Mary Mitchell

Mary,

Let's do somthing totally different today. Let's show the good side of the city, the good side of a city employee and not look at black and white. Try hard. I think and hope you can do that. Here is a good article to run.

As a fellow Chicago Firefighter, I was appauled at the medias coverage of
Firefighter William Grant's funeral. No one covered it live and the web
casts that were availale kept freezing and going out. I unfortunately had
to work as did hundreds of other Chicago firefighters. I was glued to the
television at 10:30 and only bits and pieces were aired. Did anyone besides
this mans family and firefighters across the country care? I gues hard
work, dedication and duty are not news worthy.

Yes, it was beautiful. Yes, it was large and impresive. Yes, is was
extremely sad. Yes, it was something that is usually reserved for heads of
state. But that's not what it was about and that was the only reason the
media covered it. It was about a great man, a geat father, a great husband
and a great firefighter. Nothing more. The show was not what was
important. It was the man. Heroes like him deserve more. A hero was laid
to rest. And more importantly, we lost a hero.

I really wonder where peoples priorities are. You can turn the TV on any
time of the day and hear about Anna Nicole Smith or turn on any local news
and watch that apphauling video of that cop beating the female bartender.
What is really important to us?

White, Black & Hispanic. Male and Female. Catholics, Jews, Muslims and
Athiests. Republicans and Democrats. All finally comming together for a
brief moment putting all our differences together to do something good and
something positive. Honor a great man, a great father, a great husband and
a great firefighter.

I have been on the job for a little under two years. I am the fifth
generation in my family to proudly wear the badge of a Chicago firefighter.
I unfortunately never had the chance to meet William Grant. I pray for him
and his family every night as do my four children. I pray that I can become
the type of firefighter he was and that I will be able to honor my family,
The City of Chicago and The Chicago Fire Department as he did. He gave the
ultimate sacrifice for this city and for all it's residents. Every single
man and woman in a Chicago Fire Department uniform that was in attendance at
the funeral or at the firehouses scattered throughout the city is of the
same character.

We were all hurt beyond belief at the loss of this man. He was the type
that all firefighters could look up to and try and emmulate. The motto of
The Chicago Fire Department is "We're there when you need us!". Where was
the media when we needed them. Where was "What's Really Important!"

When a bad cop or bad firefighter screws up, it's front page news or they
break into your favorite show with all the nasty details. Is this the only
news people care about any more?

What was important was Queen of Martyrs and Saint John Fisher schools
allowing all the children to line 103rd street and honor this man. What was
impotant was the hundreds of people who had no duty to honor this man come
out of their houses and walk blocks to watch the funeral procession pass
by.

I guess being a firefighter instills you with different values. I guess we
place importance on different things. The people in the media and the
station managers at our local stations should be ashamed and embarrased. It
would have been a great opportunity to show our children the story of a
great man, working in a great city and for a great fire department. It
would have been good to use William Grant's story to highlight dedication to
his family and to his job.

Does the media and news care? The Chicago Fire Department and William Grant
cared. We actualy dont care in a different yet good way. We don't care
who's house it is. We'll be there. We don't care what color or race you
are. We'll be there. We don't care what time it is. We'll be there. We
don't care what dangers we face. We'll be there.

Mary,

I am a black man in my early 30's and needless to say I have been stopped numerous times by the police. But my biggest issue with police isn't the race issue (which we all know it there), but the fact that most cops forget they are civil servants. Most of of them ride around town with serve and protect on their vehicles, and i'm sure they don't know the words are there.

