As Chicago experiences a surge in COVID-19 cases, data shows the city’s 2020 homicide rate outpacing 2019. We speak with Jamal Cole, founder of My Block, My Hood, My City, as part of our series.
Firsthand

Following one of Chicago’s most violent summers in recent history, officials and advocates are stressing the importance of mental health care for victims of violence and their families — but access to those services can be difficult.

A mass shooting injures at least 15 people outside a funeral home in the city’s Auburn Gresham neighborhood. How community leaders are responding to the gun violence crisis.
CPD to deploy 1,200 additional officers each day of Fourth of July weekend

“As a dad ... I struggle to make sense of the reckless gun violence that continues to take the lives of our young people throughout the city,” Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown said after 14 people were killed over the weekend.

With 49 shot and 10 killed over Memorial Day weekend, Mayor Lori Lightfoot is ripping her new police superintendent’s strategies. “This was a fail and whatever the strategy is, it didn’t work,” Lightfoot said.

Even in the shadow of the pandemic, gun violence in Chicago has not stopped. How the fight against COVID-19 is affecting the fight against violent crime.

What’s behind the spike in gun violence this year? And what can be done to stanch it? As part of our WTTW Firsthand initiative, we take a closer look at the problem – and possible solutions.

Northwestern sociology professor Andrew Papachristos has a striking idea when it comes to thinking about shootings in Chicago. He and local advocate Franklin Cosey-Gay tell us about their work with data and research.

As part of our special episode on gun violence, we discuss the policies being proposed at the state and federal level with U.S. Reps. Robin Kelly and Jesus “Chuy” Garcia and state Rep. La Shawn Ford.

As part of WTTW’s new documentary series “Firsthand: Gun Violence,” five experts offer big ideas in “Firsthand Talks” sessions for addressing gun violence in Chicago. Four of those experts join us in discussion.

WTTW’s new digital documentary series “Firsthand: Gun Violence” follows the stories of five Chicagoans whose lives have been touched by shootings. Three of them join us in discussion.

A new documentary series from WTTW looks at how gun violence affects Chicagoans – and what some of them are doing to stem it. We speak with “Firsthand” director and producer Dan Protess.
