MEDIA ADVISORY: October 26, 2018 Contact: Kristi Sanford, 773-456-4024, kristi@thepeopleslobbyusa.org

Chicago, Cook County, IL — At 2:30 PM on Tuesday, October 30, 2018, at 2650 S. California, religious leaders in clerical apparel, along with State Senator Daniel Biss, will lead a demonstration called “Freeing the Captives: A Call for Mass Liberation” on the steps of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans’ courthouse, demanding that Judge Evans and his six bond court judges end the use of money bonds.

With public safety taking center stage in Chicago’s 2019 mayoral race, activists are escalating demands for major reforms to racist policing and court systems. Reforms to money bond could reduce the Cook County Jail population by 40%.

What: Activist take fight to #EndMoneyBond to Judge Timothy Evans and Bond Court Judges

When: 2:30 PM, Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Where: Steps of George N Leighton Criminal Court Building, 2650 S. California

Who: Organized by The People’s Lobby, Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation (SOUL), Reclaim Chicago, and A Just Harvest.

Audio and Visuals: Religious leaders in clerical apparel will lead a demonstration themed “Freeing the Captives: A Call for Mass Liberation”

Social Media: Follow #EndMoneyBond on Twitter for updates during the action.

Background: Activists say money bonds result in the incarceration of thousands of Black and Brown people in the Cook County Jail every year before trial simply because are too poor to pay for their freedom. Right now, about 2,700 people in the Cook County Jail — about 40% of the total jail population — cannot afford to pay a bond. Cook County’s overall population is about one-quarter African American, but the jail’s population is 73% Black.

One year ago in September Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans made an important reform to Cook County’s use of money bonds. Evans issued General Order 18.8A requiring Cook County judges to use money bonds as a last resort and, if requiring a person to pay a money bond, to first confirm that person has the ability to pay that amount. Although some bond court judges initially followed Evans’ order, adherence since has declined precipitously, causing the number of people incarcerated before trial because they are poor to climb steeply in recent months.