Mary, I'll take a slightly different turn to your title, "Thank God Karolina is a white woman". Mary, it should have been, "Thank God the camera was working in that tavern." Unfortunately, the Jon Burge victims didn't have benefit of the camera. And I have questions I wish were answered. Where's Jesse Jackson? He use to always criticize bad police. He still does in New York City (Diallo tragedy). But isn't Jackson a Chicago resident? Unarmed African-Americans Latanya Haggarty and Robert Russ both get shot dead and he's quiet. Oh, perhaps its because the bad cops were all black. Or maybe he only goes after bad police in cities where the mayors are republicans. Still, the rogue cop who beat-up Karolina was white. Oh, maybe its because Karolina was white. Hey, where is Wallace 'Gator' Bradley? He's always on this blog bringing up the Burge controversy. He's always going after the police department. So why not now? Gator, you still around? Or are the police exempt if the victims they beat up not blacks? Then again, maybe Gator's computer is not working properly. Because I figured he'd have been the first guy pointing-fingers.

PS: Mary and everybody, as far as terrible police go, please never forget those Ford Heights policemen who stood by and let a gang of thugs perform that hate crime and dose that white man with gasoline in a brutal murder. And then setting him on fire. That was probably the most disgusting as far bad police work goes.

I'm with you on many of your opinions and will concede that cops often are more aggressive toward blacks. But this isn't one of those times. It has nothing to do with white and black in this case and everything to do with being recorded on camera. These things happen all the time. They made all the threats against the bartender and bar owner and tried to cover it all up; they pulled an incredible stunt at the arraignment. The four guys that six cop-thugs beat up were white.

I don't know where you get the idea that these thugs only abuse minorities. Those of us that have been around long enough to be street smart know way better. These people are blue in color and everybody else in the world is of some lesser color.
When a black woman was killed in the passenger seat of a car running from a cop car a few years ago she was shot by a gun toting crazy cop that was order not to chase but she chased the car anyway, pulled up on the right side and at a high rate of speed pulled a cowboy shot that killed the passenger in a traffic thing. She lost her job for killing an innocent person against direct orders. Wonder what would have happened if I shot an innocent person - think I'd lose my job? The victim and the shooter were both black women in that case.

A bunch of off-duty Sheriffs Deputy thugs in Countryside beat a man to death at a wedding party and if I remember right hardly got a slap on the hand. The victim was white and most if not all of the killing deputies were white.

As I say, these thugs are blue and everybody else is a lesser color.

What if the cop was black and the girl white? Then, of course you would have nothing to say, and you would write a column on how white's have not properly allowed the education of that black man and that is why he beat up the girl, it was all he knew, just a poor soul.
Thats sad, even when the cop is white and the girl is white, you have to bring up race! That's really grasping at straws, or creating them if you will.

For all those wondering...Mary is interested in promoting black issues and current events that impact black people. I have no problem with that and I'm white. It doesn't advance the cause or popularity for Mary, Jessie, (pick a Reverend) to stand by a white person impacted by racism. Why would it benefit Mary to discuss a story about a white person getting beat up in a racially charged fight?
This is not a discussion about race - it is a discussion about issues facing black people. I cannot identify with that day in and day out. The only blogs from white people will of course counter Mary's arguments and points of view. If it takes a beating of a white women by a white cop to help black people, that's her view.

The person most fortunate that the bartender is white is Abbate himself. Because whatever jail time he is going to get for this crime, the time would be double if the victim were black. Because in today's racist, anti-white system that we have a white life is not worth as much as a black life. To Steuben, you are obviously a very intelligent and informed young man.

