>> Hello and thanks for joining us on Chicago tonight.

Black voices.

I'm Brandis Friedman.

Here's what we're looking at.

Violent crime is declining nationwide.

Why many Americans don't believe it?

A wrongful conviction and 10 years in prison leads to a record verdict.

Marcelle Brown joins us for his first sit-down interview.

And a local artist honors history of House music in a new public mural.

>> And now to some of today's top stories, the political dog fight for control of Chicago.

Public schools has escalated ahead of tomorrow's Board of Education meeting where members could have to pick a side.

Schools CEO Pedro Martinez is fighting to hold on to the job.

Mayor Brandon Johnson wants to remove him from think.

Meanwhile, a coalition of prominent Latino activists are backing Martinez, one of the rifts between Johnson in Martinez is over.

The mayor's calls for the district to borrow 175 million dollars to cover a pension payment.

Martinez has rejected that idea today.

Governor JB Pritzker says he's staying out of the dispute but did weigh in on borrowing.

>> Borrowing to pay for operating expenses in a business and government, cetera, not a great idea unless you know how you're going to pay for that because it's going to come due.

>> Questions over the leadership of CPS come as the district is negotiating a contract with the Chicago Teachers Union.

Police say neighbors in Little Village who were traumatized by last weekend's mass shooting can receive help tomorrow from the department's 3rd Emergency Assistance Center.

>> I think what's important about the emergency assistance center is when we have these outrage is shootings.

When we have multiple people hurt.

A lot of times.

It's difficult to know where to go to get those services and we want to make sure that we provide an area within the community that people can come and get those services.

>> The Chicago Police Department says the center will be open from 04:00PM to 07:00PM tomorrow at Farragut Career Academy.

It's in response to a shooting over the weekend that killed a 32 year-old man and critically injured 6 others.

But see PD says it's not just for people affected by that shooting, but for anyone who's experienced violence.

For the first time, midway passengers can kick their feet up in a premium new airport lounge.

The lounge is open to all travelers regardless of airline or place of service and is located near Gate B, one.

The 3300 Square Foot, 5 Million dollar lounge cost passengers $50 for a day pass or a membership with various lounge networks.

The lounge space includes workspaces with charging stations and complimentary refreshments proudly serves local food and drinks like beer from Revolution Brewing in 2 brothers and spirits from Coval Distillery.

If you're going to be the worst, yeah, might as well be the best at it.

We're of course, talking about the White Sox which are now on the verge of becoming the worst team in modern Major League Baseball history.

Sorry Sox fans.

The Sox won last night but only Sox fans would be disappointed when their team loses.

The other booing.

But if the Sox lose just one more game one, Montreal, they have 5 left.

They'll surpass the 1962 New York Mets for most losses in a season team goes to bat for history again tonight when they face the Los Angeles Angels at home at 6.40 This good luck team.

>> Up next, the gap between crime stats and feeling safe right after this.

>> Chicago tonight Black Forest is made possible in part by the support of these.

Don't use.

>> Crime is down overall both in Chicago and around the country.

So why doesn't it feel that way to some people with crime and safety, a political football this election season and what can seem like a barrage of violence on social media.

The gap between perception and reality.

Sometimes a wide one.

Joining us to talk more about that are 10 gross CEO of the Institute for Nonviolent Chicago and joining us via zoom to Kenya, Nixon attorney supervisor at the Cook County Public Defender's office.

We should note we did invite the Chicago Police Department, but they declined me and to Kenya.

Thanks to you both for joining us.

Let's start with a little bit of context, OK?

So most crimes saw a decrease within the last year, including homicide, which was down 8% from last year.

Robbery down 10% and theft down 4%.

Now the changes are even bigger compared 4 years ago for homicide and burglary.

Not so much for some other crimes.

Question to both of you.

to you first.

Why do you think that most of the public believe that crime has gotten worse?

>> There is a lag Russert of the numbers and perception be saying cranes they the story this week, someone good cause jacket on the mall sign for them.

This is a traumatic event.

I was at the hospital supporting my friends from another village, new life.

02:03AM, in the morning.

It's actually.

It's traumatic and painful.

So those still find too much.

We're doing good and positive things and probably will touch on that on that.

But we're still 5 from out of the European and other countries in terms of levels of violence.

>> To Kenya, Nixon, same question to you.

What has some people in the public believe that it's gotten worse?

>> I think it's because of the narrative that is being placed out there about especially Chicago crime.

All you hear are really on the news on social media outlets is And, you know, and as was mentioned, there are carjackings that are happening.

There are rivalries that are happening.

so people are only highlighting focusing on the things that are currently taking place and not really looking at the numbers to see that the crime has actually decreased.

