHOULD HAVE A STUDENT POPULATION THAT REFLECTS THAT.

SECOND, OUR STUDENTS LEARN BEST AND THE MOST , MOST EFFECTIVELY, IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY ARE EXPOSED TO A BROAD DIVERSITY OF PEOPLE AND PERSPECTIVES.

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, HAVING THAT DIVERSITY IN THE CLASSROOM IS CRITICAL TO OUR SUCCESS.

>> YOU HAVE SAID THAT DIVERSITY ALONE IS NOT A VERY GOOD REASON FOR RACE CONSCIOUS ADMISSIONS.

EXPLAIN THAT AND WHAT YOU BELIEVE ARE THE BETTER REASONS .

>> ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY CLAIMED MANY YEARS AGO , WHAT THE DIVERSITY RATIONALE DOES, THE INCLUSION OF PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND COMMISSIONS IT ON THEIR PRESENCE BEING IN SERVICE TO THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY INCLUDED.

REALISTICALLY , WHAT THE REAL ISSUE IS, THERE IS A CONTINUING CONSEQUENCE OF GOVERNMENT DISCRIMINATION , THE GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATED IN RACIAL SEGREGATION AGAINST PEOPLE OF COLOR BEING DISPROPORTIONATELY LOCATED IN COMMUNITIES WITH UNDER RESOURCED SCHOOLS , STARTING 20 FEET BEHIND THE STARTING LINE IN MANY CASES.

WHAT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION CAN DO IS RECTIFY THAT AS A MATTER OF JUSTICE , AND ALLOW UNIVERSITIES TO IDENTIFY STUDENTS WHO HAVE JUST AS MUCH ABILITY AS THE STUDENTS WHO STARTED WITH THE ADVANTAGES -- >> CONTINUE.

>> IT IDENTIFY STUDENTS WHO HAVE ABILITY AND MAKES SURE THAT IS AVAILABLE .

>> I SEE YOU NODDING.

WHAT CAN THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS DO TO ENSURE A DIVERSE STUDENT BODY.

>> I APPRECIATE THE METAPHOR ABOUT STARTING 20 FEET BEHIND THE STARTING LINE OUR FOCUS IS BRINGING TO THE STUDENTS PEOPLE WHO CAN SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATE FROM OUR INSTITUTION.

IT CHALLENGES US TO THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT HOW WE DO ADMISSIONS.

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT AND PRESENTING THAT .

FOCUSING ON THOSE TALENTED PEOPLE WHO NEED THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

THAT IS WHAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO DOING.

>> CHRISTIAN PERRY , HOW MAY THIS IMPACT THE DIVERSITY OF THE APPLICANT ?

>> IF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS ARE VIGILANT IN MAKING SURE THEY ARE MAKING THOSE BARRIERS LESS SO, LIKE MYSELF, I WENT TO A PREDOMINATELY WHITE INSTITUTION, I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD CONFIDENCE TO OVERCOME THOSE BARRIERS AS A BLACK MAN, EVEN AT 22 , WE HAVE TO BE INNOVATIVE AND DETERMINED THAT ALL THOSE BARRIERS ARE ELIMINATED.

>> THANK YOU ALL .

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>>> NEXT, AN EXHIBITION OF PORTRAITS AND PERSONALITIES IN A GALLERY AT LINCOLN PARK.

♪ >>> CHICAGO NATIVE PATRICK WORK AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST FOR THE EPA FOR DECADES AND IN HIS FREE TIME HE DOCUMENTED THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND HIM, TAKING PICTURES EVERY DAY DURING MUCH OF THE 1980s .

AN EXHIBITION OF HIS PHOTOGRAPHS OFFERS A LOOK AT GAY BLACK MEN IN THAT DECADE, A WINDOW INTO THE COMMUNITY OFTEN OVERLOOKED AND STEREOTYPED.

>> PATRICK GREW UP AROUND PICTURES .

HIS FATHER WAS A PAINTER AND THE PHOTOGRAPHER .

>> I DID NOT WANT TO BECOME A PHOTOGRAPHER AND WORK WITH THE DIALS.

>> Reporter: HE LIKES TAKING PICTURES, WORKING WITH A SIMPLE POINT AND SHOOT IN THE 1960s AND 1970s.

>> ONE OF MY FRIENDS WHO WORKED AT A CAMERA STORE , HE SAID, YOU NEED TO STEP UP.