Yes - Jesse Jackson has sat quietly in the midst of this horrible event, as he should. Why, you ask? Because Karolina and the rest of White America already have a voice. One that is seen and heard everyday on every media outlet in the western hemisphere. Karolina has been and will continue to be spoken for everyday. Specifically by Supt. Cline. Our communities (the black ones) need a voice so that is why everytime there is a tragedy in one of our communities you will see Jesse, Al and others - because for now, they are our voice. Now, I cannot speak for Ms. Mitchell, however as I read her blog - my interpretation of her message was to point out that rogue cops may now actually have to answer for their misdeeds. The Anthony Abbattes of the CPD have have been roaming Englewood, Woodlawn, Roseland and other black neighborhoods for years. Beating us, stealing from us, planting dope on us, disrespecting us and KILLING US and not much has been done about it. CPD does not always hold cops accountable for their actions, as civilians are, when in actuality police officers should be held to a higher standard. Mayor Daley and Phil Cline should DEMAND a higher standard of behavior from police officers toward citizens and up until now they haven't. But now that a cop has done a white woman wrong, maybe Phil and Rich Daley WILL do something about the "thugs" on their police force. Yes - the headline says Thank God Karolina was a white woman - but read beyond the headline people. Maybe now cops will be held accountable for their actions and predecent will be set that this type of behavior is NOT allowed. When Jeremiah Mearday was beaten by two thug cops back in 1997 and photos of his injuries were plastered all over the news, what happened? Exactly. Not only are you scratching your heads asking who is Jeremiah Mearday, you're scrambling for an answer to the question. I'll answer it for you. Nothing. Yes the cops were eventually fired, but no criminal charges were brought against them and they broke this young man's jaw and bloodied him up pretty badly, not to mention planted drugs on him. Mearday and his family suffered intimidation and harassment from CPD cops familiar with his name and face for years after the incident to the point that they had to change residences, more than once I believe. Cops still abuse and KILL minorities at alarming rates. Now that a white woman has been the victim of the ways of a rogue cop - maybe the powers that be will listen to what we (black folks) have been SHOUTING for years. Cops (some, not all) are out of control and something needs to be done about it. Daley said after the Mearday incident (and I quote) "An officer who commits brutality will be looking at penetentiary time. . ." Nice quote for the papers but we all know he was a lie because Serena Daniels is walking the streets (the cop who killed LaTanya Haggerty). Now that the victim was named Karolina instead of Marquesha - maybe Daley will make a truthful man out of himself.

This is to the attention of Tom Cook......

I completely agree with you on your point. Why didn't the media cover it live on TV? I thought it should have been covered live on the networks. But who are we kidding.

I too sat glued to my computer trying to watch the live stream coverage. As the daughter of a retired firefighter, who when he was on the force has a few close calls, it was heart breaking to watch, but I had to.

Although I do not know the Grant family, my heart breaks for them. I do know of firemen that were close to him and were ones to have to recover his body from under the firetruck. These people are struggling to get past it.

Heres a blog idea Ms. Mitchell......

Why not do one on the fact that the bus driver did not "hear or see the firetruck"

That is the biggest lie I have ever heard. Why you ask?

(1) I live 6 blocks from the firehouse in Mt Greenwood and I will tell you that at 6 blocks away, I can hear the ambulances and fire trucks at all odd hours of the night. You mean to tell me she could not hear the firetruck right in front of her? Give me a break.

(2) If you watched the reconstruction of what happened, she clipped the back of the firetruck, not the front. You mean to tell me besides not hearing the firetrucks sirens, she could not see something that clearly was already in her path? How fast was she driving? Was she blasting music, talking on a cell phone, I could go on and on.

All I can say is this..... thank god she does not drive a school bus for my child or other children that I know. They said her driving record was clean, it was not. She had 6 violations, maybe not driving a bus, but she still has moving violations.

In all reality she should (and I hope) lose her job. Besides the fact she has to live with what she did for the rest of her life, She should have had to watch the Honorable service they had for Firefighter Grant.

To the Attention of Mary Mitchell..... you are quick to discuss race issues. Do you only address them when it is a black person who is the victim by a white person? Is this issue not worthy of your attention? It apparently seems so.

Mitchell comment:

What is the race issue you want to address? Are you saying that the school bus driver intentionally slammed into the fire truck because the firefighter was white? Is that your point?

I believe that some things will change as a result of the color of the victim in the case of Karolina Obrycka.

However, a major problem with the Chicago Police Department is that it has a conflict of interest in investigating itself. The Chicago Police Department and the Office of Professional Standards should be separated having both the Superintendent of Police and the Administrator (or Director)serving at the pleasure of the Mayor and reporting to the Mayor.

