AUBURN GRESHAM — Three candidates are seeking the Gresham (6th) police district council seats. The district includes parts of Auburn Gresham and Chatham.
Meet them below.
Credit: Kirk Williamson for the Chicago ReaderEric Russell
Russell is the founder and executive director of Tree of Life Justice League of Illinois, a nonprofit that advocates for police accountability and provides services for families affected by police violence.
Alds. David Moore (17th) and Pat Dowell (3rd); State Reps. La Shawn Ford (8th District) and Marcus C. Evans Jr. (33rd District); Sen. Willie Preston (31st District), Reps. Jonathan Jackson and Danny Davis; and St. Sabina Parish priest Michael Pfleger have endorsed.
 Activist or organizer |  Supports more police accountability |  Political endorsement |
Candidate questionnaire responses:
- Do you have experience as an activist or community organizer? Yes
- Do you have experience interacting with CPD? Yes
- Do you have experience working or interacting with government? Yes
- Should the city hire more police officers? Yes
- Is CPD adequately funded? Yes: funding should be reduced.
- CPD reform: The police need significant reform.
- Mental health crises: Police should accompany healthcare workers to mental health crises.
What do you consider the primary role of a police district councilor to be?
- Communicating with the department on behalf of the community
- Establishing civilian control of the police department
- Helping the police do a better job
Why are you running for Police District Council?
I’m committed to do my part to help usher in a new day of police reform, transparency, and accountability, and ultimately work to restore the public truth of police in my community.
David Boykin
A musician, educator, and high school counselor from the west side, Boykin has lived in the district for over a decade.
As a counselor, he works extensively with teenage Black boys, whom he says are “the most at-risk demographic to be subject to interaction with the police and the carceral state” and that his experience has given him “an understanding of the need for alternative policing strategies.”
Supports more police accountability |
Candidate questionnaire responses:
- Do you have experience as an activist or community organizer? No
- Do you have experience interacting with CPD? No
- Do you have experience working or interacting with government? Yes
- Should the city hire more police officers? No
- Is CPD adequately funded? Yes: funding should be reduced.
- CPD reform: The police need significant reform.
- Mental health crises: Police should not be involved in mental health crisis calls at all.
What do you consider the primary role of a police district councilor to be?
- Communicating with the department on behalf of the community
Why are you running for Police District Council?
I am running to be a Member of Police District Council Six because he is answering the call for citizens to step up and do this important work. Hearing about the historical ECPS ordinance to empower citizens over how their communities are policed and then seeing the lack of candidates for these newly created offices, I decided to answer the call to make a difference in his community.
Aisha Humphries (write-in)
Humphries, a write-in candidate, serves on the executive board of Chatham United, a coalition of neighbors, block clubs, and organizations she described as “working to improve and sustain safety and community.” She is also an active member of Reunite Chatham as well as her neighborhood park advisory council and block club.
Humphries told the Reader she also volunteers a CAPS facilitator in Gresham for Beat 0631 in the Sixth District. She has also participated in or attended CPD and CAPS events such as National Night Out, Conversations with the Commander, and community engagement town halls.
Activist or organizer |
Candidate questionnaire responses:
- Do you have experience as an activist or community organizer? Yes
- Do you have experience interacting with CPD? Yes
- Do you have experience working or interacting with government? Yes
- Should the city hire more police officers? No
- Is CPD adequately funded? Yes: funding should stay about the same.
- CPD reform: The police need significant reform.
- Mental health crises: Police should accompany healthcare workers to mental health crises.
What do you consider the primary role of a police district councilor to be?
- Communicating with the department on behalf of the community
- Helping the police do a better job
Why are you running for Police District Council?
I believe the Council has an important role to play in helping citizens understand and define the power, responsibility, and role of CPD. People should be informed of public safety issues that impact them, and have the opportunity to collaborate with CPD to improve community well-being.