>> Reporter: HE GOT A 35MM CAMERA.

HE MADE A DEAL WITH HIMSELF.

>> CARRIED THE CAMERA WITH YOU EVERY DAY AND TAKE AT LEAST ONE PHOTOGRAPH EVERY DAY.

>> Reporter: HE CARRIED THE CAMERA AROUND EVERYWHERE , FROM HIS HOME IN SOUTH SHORE TO HIS JOB.

>> WHEN I WOULD GO TO THE DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS, SOMEBODY WOULD CALL OUT , "TAKE MY PICTURE."

>> Reporter: THAT WAS PART OF THE DEAL WITH HIMSELF, HE TAKE A PICTURE OF ANYONE WHO ASKED.

HE DEVELOPED THEM AND CARRIED THEM IN HIS BACKPACK THE NEXT DAY.

>> I WOULD GIVE THEM THE PHOTOGRAPH.

THEY WERE BLOWN AWAY.

>> Reporter: HE GOT TO KNOW PEOPLE , OFTEN TAKING THE PICTURE MULTIPLE TIMES.

MANY WERE REGULARS AT THE SOUTH LOOP.

>> WE CALLED IT THE STAR WARS BAR.

>> Reporter: PEOPLE LIVING IN HOMELESS SHELTERS, DOWNTOWN BUSINESSMEN, DRAG QUEENS, THE CROWD WAS MOSTLY GAY BLACK MEN.

>> IT WAS LIKE CHEERS.

REPORTED HE NEVER POSED HIS SUBJECTS WHICH ALLOWED THE PERSONALITY TO SHINE THROUGH.

>> WE GO BEYOND THE STEREOTYPES OVER THE LAST 100+ YEARS.

>> IT IS A SLICE OF BLACK AMERICAN LIFE.

>> Reporter: THIS ARTIST CURATED THE SHOW AND HAS KNOWN HIM FOR DECADES AND HELPED HIM BRING -- THEMES STARTED TO EMERGE.

>> THE IDEA OF BLACK MEN AND THE FASHION.

THAT WAS THE 1980s.

NOTHING SHORT OF SPECTACULAR.

>> Reporter: AS THE 1980s GAVE WAY TO THE 1990s, HE FELT LESS SAFE CARRYING HIS CAMERA WITH CRACK AND AIDS TAKING A HEAVY TOLL.

>> THIS IS A SMALL SELECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS.

I KNOW PEOPLE WHO SUCCUMBED TO THE DISEASE.

>> Reporter: THESE PHOTOGRAPHS COME WITH NOSTALGIA AND SADNESS , BUT ALSO A SENSE OF PRIDE.

>> SEEING THIS BEAUTIFUL IMAGERY OF THAT TIME FROM A BLACK PERSPECTIVE , THAT FEELS GOOD TO ME.

>>> TAKE MY PICTURE IS THAT THE RIGHT WOULD 659 GALLERY IN LINCOLN PARK THROUGH JULY 15th.

>>> BLACK AND LATINO DRIVERS ARE BEING DISPROPORTIONATELY TARGETED FOR TRAFFIC STOPS BY THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT ACCORDING TO A NEW FEDERAL LAWSUIT FILED BY THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION.

THEY SAY TRAFFIC STOPS SURGED 600% BETWEEN 2015 AND 2022 AND THAT MOST OF THOSE STOPS WERE OF BLACK AND BROWN RESIDENTS.

LATINO DRIVERS TWO TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE STOPPED THAN WHITE DRIVERS AND BLACK FOUR TO SEVEN TIMES MORE LIKELY.

JOINING US ARE A MARINE CORPS VETERAN AND ONE OF THE PLAINTIFFS IN THE CASE ALEXANDER, SR. ATTORNEY OF ACLU OF ILLINOIS WHERE SHE FOCUSES ON THE CRIMINAL SYSTEM IN CHICAGO.

AND ERIC , A RESIDENT AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZER.

HE IS ALSO A PLAINTIFF.

WE REACHED OUT TO THE CITY LAW DEPARTMENT BUT THEY DECLINED TO COMMENT CITING CITY POLICY OF NOT DISCUSSING PENDING LITIGATION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TELL US ABOUT THE BACKGROUND OF THIS CASE AND HOW THE ACLU CAME TO BE INVOLVED .

>> THIS CASE RESULTED FROM DECADES OF THE CHICAGO POSTPONEMENT DISPROPORTIONATELY TARGETING BLACK AND LATINO PEOPLE FOR STOPS.