>> It seems to me that there's also sort of, you know, if there's a constant drip, drip, drip of, you know, the like, as you said, the carjacking here or the break-in or the shooting there that that might have an effect.

But also it is a personal experience.

If you experience it to you, it's happening with frequency.

>> I mean, we we see what we're building here in Chicago is close.

Tamara Call.

I should something to be proud of Illinois from the governor to the speaker.

The president on the way down.

We're building a civilian protection to that involves now almost 2000 people's most of them with backgrounds on vote 9 positive, addictive.

It getting stipends we have tonight.

20 allows staff working towards a BA degree.

people had backgrounds would no hope.

What do you want in a city?

Hopeless people or people with hope?

So we're working with this.

We know it's going to take 15 when we have dead daily shootings of 9 teams respond to and we stay up and nitrogen today does a painful the mothers lose the kids.

Another pod is we have seen an escalation of weapon or a double edge of the lost as well as the amount of switches.

So you can build all that good.

There's of the setbacks and threats to what we're trying to build the most sophisticated system so by no means anywhere close to a gulls.

But what is happening in Chicago now has 100 from business community to raising more than 100 million dollars to do this.

the rest of the country is looking at this something I should we you talk about the White Sox?

We're actually going to be off as it as someone came from the East Coast to work in Chicago loves this city.

I'm very proud of many sectors.

It's not just one SEC to it's not just the community, which is really what can always what con the business and the foundation community now really working hard to change the narrative and the result today.

In fact, we don't want to change in day without a roof act.

So a recent Gallup poll found that more than three-quarters of Americans think crime has increased nationally in the past year.

>> To Kenya, a lot of the conversation around public safety has to do with access to guns, especially illegal guns.

>> And 10, you just mentioned a moment ago, the changes in weaponry and there are reports of an increase casings that are being found at shooting scenes Chicago's homicide rates are down, but gun-related arrests are rising to Kenya.

What is what's the story there?

>> what I've seen working as assistant public defender can Cook County.

It's that although the gun related rest are increasing their poor possession only and a lot of times people who are being arrested for the possession of a gun on have a firearm owners identification card and are being accused of carrying within their vehicles improperly.

So while the numbers seem to look like people in Chicago, we're just carrying guns and that the gun arrest on the rise.

The people who are being arrested on our for all intents and purposes, law abiding citizens living, you know, given firearm owners identification card and just needed additional training as to how they shared carry weapon when they're inside of there for you.

>> Tony, what's what's the role of the police and trust in the police in the perception of crime?

>> illegal >> activities isolation thrive when days, no legitimacy to a government.

So.

>> Police reform was extremely important to really, really important to rise the most visible of a government.

And they need to people.

taxpayers and unable as ages of 7 is that he's fast.

That is not heavy handed.

And I think again, the business community's raising resources to really push police reform and modernize what is going on.

There's a lot of hardworking people in the police department, but they still some flaws from the past that we need to get right.

What kind of you work closely with CPD on this?

And you're an advocate, of course, for police reform.

What kind of reforms with Aiden in improving public perception?

>> I think when do you need to rely on pot and as a treatment the amount law enforcement as opposed to just an arrest is a treat when right to an arrest.

>> Let's say we reduce violence by 10% by the by all this tentative.

When you reduce crime by police in Tampa.

let's say they equal.

This is going to be jailed.

That's more expensive.

This is removing and dad may be on mom from the house.

Maybe the kids victim.

Now it's a lifelong consequences.

10% by group like I people deal Nicole takes an addiction.

Now someone is staying in economy to staying at home that may be improving the life.

A very different outcome.

2 different treatment.

So the public health community treatment is really important to strengthen in a city that will function well.

>> It's a Kenya.

How do you think most people perceive or miss perceive the criminal legal system?

>> So I believe people who are not involved in the criminal legal system.

I have this idea it works and the unfortunate parties is.

All right.

The criminal legal system as it exists today.

Did.

Racism and if you look in the courtrooms, at least in my experience look at courtrooms, you see nothing but black and brown people were being accused as only black and brown people City of Chicago.

And so it gives appearance in the idea and its board this narrative that black and brown people are criminals and that we need more can seen in those particular areas.

so people are thinking like, oh, this is the month working.

It's getting people, you know, were committing crimes act the straight yes.

>> sorry to interrupt.

But obviously, subject to segment about perception and misperceptions is going to you know, lots of different ways that people judge in misunderstand the criminal legal system that but I know you spent a lot of time working in and 10 girls that you spent a lot of time working on.

Sadly, we have to leave their thanks to the both of you for for joining us.

And for more context on crime numbers, another complicated issues.

Check out our e-mail newsletter, the Daily Chicago and you can sign up at Www Dot Com Slash newsletter.

Up next, a record award after a decade behind bars.

>> Chicago >> man made history when he received a 50 million dollar verdict against the city of Chicago earlier this month, Marcelle Brown was 18 years old when he was convicted of first-degree murder in 2008, he was exonerated 10 years later, he sued the city over his wrongful conviction rather than the case settling.

A federal jury awarded him this record-setting amount.

Here to talk more about his story are exoneree Marcel Brown and Jon Lovi attorney and founding partner of the Civil rights law firm, Lovi and movie.

Thanks to both for joining us.

Thanks congratulations.

In order say congrats for for an award like this more.

So when you learned about the jury's decision, what was what was your reaction?

it mean to you?

>> I was crying.

So when I learned about it, I thought the city of 14 million to my attorney to the meals.

15, so I was shocked.

>> So you miss heard I mean, you are crying over the 14 Million.

And then you learn that it was even more than that.

Yes, lot more.

Yes.

What did it mean to you?

>> I everything to because it was like really the first sign of me getting justice for everything.

I went through.

>> 50 million dollars in justice.

Yes, yeah.

It was a.

>> It was kind of my way of the trial was like my fight to gain my freedom back.

>> I want to come back to because I want to ask John sort of same question to you.

You handle these cases frequently.

We do.

What does 50 million dollars CDU?

>> Well, it's a record.

Nobody single plaintiff has never received that much from a juror in the United States.

And federal or state ever anywhere.

arguably the largest one in history, if not planet, because United States has got more of these than other countries.

So what it says is that this jury saw great injustice here.

You know, Marcel Brown, was 18 years old news convicted of something he didn't do and Chicago's had a problem with wrongful convictions and it seems to be a recurring problem.

And I think people are done with it.

>> Let's back up and share a little bit of your story.

Marcel.

You are arrested at the age of 18 in connection with a murder.

It was a coerced confession that was used to convict.

You first.

What kind of interrogation tactics to the police use?

What happened?

>> Use love practices.

They turn my turn me away.

line kept telling truth it comes >> Well, we don't believe that's the truth.

We want to hear truth.

We know that roof.

We got 20 witnesses seeing this 20 with us and tell them something, though, son.

That's not the truth.

You know more.

You know more.

just kept pressing.

>> Go ahead.

you know, this is a 31 hour interrogation, which is the real outlier.

This is an 18 year-old boy.

He didn't sleep.

They interrogated him all night.

Kept him up the next day.

That confession is like out his second all-nighter.

the conditions were such that they overcame as well.

>> And it gets at what or so.

Did you sort of go from resisting to just say what they want me to say.

>> believe in to only up day 3.

>> That's around.

Which is something that happened or was it just I'm tired.

I was time.

Probably 6 of So exhausted by the time you got 2 minutes to the confession was the mind games that was planned.

So that go here, go there.

List.

I'm gonna go.

You want to go home?

The cast has to go.

>> You say anything say that I'm like that's the truth.

We will more of that roof.

So I don't know what to do.

>> Ultimately, they tracked You know, he's just a child.

These are grown men who have done this 100 times and they made him think that his path out was to cooperate.

You know, he told them videotape many, many times.

This is the truth.

And they made it clear to him.

You're not leaving this room until you tell us a different route.

And that is what's interesting about the case premise is that it was on videotape.

You know, Illinois passed the statute in the early 2, thousands so that we don't have to argue anymore.

What happened in the room as a lot of times people come out of the room like this is what happened.

Police say no, that's not what happened.

Illinois legislature passed a law not just video tape the very end because that's what they would do.

It work with somebody for 30 hours and then get a confession on videotape.

After early 2, thousands, the entire interrogation idiot tape.

So the jury was able to see the whole sequence.

Allentown.

>> So one fast forward a little bit because there's a lot to talk about the limited amount of time.

We know that you spent 10 years in prison before you exonerated, which means you're young when you went to prison John, a question for you.

Many of these cases because we covered this a lot.

City council approving another settlement for another wrongful conviction.

This one didn't settle wintery, which a jury you know, takes 2 sides not to settle, but the city offered less than 3 million dollars.

You know that they did not think they had exposure here.

>> That was a miscalculation.

You know, Marcel could have accepted that are decided he's going to get justice.

And that's what he did.

You know, I realize politically sometimes the city is criticized for suddenly sometimes get criticized for not settling in my opinion.

They don't do a good job of appraising the risk.

They probably should settle more.

Then they do because that, you know, there's a lot of risk a case like this.