The Superintendent of Police should not head the Office of Professional Standards as it is an obtrusive conflict of interest. Then and only then shall we see major improvements to the Chicago Police Department and racial desparities in the CPD. The Superintendent and the OPS Director should instill in each Officer that no one is above the law and that they will uphold the law as if they were any other civilian.
And that's Accountibility.

You're thankful that a white woman took this hellacious beating rather than a black woman in order to create change...ahh yes...journalism at its finest!

Mitchell comment:

Cheryl, that's not what I wrote. That's your characterization. My point is this, if Karolina had been a black woman, people like you would have said she deserved it.

I understand whaat Mary is saying. I too had the same reaction to Supt.Cline's comment that this was the worst thing to tarnish the reputation of the hicago Police force in history. This was absolutely horrible and thank God for the video camara, but John Burgess systematic tortue over a period of time with the full knowledge of the powers that be, not just his commanding officer and a few cops, that this man can never be charged for his many crimes I believe, does far more damage to the police department reputation. This incident just adds to the legacy of John Burgess that there are certain men and women in blue who believe they can get away literally with murder and the department will cover it up as long as there are no camaras involved.

I must say to all those brave men & women in blue who risk their lives everyday to protect us, who truly believe in the justice system, because there are many out there, why are you allowing these people to demean you and what you stand for by not standing up to the corruption and hatred within in your own ranks?

I don't know what infuriated me more...having a friend of mine getting brutally beaten up by a cop and having to watch it over and over on T.V., or having some myopic columnist who can't seem to think except in terms of skin color, try to turn this into a racial soapbox to preach the gospel of "black victimhood".

Mitchell comment:

Yes, but I'm right about it.

Not once was the fact mentioned on this blog that the victim in this particular case was a Polish immigrant. I dunno, but that very well may have been what infuriated the police officer and drove him to pound that "white" female. How could someone of what he may have considered a lower class tell him that he could no longer guzzle his swill at that establishment.

You forget that immigrants are many times thought of as lower or second-class citizens also, in many cases Polskies.

I do have to concur that Burge leapfrogs over this incident in terms of tarnishing the image of those responsible for protecting this city, though.

As I read the posts on this particular post it is obvious just how many different points of view exist regarding this subject. There are opinions based on occupation, race, gender, relationship to the victim, etc. Why is it that responders find it difficult to view the comments posted by Ms. Mitchell objectively? What is so difficult about putting yourself in Mary's shoes and responding to her point? The police need to be held accountable regardless of the complexion of those who are victimized by them.

Some of you have had encounters with members of the CPD. Some of these may have been positive, while others were not. Can you honestly say that when you hear the siren screech behind you that you don't get a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach? Maybe you were only driving a couple of miles over the limit. Maybe you had just one drink. Do you ever worry that the encounter will turn out badly? Guess what, blacks worry about that the majority of the time when they hear a siren behind them. And it isn’t only because they were breaking the law.

Are you blind to the plight of people who on a regular basis suffer such injustices as Karolina suffered from Abbate? Start asking questions such as:
1) What would have happened had not the video recorded this beating?
2) Why was Karolina threatened by the police following this incident?
3) What did the police do after Karolina reported the incident?
4) Why in the face of obvious guilt would any officer say that Abbate is being treated as guilty before proven innocent?
5) What sort of society do we live in where citizens are reluctant to stop an unjustified attack because they fear reprisals from the police?

These are questions that can be applied to any race, any ethnic background or any socio-economic condition.

My last question to each of you...what would you want done if Karolina was your sister, wife, friend or mother? Wouldn't you want that officer and any other treated like the citizens they are "sworn" to protect?

To Tom Cook, I have and continue to believe that firefighters are the only true heroes in society. I would expect the driver of that bus to be charged with vehicular homicide.

There is no way that we can know for sure that that this story got the press that it did due to the race of the victim. The purpose of blogs like this is to raise viewpoints that no one in the mainstream media is willing to discuss. I agree with Mary, and find pleasure in reading the hilarious reactions of those who disagree with her.