FORCED IT WAS PEDESTRIAN STOPS.

AS YOU MENTIONED, THE REASON THE TRAFFIC STOP LAWSUIT FOCUSES ON 2016 TO THE PRESENT , BECAUSE IN 2015, THE ACLU REACHED A SETTLEMENT WITH THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT ELECTED -- HAD A DECLINE IN STOP AND FRISK.

SINCE THEN, 2016 , THEY REPLACED THAT PEDESTRIAN STOP AND FRISK WITH DISCRIMINATORY TRAFFIC STOPS.

IN THE LAST SIX YEARS , THE CHICAGO POLICE FOR HAS DONE 2.6 MILLION TRAFFIC STOPS, OVER 75% ARE OF BLACK AND LATINO DRIVERS.

>> OFTEN NOT LEADING TO A TICKET OR A CITATION.

>> THEY STOP SOMEONE FOR A LOW-LEVEL ALLEGED VIOLATION , EXPIRED REGISTRATION TAG, A CRACKED TAIL LIGHT.

THE POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING.

THEY ARE USING THAT AS AN EXCUSE TO SEARCH CARS AND BLACK AND BROWN DRIVERS.

THEY LOOK FOR GUNS OR DRUGS.

IN 99.5% OF THESE STOPS , THEY DON'T FIND ANYTHING.

IT LEAVES PEOPLE TARGETED AND FEELING DISCRIMINATED.

>> ERIC , YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED BEING STOPPED BY POLICE .

HOW OFTEN DO YOU GET PULLED OVER AND SOME OF THE REASONS OFFICERS GIVE YOU?

>> ON AVERAGE, I GET PULLED OVER THREE TIMES PER YEAR.

THE MOST RECENT WAS JUST LAST SUMMER WHEN THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT READ MY LICENSE PLATE.

IT TURNED INTO , I DID NOT SIGNAL , DID NOT TURN , WHERE IS YOUR PISTOL BECAUSE YOU HAVE A FOREIGN CAR ?

IT IS A LOT OF B.S.

WHEN THEY SEARCH MY VEHICLE.

>> WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE AND WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER POLICE OFFICERS, WHAT IS THEIR BEHAVIOR TOWARDS YOU?

>> I GET PULLED OVER , THEY DON'T GIVE ME A REASON.

THEY NEVER ASKED FOR MY INSURANCE OR REGISTRATION , THEY ONLY WANT TO SEE MY DRIVERS LICENSE.

OFTENTIMES , IT FEELS HOSTILE AND AGGRESSIVE.

THEY WILL APPROACH MY CAR WITH HER HANDS ON THE HOLSTER.

IT IS ESCALATING RIGHT AWAY.

I STARTED GETTING NERVOUS.

WHEN THEY ASKED ME , WHY ARE YOU NERVOUS?

BECAUSE YOUR HEAD IS ON THE GUN.

NOT KNOWING THE REASONS I AM GETTING PULLED OVER.

THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A GUN.

I TELL THEM I DO NOT HAVE IT ON ME.

THEY WANT TO DO A SEARCH AND OFTENTIMES I WANT TO GET THE SITUATION OVER WITH AND I WILL AGREE, SOMETIMES I DON'T.

IT NEVER RESULTS IN A TICKET OR AN ARREST.

THEY NEVER FIND ANY CONTRABAND.

THAT HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR AND HE GETS FRUSTRATING.

WE CANNOT MOVE AROUND THE CITY WITHOUT BEING ARRESTED.

>> HAS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFERED AN EXPLANATION OF WHY THERE IS A DISPARITY IN THE NUMBER OF STOPS FOR BLACK AND LATINO RESIDENTS ?

>> NO.

EVERY YEAR THAT THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PUBLISHES THE PHYSICAL DATA ON THIS RACIAL AND ETHNIC DISPARITY , THE ACLU HAS CALLED ON THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT TO TRY TO EXPLAIN AND JUSTIFY, BUT WE HAVE NEVER SEEN A JUSTIFICATION.

WE HEARD PUBLIC STATEMENTS FROM LORI MY FOOT AND SUPERINTENDENT BROWN , CLAIMING THEY ARE DOING THE TRAFFIC STOPS TO COMBAT CRIME.

WHAT WE SHOW IN THIS LAWSUIT IS THAT IT IS NOT EFFECTIVE IN COMBATING CRIME.

