Activists protest outside Burge trial

CHICAGO--Around 80 activists rallied outside City Hall on May 24 for a demonstration marking the first day of jury selection in the trial of infamous police torturer Jon Burge.

The event began as the group was led in chants of "Jail Jon Burge!" by Mark Clements, who was finally released from prison last August after spending 28 years in prison, falsely incarcerated because of the confession tortured out of him by police officers under the command of Burge. At least 200 African American and Latino men were victims of Burge's torture ring during the 1970s and '80s.

The protesters heard testimony from activists, exonerated torture victims like Mark, and family members of those still in prison. At one point, Stanley Howard spoke to the crowd via cell-phone from prison about his own case and the importance of continuing the fight for all of Burge's victims.

While Burge is finally facing a courtroom only now after all these years, more than 20 of his victims remain in prison on the basis of tortured confessions, awaiting new trials.

Tomika Erby, a student and organizer with the Jail Jon Burge committee, read off the names of those of Burge's victims who are still in prison. "We're all out here today to be the voice of the voiceless," she said. "It's outrageous that there are 22 victims of torture who have never even been granted a hearing. If this is supposed to be a just society, why can't these victims of torture get justice?

One highlight of the demonstration was the presence of a large group of students from Bowen High School on the far South Side of Chicago. The students attended the demonstration at the invitation of Clements, who visited their class to explain the context of the trial, the details of his own case and the demands of the demonstration.

One of the students, Jerrin Ellison, explained why he and the other students thought it was important to be there: "These people here are showing courage by standing up to injustice. I hope our support helps the cases of the other [torture victims]."

The presence of so many young people didn't go unnoticed by other participants. "This is a wonderful demonstration of support," said Michelle Martin, the wife of Stanley Howard, articulated the feelings of many of those present. "It's great to see these young people getting involved in activism.

As a police commander, Burge oversaw the torture of dozens of suspects at Chicago's Area 2 and 3 police headquarters. Many of those subjected to abuse confessed to crimes they didn't commit. Some were sentenced to lengthy prison terms and even put on death row. Burge was fired from the police force in 1993 for his role in torturing suspects, but he continued to collect a city pension while residing in Florida until his indictment in late 2008.

Burge isn't being tried for acts of torture--because, according to prosecutors, the statue of limitations has expired--but rather for perjury and obstruction of justice as a result of having lied about his knowledge of torture. His trial is expected to last up to six weeks. If convicted, he faces up to 45 years in prison.

Activists will continue to draw attention to Burge's case, both in order to win some measure of justice for his victims and as a warning to other police officers who continue to torture that their actions will not be tolerated.