To Stacey, as someone who grew up in Mt. Greenwood but who no longer lives there, I would like to commend the neighborhood for making sure that the people who tried to murder Ryan Rusch last summer in Beverly Park were not given special treatment by the authorities. I still know many people there and I was told that the neighborhood really stepped up and put pressure on the authorities to do their jobs.

Mary,
I haven't lived in Chicago for five years. I still try to keep up with local news through friends and family. I have read your column numerous times. Most times I have agreed. Sometimes I haven't agreed.
I read about the police superintendent stepping down and that lead to the other articles about Karolina Obrycka being beaten by the off-duty cops.
This is one of the few times I have been so moved to right and comment that I couldn't see straight at the ignorance and self-centered views of some many Chicago residents. I lived in Chicago for over 30 years and feel I have a right to express my opinion as you get paid to do. Many of your readers seem to forget that as well.
I could go on and on about the racism that has rained down on blacks in Chicago over the centuries of its existence but I am sure that everyone who reads your paper has access to the public library just as I do. Though, they don't teach black history in most schools and most black students could tell you American history on their heads, they don't know much about their own people. Ms. Karolina Obrycka's friend talks about your myopic view and the "gospel of black victimhood" but I would like Gerry to help me to explain to my son why I came home with a cracked headlight after work when I went through Marquette Park. Please,Gerry, explain to my black son in terms he can understand why he sees black men getting pulled over in our neighborhood and checked for license and registration and handcuffed while its being done. Please explain to him why your friend's beating got so much media attention and the rape and murder of black girls in the park steps from his door never got a peep even though many of us called the media. I don't enjoy knowing your friend was brutalized by anyone but it doesn't diminish the documented yet unrecognized plight of black in Chicago. Ms Mitchell has her right and obligation to voice her opinion about black issues in Chicago. You have a right to disagree with her opinion but you don't have a right to diminish the history of racism blacks experience and still endure. Read,Gerry,Read! Read about someone else's plight and be thankful that your friend lived because there are numerous blacks who did not survive their beatings.

Hi Ms. Mitchell,I totally agree with your article. I don't see what was so hard to understand. African Americans have been screeming Bloody murder for decades, with no effect. I'm the proud son of a retired African American Chicago Police officer. When my Father started with the force, he stayed in trouble with White Irish cops. He stayed in so much BS, with the white cops, that the African American cops formed the AAPL(African American Patrolmans League). I can tell you so many Horror stories,about white police beatings,upon Black civilians as well as Black cops. That the dismantling of the White Bartender would seem like a Walt disney movie. To answer the question, is Chicago the most Rasist city today or ever. Take a look at Martin Luther Kings archives about Chicago, he stated that this was one of the worst cities that he has ever visited, it was worst than Mississippi. Also when a race of people get together to change Laws and disciplinary procedures, that protect their race first, that to me is Racism. When M.L.King visited Chicago in the early sixties. He was belted with stones and called the N word all while he was here. White men were caught who threw the stones. They were caught by African American Police Officers. They were turned over to the White police Officers. To make a long story short, they never reached the police department for arrest. They were let go by the white cops.(True story, by my Father, who was one of the ones who caught the suspects). If it takes a White woman to get her head bashed in to get change, so be it. What will it take to stop the overflow of drugs and guns into our neighborhoods, I hope NOT ANOTHER WHITE BARTENDER!!!

I am absolutely disgusted by the excuses being made on this board about police brutality. It doesn't matter if the cops were black or white or if the victims were black or white. I understand Ms. Mitchell's point concerning the brutality that blacks experience at the hands of white cops, but the point still remains that police brutality is a pox on our society and we the citizens should not stand for it in any shape, form or fashion.