ALMOST NONE OF THE TRAFFIC STOPS RESULT IN AN ARREST, THEY DON'T EVEN RESULT IN TRAFFIC TICKETS HALF THE TIME.

THEY ARE FINDING WEAPONS IN .005% OF THE TRAFFIC STOPS THEY ARE DOING.

IT IS NOT MAKING THE CITY SAFER, IT UNDERMINES PUBLIC SAFETY, BECAUSE AS THEY WERE EXPLAINING , IT LEAVES PEOPLE FEELING TARGETED BY THE POLICE AND UNWILLING TO COOPERATE IN THE FUTURE IF THEY NEED POLICE PROTECTION.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE REDUCTION IN INVESTIGATORY STOPS AFTER THEY SAID THEY WOULD STOP STOP AND FRISK , BUT THE DATA SHOWED AFTER THAT THERE WAS A SURGE IN THE NUMBER OF TRAFFIC STOPS.

ERIC , WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DO THESE MASS STOPS HAVE ON THE COMMUNITY AND RELATIONSHIP WITH POLICE?

>> THE BOTTOM LINE, IT IS SIMILAR TO THE DAYS OF OLD WHERE YOU HAD YOUR OWN ON A PLANTATION, THE WORKERS OUT HERE , AND I WAS TAUGHT -- MY DAD WOULD SAY, SAY, YES, SIR, NO, SIR , AND LET THEM DO WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.

THAT MAKES THE COMMUNITY MAD.

I AM A GROWN MAN WITH KIDS , TWO BLACK YOUNG MALES.

I DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM GOING TO THE SAME THING, WHEN I WAS IN -- A PARAPLEGIC WHEN I GOT INJURED, I HAD TO FUMBLE FOR WHEELCHAIR.

IT IS DEGRADING.

IT IS SENSELESS AND NOT FAIR.

THEY DON'T DO IT TO WHITE PEOPLE.

IT IS A PATTERN THAT CONTINUES TO GO ON AND ON AND ON.

WE DON'T HAVE TO.

I THINK THE ACLU FOR TAKING A STAND TO HELP US BECAUSE IT IS NOT FAIR.

>> SOMETHING YOU DO NOT FEEL YOU HAVE TO TOLERATE.

JOSE MANUEL, WHAT DO YOU HOPE HAPPENS ?

>> I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THE EFFECT THAT HAPPENS WITH TRAFFIC STOPS WE WENT FROM 85,000 PER YEAR TO 600,000 PER YEAR , WE SEE THE RESULTS , THEY ARE NOT ARRESTING US OR FINDING ANYTHING ILLEGAL, THEY ARE JUST HARASSING US OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

>> YOU ARE NOT ASKING FOR FINANCIAL COMPENSATION.

YOU WANT TO RAISE AWARENESS AND HAVE A CHANGE IN POLICY.

THAT IS WHERE WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

READ MORE ABOUT THE STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

THE 30th ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF LIGHT STARTS JULY 1st IN WASHINGTON PARK.

THE FOUR DAY FESTIVAL CELEBRATES AFRICAN AND CARIBBEAN ART, DANCE , MUSIC, AND IT IS MERGING WITH THE SEAFOOD AND THE CONTESTABLE SO THERE IS MORE FLAVOR TO SAVE HER.

>> IT IS OUR ANNIVERSARY.

BRINGING NATIONS TOGETHER.

THAT SEAFOOD AND THE INVESTABLE WILL BE COMBINED WITH OUR ANNIVERSARY.

IT WILL BE A GRAND CELEBRATION.

OVER 50 MUSIC ACTS WILL BE PERFORMING.

♪ >> WE HAVE OUTSTANDING ENTERTAINERS .

WE HAVE A VETERAN R&B ENTERTAINER.

IT IS GOING TO BE GREAT.

♪ ARTIST FROM AFRICA , THE CARIBBEAN , AND WE BRING -- YOU WILL GET A CASE OF AFRICA AND THE CARIBBEAN.

THERE WILL BE A DAY FOR THE KIDS.

IT WILL BE A GRAND MOMENT WHERE YOU REALLY HAVE A GOOD TIME.

THIS IS WHERE WE ALL BRING NATIONS TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE AS ONE PEOPLE.

>> SOWS SILICEOUS THE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS IS JULY 1st THROUGH JULY 4th , FINDING INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> THAT IS OUR SHOW, CHECK OUT WTTW.COM/NEWS.

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

STAY SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE