>> HEY THERE, THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

VOICES.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

>> WE DON'T WANT TO PUT OFFICERS THROUGH TRADE.

WE WANT OUR OFFICERS TO BE TRAINED.

>> WE SIT DOWN WITH CHICAGO'S NEWLY APPOINTED POLICE SUPERINTENDENT JUST 3 WEEKS ON THE JOB.

IT'S BEEN 60 YEARS SINCE RESIDENTS BOYCOTT OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SEGREGATIONIST POLICIES.

LOOK AT THE IMPACT YEARS LATER AND HOW THE FIGHT CONTINUES TODAY.

>> AND THE NEW PROJECTIONS SINGS THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF JAZZ LEGEND LOUIS ARMSTRONG.

AND WE KICK THINGS OFF WITH CHICAGO'S NEW POLICE CHIEF NEXT.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY 5TH 3005TH BANK.

AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> 3RD, WE BELIEVE WOULD DIVERSE VOICES ARE HEARD AND EMPOWERED.

COMMUNITIES ARE MADE STRONGER A FUTURE HOLDS GREAT PROMISE FOR ALL.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE PROUD TO SUPPORT CHICAGO.

TONIGHT.

BLACK VOICES TOGETHER.

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER.

WE CAN DRIVE CHANGE.

>> THE CITY'S NEW POLICE SUPERINTENDENT HAS BEEN ON THE JOB FOR EXACTLY 21 DAYS.

AND HE SAYS SO FAR THE HONEYMOON IS NOT OVER.

LARRY SNELLING CAME TO THE JOB FROM THE AGENCY'S COUNTERTERRORISM BUREAU AND IS THE FIRST SUPERINTENDENT HIRED.

BUT THE COMMUNITY COMMISSION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY OR POLICE SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON TOUTED SNOWING SANDALWOOD ROUTES DURING THE SELECTION AND CONFIRMATION PROCESS.

SO I STARTED BY ASKING HIM HOW THAT FOUNDATION SET SOME UP TO DO HIS NEW JOB.

>> HAVING AN UNDERSTANDING OF NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE PEOPLE IN THE YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE OF SOME OF THESE PEOPLE WOULD THINK THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THESE COMMUNITIES.

ACTIVELY ENGAGING IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY WHEN THAT'S NOT TRUE AT ALL.

THAT'S ACTUALLY A SMALLER PERCENTAGE OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THESE COMMUNITIES.

AND THEY'RE A GREAT, GREAT PEOPLE LIVING WITHIN THESE COMMUNITIES, TAXPAYING CITIZENS.

WE JUST WANT PEACE IN NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO I'M HAVING AN UNDERSTANDING OF GIVES ME DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE AND BETTER OUTLOOK BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THESE COMMUNITIES.

>> YOU'RE THE FIRST SUPERINTENDENT TO BE HIRED UNDER THIS NEW PROCESS THROUGH THE COMMUNITY COMMISSION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

HOW DO YOU PLAN ON WORKING WITH CONSIDERING THEY NOW HAVE SOME OF THE AUTHORITY THAT USED TO DOORS AND THE MAYORS.

>> WELL, IT I'LL TELL YOU, I I HAVE REALLY GOOD WORKING THE >> THEY THEY'RE VERY ACTIVE.

>> UNDERSTANDING OUR POLICIES WITH UNDERSTANDING POLICE WORK.

AND THE ONE THING THAT I CAN'T ENOUGH ABOUT THEM IS THEY'RE WILLING TO LISTEN AGAIN.

THEY'RE TO THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE AND THEY DON'T THEY DIDN'T WALK IN AND START DEMANDING THEY KNEW WHAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW.

AND THOSE THINGS THAT THEY DON'T.

THEY ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT.

WHICH AGAIN, I REALLY APPRECIATE.

AND WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ULTIMATELY.

DECISIONS WHAT WE DO.

HAVE TO BE FROM WITHIN.

BECAUSE SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS, I HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S NECESSARY TO FIGHT VIOLENT CRIME.

BUT OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TO DO IT CONSTITUTIONALLY AND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH HAVING A LEVEL OF OVERSIGHT AND INPUT FROM SOMEONE OUTSIDE OF CPD.

SO I THINK THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP IS GOOD.

>> SO 39 PAGE REPORT FROM THE INDEPENDENT MONITOR ABOUT THE CONSENT DECREE FOUND THAT POLICE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN ABUSING THEIR AUTHORITY TO STOP AND SEARCH CHICAGOANS FOR SOME YEARS.

OF COURSE, THAT FURTHER SOS THE DISTRUST BETWEEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN A COMMUNITY THAT WE HEAR SO MUCH HOW DO YOU PLAN ON EARNING COMMUNITY TRUST?

>> NEED TO LOOK AT THAT.

LEARN FROM THOSE THINGS.

FIND OUT WHAT BEST PRACTICES ARE.

DIDN'T UNDERSTAND OUR COMMUNITIES.

UNDERSTAND THAT.

UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

OFFICERS HAVE TO GET THE BEST POSSIBLE TRAINING.

NOW, AGAIN, THE MESSAGE ON HOW THAT'S DONE COMES FROM THE TOP.

SO WE LOOK AT INCIDENTS WHERE WE BELIEVE IT, THERE HAVE BEEN CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS ON THE PART OF POLICE, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT MESSAGE WE'RE SENDING OFFICERS AT THIS TIME.

OFFICERS HAVE TO HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN WE MAKE STOPS, THEY'RE BASED ON REASONABLE SUSPICION OR PROBABLE CAUSE.

AND WE HAVE TO REINFORCE WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR SUPERVISORS TRYING TO MAKE SURE OFFICERS ARE DOING THINGS AND THERE HAS TO BE A LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY ALL THE WAY UP THE CHAIN.

HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THAT WHEN OUR WHEN OFFICERS ARE GIVING THE APPROPRIATE TRAINING.

THE APPROPRIATE DIRECTION.

THEY WILL POLICE CONSTITUTIONALLY.

IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THE MESSAGES COMING FROM THE TOP.

ALSO ON THE CONSENT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ONLY 5% FULLY COMPLIANT WITH THOSE REGULATIONS.

WHAT'S THE COST TO CHICAGOANS THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS STILL SO FAR BEHIND THE NARRATIVE?

IS THAT.

>> THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT IS BEHIND ON THE CONSENT DECREE.

NOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT OVERALL.

>> COMPLIANCE NUMBERS.

BUT THERE ARE 3 LEVELS OF COMPLIANCE UNTIL YOU GET TO THAT.

THE FIRST ONE IS POLICY.

CREATING AND DEVELOPING A POLICY ACCORDING TO WHAT'S IN PLACE AND THE WAY THAT THAT POLICY IS DEVELOPED AND EVERYONE WHO GETS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SOME INPUT, THAT POLICY COULD TAKE UP TO A YEAR.

ONCE THAT HAPPENS.

NOW WE HAVE TO GET EVERY MEMBER TRAINED ON THAT POLICY.

AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT A DEPARTMENT WITH THE 14,000 MEMBERS THAT TAKES A WHILE.

SO ONLY THEN CAN YOU GET TO THE FULL COMPLIANCE ONCE WE'VE FINISHED THOSE 2?

SO WE'VE GOT A LOT PARAGRAPHS OF THE CONSENT DECREE THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON.

THAT'S NEARLY COMPLETE.

IT'S JUST NOT AT THAT FINAL COMPLIANT STAGE.

SO WE'RE WORKING DILIGENTLY TOWARD CONSENT DECREE.

MY MY BELIEF.

ALSO IS NOT RUSH THE CONSENT DECREE, ESPECIALLY THE TRAINING ASPECT OF IT BECAUSE WE WANT TO GET IT RIGHT.

WE DON'T WANT TO JUST SAY THAT WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE.

WE WANT OUR OFFICERS TO ACTUALLY BE IN COMPLIANCE WHERE OFFICERS ARE GETTING THE BEST POSSIBLE TRAINING.

WE DON'T WANT TO PUT OUR OFFICERS THROUGH TRADE.

WE WANT OUR OFFICERS TO BE TRACED.

AND THERE'S A DIFFERENCE THERE.

SO JUST TO SAY THAT WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE, THE QUESTION WILL BE LATER, DID WE REALLY EFFECT CHANGE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT?

DO SOMETHING TO MAKE OFFICERS IN OUR DEPARTMENT BETTER THAT WE DO ANYTHING WITHIN THAT CONSENT DECREE THAT WAS GOING TO HELP THE COMMUNITY HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND THEN TO HELP, YOU KNOW, BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN OFFICERS AND COMMUNITY.

>> 2 BILLION DOLLARS.

THAT IS YOUR YOUR BUDGET OR YOUR PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

THAT IS NO SMALL WE TALK A LOT POWER.

RESOURCES ARE SPENT IN THE CITY, OF COURSE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO POLICE OUR WAY OUT OF VIOLENCE AND OUT OF CRIME.

2 BILLION DOLLARS.

STILL A LOT.

GIVE TAXPAYERS A SENSE OF WHAT THAT'S PAYING FOR.

>> AS A POLICE DEPARTMENT, THIS TRYING TO MOVE INTO THE NEW AGE OF POLICING.

NOT ONLY IS THAT GOING TO TAKE TIME, BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE RESOURCES.

ALSO.

TECHNOLOGY WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT HIRING.

NOT ONLY ARE WE, ARE WE LOOKING TO HIRE MORE POLICE OFFICERS?

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO HIRE MORE NON SWORN PERSONNEL TO ASSIST AND HELP TO REBUILD THIS DEPARTMENT.

WE NEED TO GET UP TO SPEED WITH WITH ARE NOT SWORN MEMBERS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT TO HELP US WITH THINGS LIKE TECHNOLOGY.

PEOPLE COME IN WITH SPECIAL SKILL SETS.

THAT'S GOING TO HELP U.S. AS A DEPARTMENT.

NOW.

ONCE WE GET THROUGH.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO BECAUSE VEHICLES.

EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO POLICE.

IT'S COSTLY.

IT'S THOSE THINGS AND CHEAT.

ONCE WE START TO MOVE FORWARD AND ONCE WE START TO SEE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF WHAT WE'RE DOING, THEN MAYBE WE CAN START TO LOOK AT THE BUDGET TO SEE WHAT IT IS THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO CUT IF AT ALL ANYTHING.

SO GOING TO SIT HERE AND TELL YOU THAT WE WILL CUT THE BUDGET OVER TIME, BUT WE WILL.

WE WILL CONSISTENTLY ACESS TO REASSESS WHAT WE'RE DOING.

YOU'VE MENTIONED TECHNOLOGY A GOOD AND SAID THAT THAT IS THE IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR CRIME FIGHTING STRATEGY.

BUT THE MAYOR HAS SAID THAT.

>> HE IS NOT A BIG PROPONENT OF SHOTSPOTTER.

GIVE US A SENSE OF, YOU WHAT TECHNOLOGY IS MOST IMPORTANT IN YOUR CRIME FIGHTING STRATEGY AND HOW THAT MIGHT BE IMPACTED IF THE MAYOR SHOULD CANCEL THE SHOTSPOTTER CONTRACT DOWN THE ROAD.

HERE'S WE WE HAVE ALL SORTS OF TECHNOLOGY.

WE HAVE OUR STRATEGIC APPOINTMENT >> GIVE GIVES US A BETTER VISUAL OF WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND THE CITY.

AND WE WORK WITH WITHIN THAT ROOM.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SHOT DETECTION TECHNOLOGY, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND ONE THING.

I MEAN, I KNOW IT'S BEEN TAGGED AS A TOOL OF SURVEILLANCE, WHICH IT ISN'T.

IT.

TAX SOUNDS GUNFIRE.

AND IF WE AS POLICE OFFICERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO A JOB IMMEDIATELY, EVEN PRIOR TO 9-1-1, CALL GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO THAT JOB MAYBE MAYBE APPREHEND SOMEONE WHO SHOOTING.

BUT BIGGER THAN THAT.

IF THERE'S SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN SHOT.

IT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY RENDER LIFESAVING NEED IF WE IF WE GET THERE AHEAD OF TIME.

THAT TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN USEFUL.

IT'S BEEN VERY USEFUL.

OBVIOUSLY, THE MAYORS, THE MAYOR, I'M GOING LET THE MAYOR MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT THE MAYOR MAKES.

BUT WE WILL AND SHOULD HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS.

>> AND SNOWING IS SET TO DEFEND THE DEPARTMENT'S NEARLY 2 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET PROPOSAL BEFORE CITY COUNCIL NEXT WEEK.

UP NEXT, A LOOK AT THE IMPACT OF THE 1963, CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOYCOTT 60 YEARS LATER.

THIS SUNDAY MARKS 60 YEARS TO THE DAY, NEARLY 250,000 CPS STUDENTS SKIPPED SCHOOL WASN'T A SKIP DAY, THOUGH IT WAS A BOYCOTT STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS FLOODED THE STREETS OF CHICAGO IN WHAT'S KNOWN AS FREEDOM DAY.

A MASSIVE PROTEST OF THE SEGREGATION IN CHICAGO.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT AT THE TIME.

BENJAMIN WILLIS JOINING US NOW TO REFLECT ON THIS HISTORIC DEMONSTRATION AND ITS IMPACT 60 YEARS LATER, OUR CHARLES SMITH, A FORMER ORGANIZER AND LEADER WITH THE CONGRESS, KROGER US OF RACIAL EQUALITY.

NOTICE CORE.

HE WAS A PART OF THE 1963, CPS BOYCOTT.

AND ELIZABETH GRIER, CO-FOUNDER AND BOARD MEMBER OF CHICAGO UNITED FOR EQUITY.

SHE'S ALSO A BOARD MEMBER OF RAISE YOUR HAND.

THANKS TO THE FOOD, THE 2 OF YOU FOR JOINING US CHARLES SMITH.

LET'S START WITH YOU.

PLEASE TAKE US BACK TO 1963, TELL US ABOUT THE TRAILERS THAT WERE IN THE SCHOOL PARKING LOTS KNOWN AS WILLIS WAGONS AT THE TIME.

TIME.

I WAS ABOUT 22 YEARS OF AGE.

THIS ADDED, WE NEED TO DEMONSTRATE.

AGAINST THAT WHOLE ISSUE CALLED EDUCATION.

CHICAGO.

>> ALSO SO WE HAD A BOYCOTT.

BOARD OF EDUCATION ON THE SOUTH.

ALL RIGHT.

CLARK STREET.

45 DAYS.

WE ALSO KNEW THAT MS ROSE THE SIMPSONS AND TO PARTICIPATE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF 71ST AND LOW.

WHAT WILL THE WHICH WERE LOCATED NEXT?

LITTLE TRACTION BUT THE KEY IS RESPONSE AND BUSED TO SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF THAT WHOLE IN THE WAGONS THEY EXISTED BECAUSE THE DISTRICT WANT TO INTEGRATE THE SCHOOLS.

THE BLACK CHILDREN WERE SENT TO THE SO-CALLED WAGONS.

WHITE CHILDREN SAT IN SCHOOL BUILDINGS THAT WEREN'T ALWAYS FULL.

>> AND THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO PRESS THE KEYS, DEAL THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT INSTEAD THEY CREATED BAG.

WE CALL THE BLACK >> SO WE ALSO HAD 2 THINGS GOING ON.

WE'RE SITTING IN A CITY CPS.

AS WELL OTHER GROUPS OUT SIDE WON.

IF YOU SAY WAS ONE JUST TRAP AT THE THEY WOULD LET OUT.

SO WE'RE LOCKED FOR ALMOST A WEEK.

AND THAT WOW, THE CORPS MEMBERS WERE ALSO AT 70 FOR UP VERY TENSE TIME.

IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF TENSION.

I WAS.

22 LISTEN.

TENSION THAT TAKE TO MAYBE TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

IT SAID THE YOUNG PERSON.

SO YOU'RE READY FOR THE FIGHT.

AND READY FOR THE 5 YEARS SINCE MY DROPPING CAN'T STOP FREEDOM DAY WAS OCTOBER 22ND 1963.

>> YOU'RE GETTING THERE.

CHARLES HAD OF THAT PLAN COME TOGETHER TO MAKE FREEDOM DAY WHAT IT WAS BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, THERE WERE SET IN SOME PROTESTS LEADING UP TO IT.

YES.

BUT REALLY?

THE SO-CALLED YOUNG STEAK STUDENT, NONVIOLENT COORDINATING COMMITTEE COLE BLACK PANTHERS.

ALL OF US YOUNGER PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE OLDER LEADERS KIND OF SITTING BACK FOR A MOMENT THAT ALL GOT INVOLVED IN IT THAT ROSIE CAN'T THAT.

SHE WENT OUT AND ORGANIZE ALL THE PARENTS, ALL THE KEYS SO KEY IS PARTICIPATE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE AND SO IT WAS COMBINATION OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE MAKING IT HAPPEN.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ONE OTHER GROUPS.

YOU DID NOT HAVE OPERATE BREAD BASKET BECAUSE THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THAT TIME WE CAME.

SO BUT YOU HIT COMMUNITY GROUPS IN CHICAGO THAT BROWNIE, HE HAD A WHOLE PHILOSOPHY AND THAT'S HOW IT REALLY CARED.

SHE'S WERE HELPED OUT.

THEY DID NOT GO.

AND REASON WE THOUGHT THAT WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU CAN'T PAINT.

BUT COUNT.

SO THE KEY IS THAT NOT GO TO SCHOOL.

IT WOULD PENALIZE AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AND I WANT TO WANT TO COME BACK TO THAT AS BECAUSE ELIZABETH EUROPE, YOU KNOW, A PRESENT-DAY EDUCATION ORGANIZER AND ADVOCATE >> WHAT DID YOU TAKE FROM THIS MOVEMENT?

WHAT IT WHAT DID IT TEACH I MEAN, IT'S INSPIRING IT TEACHES IT TAUGHT THAT THAT BOYCOTTING AND FIGHTING GETS THIS SYSTEM IS WE WERE ABLE TO ORGANIZE TO SAVE NATIONAL TEACHERS ACADEMY BACK IN 2018 AND IT WAS LARGELY A RESULT OF US BUILDING A OF UPON WHAT HAD COME BEFORE US IN 1963, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH ROSIE AND GET TO KNOW HER AND SHE'S AN AMAZING PERSON AND AMAZING ORGANIZER.

>> AND IT WAS JUST SO INSPIRATIONAL TO KNOW THAT SINCE THEY DID IT WAY BACK THEN WHEN IT SEEMS REALLY INTO MARVEL.

I MEAN, THE THE SITUATION WAS SO OPPRESSIVE IN THE 60'S THAT IF THEY COULD DO WITH HIM, WE COULD DO IT AS IN THE 20 CENTURY, YOU CAN REALLY SEE THE THROUGH LINE OF ORGANIZING AROUND EDUCATION IN CHICAGO FROM TO NOW.

CHARLES, WHAT WAS THE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE IN THE AFTERMATH LIKE YOU'RE JUST ABOUT TO GO INTO THE FINANCIAL THAT HURT CPS AS A RESULT OF THAT.

>> FROM WHAT I GATHER THAT CAN SPEAK TO THE WHOLE EDUCATIONAL ASPECT WHAT REALLY WAS.

THE ISSUES.

I FEEL.

THIS ISSUE OF CHARTER SCHOOLS START TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.

AND IT WAS STARTING TO GROW.

IT WASN'T QUITE IT WASN'T THERE AT THAT POINT.

BUT THEIR EMPHASIS WHAT EVER WE LEARN, WE GET OUT OF HOW SCHOOL CLASS FAKE.

WE SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT EVER HAPPENED.

AND WHAT DID THEY LEARN WITH THAT THEY SHARE WITH THE PUMPS I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

I THINK NOTHING CAME OUT.

RIGHT NOW MY UNDERSTANDING IS.

IS THE 5TH.

PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE TO BE A CERTIFIED TEACHERS.

YOU DON'T HAVE CERTAIN YOUNG PEOPLE THAT GO INTO CHARTER SCHOOLS IF THEY DO NOT MEASURE UP TO WHATEVER RULES AND RAKES ARE THOSE BLACK THEY DROP HIM OUT.

>> THERE'S CERTAINLY BEEN IN CHICAGO, CERTAINLY BEEN A LOT SOME CONTROVERSY, SOME DEBATE OVER OVER THE IMPACT OF CHARTER SCHOOL.

SOME FAMILIES CERTAINLY BELIEVE THAT THEY SERVE THEIR FAMILY AS WELL.

AND WE KNOW AT THE TIME MISTER SMITH CPS, SUFFERED FINANCIAL LOSS OF $470,000 BECAUSE AS YOU SAID, SCHOOLS ARE PAID BY THE STUDENT.

STUDENTS AREN'T THERE ALMOST HALF A MILLION DOLLARS THAT THE DISTRICTING DISTRICT ALSO HAD TO GIVE A RACE FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER THAT, I'M ELIZABETH, WE'VE CONTINUED TO SEE THE FIGHT FOR RACIAL EQUITY AND EQUALITY IN CPS PLAY OUT AND OTHER MOVEMENTS.

YOU MENTIONED THE NATIONAL TEACHERS ACADEMY FIGHT THAT YOU ALL HAVE REMIND WHAT THAT WAS ABOUT, WHAT YOU'RE FIGHTING FOR.

YEAH.

SO BACK IN ABOUT RAHM WAS THE MAYOR AT THE TIME.

AND JANET JACKSON WAS THE CEO.

>> PUT FORTH A PROPOSAL TO CLOSE NATIONAL TEACHERS ACADEMY.

WE'RE LEVEL ONE PLUS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THE TIME IT CONVERTED INTO A HIGH SCHOOL TO SERVE.

THE MUCH MORE WELL TO DO.

RESIDENTS OF THE SOUTH AND SO WE FOUGHT FOR OUR EXISTENCE AND IT SEEMED AS THOUGH IT WAS A FIGHT THAT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO BECAUSE WE'RE JUST ONE SCHOOL THAT'S CAME 5 YEARS AFTER THE MORATORIUM ON CLOSINGS FROM 2013.

SO CPS HAD SORT OF THE RIGHT TO CLOSE ANOTHER SCHOOL.

NOW SINCE THE MORATORIUM HAD PAST AND THEY SET THEIR EYES ON A AND FOR THIS CONVERSION.

AND WE DID FIGHT IT.

AND WE WERE WE WERE FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO WIN OUR FIGHT THROUGH THE LEGAL SYSTEM.

AND SO WE FILED A LAWSUIT AND WE WON AND WE'RE STILL OPEN AND DRIVING TO THIS AS WE'RE DISCUSSING.

OF COURSE, WE'RE SEEING CLIPS FROM 2 DIFFERENT DOCUMENTARIES.

ONE IS 63 BOYCOTT THE OTHERS.

WE ARE IN SO AGAIN, ANOTHER PARALLEL CHARLES, WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME.

I WANT TO ASK YOU, WHAT ARE WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FOR THIS NEXT GENERATION GIVEN ALL OF THE EFFORT THAT FOLKS LIKE YOU AND ELIZABETH PUTIN?

>> BNA.

>> MY HOPE JUST LIKE GRANDMOTHER CAME GREAT MIGRATION.

16 RAISED IN ONE BUILDING.

NO ONE EVER GRADUATED ANY COLLEGE WHATSOEVER.

FOR GRADUATE OF MY WHOLE FAMILY WENT ON TO BECOME ARCHITECT.

WENT ON BECOME AN AND THEN CALLED THE MILITANTS FROM THE MOMENT MY MOUTH FROM I'M JUST CHARLES SMITH.

AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

GENTLEMEN BEEN IN CHICAGO.

YEARS.

HAVE SEEN IT ALL BEEN THROUGH IT.

THAT'S MY BACK.

HOPEFULLY IT WILL HELP OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE.

TO GO ALONG, GET THEIR DEGREES, BECOME WHATEVER THEY WANT TO ME LIFE AND THAT MEANT ANYTHING.

HOLD HIM BACK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ADVICE FROM TRIAL SMITH, THE MILITANTS, ELIZABETH GRIER, THANKS TO YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

AND JOIN US AGAIN ON MONDAY.

OCTOBER THIRTIETH AT NOON FOR A VIRTUAL VOICES COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ON THIS SAME TOPIC YOU'LL GET TO HEAR FROM SOMEONE THAT CHARLES SMITH WAS MENTIONING WILL BE DIVING IN MUCH DEEPER ON THE 1963, CPS BOYCOTT HEARING FROM SOME OTHER ORGANIZERS AND LEADERS AT THE TIME TO RSVP.

YOU CAN VISIT WTW DOT COM SLASH EVENTS.

AND WE'RE BACK WITH MORE IN JUST A MOMENT.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER AND ARE UNITED IS AN ORGANIZATION AIMED AT CREATING MORE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN THEATER?

>> WITH THE HELP OF THAT GROUP, ACTRESS VANESSA WILLIAMS IS MAKING HER DEBUT AS A PRODUCER FOR THE BROADWAY PRODUCTION OF A WONDERFUL WORLD.

IT TELLS THE STORY OF JAZZ LEGEND LOUIS ARMSTRONG AND STARS JAMES MONROE IGLEHART.

OUR CORRESPONDENT IN TOLEDO SAT DOWN WITH THE ACTOR AND PRODUCER AND SHARES MORE ABOUT THE PRODUCTION THAT'S TOLD FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF HIS 4 WIVES.

SO, JAMES, WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE WORKING ON THIS PRODUCTION WITH VANESSA OVER?

THE MESSAGE HAS BEEN FANTASTIC.

AND I LOVE THE FACT THAT SHE'S BROUGHT A VOICE TO IT AND >> MILES AND FRANCE ABROAD FRIENDS, TOO.

I LOVE THAT.

SHE'S BUT ALSO THERE'S A MOMENT THERE'S THERE'S A MOMENT OF HAVING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF POWER.

WHAT YOU DO WITH IT.

AND IT'S EASY TO REALLY USE YOUR POWER TO JUST INSULATE YOURSELF, PROTECT YOURSELF AND PUSH YOURSELF FORWARD AND SHE'S DECIDED TO USE THE STAR POWER.

SHE HAS TO PUSH THESE VOICES FORWARD AND PUSH THE STORY FORWARD AND PUSH PERFORMERS LIKE MYSELF FORWARD AND WE NEED THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE NUANCES TO EACH CULTURE AND JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE TELLING THE STORY, YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW THE NUANCES TO THAT CULTURE.

WHAT YOU MAY READ LOUIS MEMPHIS.

ACTUALLY, IF YOU REALLY LOOK INTO WHAT HE ACTUALLY WAS SAYING, SOMETHING ELSE AND YOU NEED SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT CULTURE GOING INTERPRET THAT FOR YOU TO SAY NO, THIS IS WHAT IS NOT WHAT SHE'S BEEN DOING.

VANESSA, TELL ME, WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO HAVE YOUR PRODUCE ORIOLE DEBUT FOR THIS BROADWAY PRODUCTION AS A RESULT OF BEING ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF BLACK, UNITED.

>> AND OUR MISSION IS DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION ON ALL LEVELS OF COMMERCIAL THEATER.

THIS IS PRIME OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO BECOME A PRODUCER ON THIS >> I THINK AS A AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN PERSON SEEING LOUIS ARMSTRONG AND HIS LIFE.

IT IS IMPORTANT.

>> ME AS A PRODUCER TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STORYTELLING IS ACCURATE.

HAS INTEGRITY.

AND I HAVE BEEN CERTAIN DISCUSSIONS WITH MY ALL WHITE PRODUCTION TEAM.

>> ABOUT HISTORICAL FACTS.

>> THAT NEED TO BE THERE OR AREN'T TRUE AND NEED TO BE OMITTED AND THAT I FEEL THAT'S MY PART AS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO BE IN THE ROOM AND TO SHOW UP SHARE MY VOICE.

AND WE HAVE OPENING NIGHT HERE IN CHICAGO.

HOW ARE WE FEELING?

>> HAVING THE BEST TIME ME TO COME TO THE CITY THAT ACTUALLY MADE LEWIS LEWIS.

YOU KNOW, HE GOT HERE AND HE WAS REALLY, REALLY GREEN LIKE EVERYBODY KNEW.

HE WAS INCREDIBLE TRUMPET PLAYER.

THAT WASN'T THE ISSUE.

BUT TO BECOME THE ENTERTAINER THAT HE NEEDED TO BECOME.

HE HAD TO COME.

CHICAGO FIRST AND WITH THE HELP OF KING JOE OLIVER AND DEFINITELY THE HELP OF HIS SECOND WIFE, THE HARDIN.

SHE IS THE ONE THAT MOLDED HIM INTO THE LOUIS THAT WE ALL KNOW.

SHE'S THE ONE LOOK AT HIM AND SAID, HEY, YOU ARE SOMEBODY AND YOU CAN BE SOMEBODY.

LET ME SHOW YOU HOW LET ME SHOW YOU HOW TO DO IT.

THE CHICAGO WAY.

YOU KNOW, HE WAS 17 WHEN HE GOT MARRIED THE FIRST TIME.

THE SECOND TIME SHE WAS A RIGHT?

HIS MOTHER WAS A.

GREW UP IN THE AIR STORY.

VILLAGES THE AREA.

>> SO HE GREW UP THE YEAH.

THAT'S THE THING.

GAME HIS CROWN.

THAT'S THE THING.

WHEN PEOPLE SEE LOUIS ARMSTRONG, THEY HOW HE WOULD DO THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT THERE'S A HOLLYWOOD.

LOU IS JUST A PIECE.

HE'S MORE JAZZ.

JAZZ.

LOUIS IS MORE LIKE WHAT WE CONSIDER OUR HIP-HOP WITH US TODAY.

AND HE WAS VERY HOOD AND HE KNEW IT AND KIND OF LIKE YES, THIS IS THE UNTOLD STORY OF LOUIS ARMSTRONG.

THEIRS.

>> THERE'S THE WHAT, WHAT?

THERE'S WHAT HOLLYWOOD WEIGHT AMERICA, ONE OF LOUIS ARMSTRONG TO BE.

AND THEN THERE'S WHO HE TRULY AND WE'RE SHOWING WHO HE TRULY WAS.

AND NOT ONLY WAS HE NOT ONLY DID HE CHANGE AMERICAN MUSIC, NOT ONLY DOES HE CHANGE THE PERCEPTION OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS FOR WHY PEOPLE AT THAT TIME, BUT HE WAS STILL, YOU KNOW, NAVIGATING BEING A BLACK MAN AT THAT TIME AND DEALING WITH HIS OWN STRUGGLES.

AND WE SHOW THAT PARTS.

YOU CAN SEE HE WASN'T JUST THE SMILING TRUMPET PLAYER THAT, YOU KNOW, SAID OH, YEAH, IN PEOPLE'S FACES.

THAT WAS THERE WAS A REAL BROTHER.

THERE WAS GOING THROUGH SOME THINGS IN THESE 4 WOMEN WENT THROUGH IT WITH HIM.

THEY WERE RIGHT THERE IN THE TRENCHES WITH HIM AND IT TOOK HIM GETTING OLDER TO REALIZE NOW I'VE GOT IT RIGHT.

>> A WONDERFUL WORLD BEGAN ITS PRE BROADWAY DEBUT IN NEW ORLEANS BEFORE HEADING TO CHICAGO, WHERE YOU CAN NOW SEE IT AT THE CADILLAC PALACE PALACE THEATER THROUGH OCTOBER.

29TH.

WE'VE GOT MORE TIDBITS FROM THAT INTERVIEW ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW TONIGHT.

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5, 30 10 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINO VOICES.

IMMIGRATION ADVOCATES CALL ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO EXTEND WORK PERMITS FOR A LONG TIME.

UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS AND A LOCAL MUSEUM LOOKS TO TAKE OVER A VACANT FIRE STATION IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, VOICES, I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A CLIFF.

THAT WOULD A CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH WHOSE ATTORNEYS EMBRACE CULTURE OF PHILANTHROPY IN