Fox News commentator and political analyst Gianno Cald-well is set to give testimony before the House Judiciary Committee in Chicago on Tuesday. The focus of his testimony will be how progressive “soft-on-crime” policies are transforming the city into what he describes as an “active warzone.” Cald-well, a native of Chicago’s South Side, tragically lost his younger brother to gun violence in June 2022. In his opening statement, he expresses gratitude to Chairman Jordan for the opportunity to speak and acknowledges Congressman Burgess Owens for his support in making his appearance possible.
Cald-well introduces himself as someone who has been involved in public service since the age of 14, working for his local alderman with the hope of making a positive change in his community plagued by violence, crime, and drugs. He shares how he later moved to Washington, DC, to pursue the same goals and became a political consultant and national media analyst and TV personality. However, he emphasizes that he would rather not be speaking before the committee today, but feels compelled to do so due to the countless innocent victims of murder and violent crime in his hometown.
He criticizes the elected officials in Chicago for ignoring the voices of the people, resulting in significant consequences for the city’s residents. He highlights how numerous businesses, like Ken Griffin’s Citadel, have left Chicago due to the skyrocketing crime rates, causing a loss of tax revenue and opportunities for the community. Cald-well attributes these issues to the policies implemented by the Cook County Prosecutor, Chicago’s recent mayors, the Governor, and other politicians throughout Illinois. He accuses these officials of recklessly disregarding their responsibilities to the people they represent, leading to a situation where mostly Black individuals are being killed on the streets of Chicago.
Cald-well shares his personal experience of losing his teenage brother to a senseless act of violence. He vividly describes how his brother was gunned down by a stranger in what the police believe was a case of mistaken identity. He highlights other tragic incidents, such as the murder of a 7-year-old girl at a McDonald’s drive-thru, to emphasize the harsh reality that living in Chicago often feels like a death sentence for many residents. Cald-well laments the lost potential of his brother and the numerous youths in Chicago who have had their lives cut short by such violence.
Refusing to accept that his brother’s death should be just another statistic among the hundreds of homicides in Chicago, Cald-well asserts that there is still so much untapped potential in the city. However, he points out that much of this potential has been lost due to the alarming increase in violent crime. He notes that Chicago recently experienced its highest number of homicides in over 25 years, and 2023 is on track to be just as deadly. Cald-well confesses his feelings of defeat since his brother’s murder and shares the pain of knowing that so many others have also suffered similar losses.
Cald-well declares that Chicago has become an active warzone, with people living in constant fear and unable to go about their daily lives without risking their safety. He attributes this situation to the progressive “soft-on-crime” policies that have been implemented, such as prosecutors refusing to prosecute, the decriminalization of offenses, the Safe T Act that eliminates cash bail, and the “no-chase” policy that restricts the police from performing their duties effectively. Cald-well argues that these policies have effectively become a death sentence for the people of Chicago since criminals feel emboldened by the lack of consequences for their actions.
He criticizes the elected officials for endangering the lives of all Chicago residents, particularly those belonging to marginalized communities. Cald-well highlights the disproportionately high number of Black men being killed in the city compared to their population percentage. He urges Congress to use its authority over funding to prioritize the protection of citizens. He suggests allocating resources for hiring and training more police officers, implementing programs addressing the root causes of crime, providing extra funding for funerals of innocent victims, supporting community policing initiatives, and increasing funding for programs that help reintegrate formerly incarcerated individuals into society.
Finally, Cald-well calls for the involvement of the FBI in helping to solve murder cases in cities like Chicago. He shares his frustration when he learned that the detective handling his brother’s case had prioritized other matters before attending to it fully. Cald-well concludes by emphasizing the urgent need for action and the duty of Congress and the federal government to address the dire situation in Chicago and other cities facing similar challenges.
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