>> What did you have to prove that the trials for his constitutional violations and witness manipulation being included?

We had to prove that the police intentionally >> violated his rights.

Not just that he was innocent, but that they had coerced his confession.

That was the primary claimed that they had fabricated evidence.

>> So you were young when you went to prison.

How has that impacted you?

>> All prison kind of say Nguyen.

kind of miss member enough.

suffer from depression.

I came home to And so was like 18 year-old kid coming But I was really a grown man saw came home to a lot of responsibilities.

That I didn't know how to really cope was saddened because I had no experience >> Prison is really no place to grow up.

But when happens only.

The being a man imprisoned, probably us who commit the most violent.

So.

>> In land the free world is.

I had no one to go.

>> Was experiencing this trial difficult for you.

First.

want to go through it, but I want to what they was all fun.

But >> it was like vindictive scum because finally the roof and get to him much roof and you have to face the facts.

Everything in room, So.

I've got just doesn't.

And so the trauma more to me than the 50 million dollars.

This was the opportunity for you to share what happened to you?

Yes, felt like I got a piece in the back.

>> To courage because, you know, they cross examine them all over again.

He had to listen.

The city, Chicago Common murder for 2 more weeks.

And that was a difficult cross-examination because, yes, was.

You know, when he was 18, they did to him in the room.

Now here is a grown man.

They did the same thing to him at the trial and myself handled it beautifully.

And with courage and class on the public record.

>> The amount 50 million dollars that is nearly 60% of what the city of Chicago budgets annually for for wrongful convictions.

Police misconduct cases.

Are you concerned at all that the city try to appeal the award?

They will appeal.

You know, they should have settled the judge a >> recommended that I believe 5 million dollars is judicial recommendation.

The city said no.

We want to pay more than 3.

>> They don't do a real good management.

It's it is a real problem.

There is insurance.

There is insurance.

And so the insurance companies are gonna have to be responsible.

>> We're so what's next for you and your family?

>> Hopefully, a began.

What would you like to do that to on Jews to buy my mom?

beautiful house.

month, Gore to go to my school.

That's about it.

Okay.

It's a good plans.

Best of luck to you.

Brown and John Movie.

Thanks so much for both of Joining us.

>> Up next, paying tribute to iconic John are created in Chicago.

But first, a look at the weather Chicago is known as the birthplace of House music and a local artist is now making a very public tribute to the beloved genre.

The new mural is set to be unveiled at the Chicago Public Libraries, Uptown branch across the street from the now closed Gerken records.

We caught up with the artist Max and sing while he was putting the finishing touches on the artwork honoring the genres influence and one of its pioneers.

>> I wanted to do something that was a little bit.

>> If you fork a show NATO, what house music does to you when you listen to it by the clothing I that allows track you kind of just 5 out their life.

You see ally, as always like that one up to 3 people by the speaker does lose in it like I wanted to feel like that.

I want to be this like seamless integration of the flowers that I've used in this piece to kind of represent a different cultures.

The call is the Salukis to the deejays.

Well on the peace and the records like a wind out to be just kind of same Lissa kinda have like this dreamlike state to it.

And so I decided to cause us to a particular story out of it.

And Frankie's a history with our can records and with it literally be right across the street.

Kind of like the porch of that.

I chose was mainly something and where he's and peace and caught up in the reverence of his legacy.

I watched and listen to his music.

I watched documentaries and pieces I own and stuff like that.

I want the peace to make people feel happy.

Enjoys the same way the music makes people feel.

House music sounds.

It just kind of like that theme music for life.

Unable to life over com of ICE.

A cough like the stuff.

Feel about is very celebratory to kind of has light.

Those feeling light of the gospel song.

No, that's connected as well.

All it just.

And like those listen.

Now, slight beginning that kind of feeling of just like, you know, the storm is over.

>> And Max and Singh was referring to the late great DJ.

Frankie Knuckles.

You can see the finished product outside the Uptown Branch Library near Sheridan and Doina.

And if you're interested learning more about Chicago's history with House music, be sure to check out the Chicago stories documentary House music, a cultural Revolution that airs Friday, November 8 at 08:00PM.

And that's our show for this Wednesday night.

Stay connected with our reporters and what very working on by following us on Instagram at W T Tw Chicago.

Enjoin us tomorrow night at 5, 30 10.

What comes next for migrant care has 3 shelters are set to close next month.

Now for all of us here at Chicago tonight, Black voices.

I'm Brandis Friedman, thank you for watching.

Stay healthy and safe and have a good night.

>> Closed caption was made possible by Robert a cliff and Clifford Should Congo personal injury and wrongful death that is committed to supporting