One of the most urgent decisions facing Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson is whom to appoint as police superintendent. The job description is daunting, as Chicago is facing a dual crisis: devastatingly high rates of gun violence and a police department lacking trust from the community it exists to serve.
These challenges are symptomatic of national trends on gun violence and police legitimacy, both of which disproportionately affect Black Americans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2020, 61% of all gun homicide victims were Black, despite Black people representing only 12.5% of the population. Meanwhile, vividly publicized homicides by the police have sent Americans’ public opinion of the police to new lows.
For too long, conversations about the dual crises of gun violence and police legitimacy have existed in silos. As a result, we’ve largely failed to discuss and adopt what’s needed most: solutions that address both social justice crises simultaneously.
