Justice for Rekia Boyd!

By Danielle Katz and Andy Katz

Hundreds packed and ultimately shut down a Chicago Police Board hearing Aug. 20 as they delivered over 10,000 petitions demanding the termination of Detective Dante Servin.

In March 2012, Servin fired shots into a group of unarmed Black people, killing 22-year-old Rekia Boyd. In April 2015, Servin was acquitted of manslaughter charges related to this killing.

Before the demonstrators shut down the meeting with chants of “Say her name” and “Will you fire Dante Servin?” Boyd’s brother, Martine Sutton, addressed the hearing: “For three years my family has been disrespected. I’ve been harassed and I’ve stood tall. All I’m asking is that this officer gets fired. He killed my sister in cold blood.”

Outside police headquarters, hundreds more demonstrated in support of those inside the hearing. Holding banners and signs that read, “Say her name,” “Unapologetically Black” and “Fire Dante Servin,” those gathered spoke out against police murders and brutality.

“This board is not valid,” said one Black Youth Project 100 member to the crowd. “No one is going to bring their grievances in front of this board.

“Justice does not live here, it lives in the hearts of all of us out here in the streets, in the struggle. Rekia should be here with us.”