We should demand that when any police officer is charged and indicted for brutality against a citizen, they should be fired immediately and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The race or ethnicity of the police officer is a non-issue. They are charged and hold one of the greatest responsibilities in our society, to serve and protect. If they are not capable of doing that, then they should not have the job. Their mandate, to serve and protect, does not give them the right to brutalize anyone.

Please refrain from being hung up on the small picture and look at the big picture. If these cops, and almost every police force has them, are allowed to get away with brutalizing the citizenry, how long do you believe it will be before one of you is at the receiving end of a baton, a Taser, fists, kicks and so on?

Hey Mary, You should have thought more about the title of this column. I get your point but I think you're really lost and too caught up in the race issue. Do you really believe that things will change wihtin the police department? Some policies might change and some new training might result. But do you really think that it will benefit blacks? Not a chance. The best case scenerio would have been Abbate as the white offender and Karolina as a black victim. But significant members of the black community have to step forward and bring this issue to the attention of the world as those in the know have done for Karolina. You've made another mistake Mary and relied upon the white man to help you out again!!!

Mitchell comment:

So what would your column title have been. As for the white man helping me out, what the heck are you talking about?

everytime you assign racism to an event you are responsible for perpetuating it. QUIT IT! Yes, racism, sexism, all isms exist but write responsibly. Karolina has gotten attention because it was TAPED just like RODNEY KING. REMEMBER THAT???????? And justice was just as/and swift. I am so tired of this irresponsible and unchanging defensive attitude. I don't live my life acting victimized because I am a woman and of Irish descent. Stop the blame game and get on with the richness of life.

Mitchell comment:

No. You QUIT IT!!! Yes, the Rodney King beating was videotaped and you remember what happened. Although the videotape was shown repeatedly, the cops initially got off, didn't they? Do you really believe they would have gotten off if Rodney King had been white.
If you are tired of this attitude then become pro-active about racism, sexism and all the other isms instead of demanding that I stop writing about it. You don't get to tell me what I should be writing about, As for the richness of life, I'm enjoying mine.

I really feel this topic is a white folks problem. This was a white on white crime and I frankly think that blacks commenting on it are intruding and putting their two cents in where it doesn't belong. Speaking for myself I only get outraged about a crime when it is black on white crime. I pay very little attention to black on black crime because I feel it is none of my business. I understand the premise for this topic is that blacks say this has happened to them for years, and that maybe now something will be done about it because the victim is white. But I don't buy it because I don't think this is a police department issue. The guy was off duty, and what his occupation was is kind of irrelevant. He could have been an off duty accountant, bus driver, construction worker, investment banker or newspaper columnist. He was a guy who can't handle his liquor, and I have known many guys like that who are not cops. Remember, he was not making an arrest or pulling over a motorist to write a ticket. He was a drunk who was looking for trouble.

ok Mary - your prior blog called your respondents an "angry mob" and yet your response to Cheryl above was nothing less. She criticized your position, albeit sarcastically, and you essentially characterize her as a racist. You have been accused by many here as being a racist as well...does that mean it should be your defense as well?

I think a reasonable person should be able to disagree with your position here. It's your opinion..it's not a set in stone as a definitive answer. The fact that is was captured on video is the reason Cline was canned (my opinion)...

Mitchell comment:

That's your opinion and you are entitled to it.

Hey everybody, CAMERA's, CAMERA's, CAMERA's. Again, thats what caught the police red-handed. Of course, there have been rogue police for many many many years. And I'm still waiting for Gator Bradley to say, "I told you so." I guess being an Urban Translator has him too busy for computer use. And yes people, this was NOT as bad as Jon Burge, an ultimate thug. And definately NOT as bad as the Ford Heights Police. Bigger thugs then even Burge, if that is possible.

to Black Wiseman: You are right on some points. Blacks have been getting harrassed and beaten by rogue cops for years. As have some whites (not as many I'll admit) and hispanics. And yes, Chicago is the MOST racist city in America. Sorry folks, it is. I spend alot of time in San Antonio. And while you do have your richer and poorer neighborhoods per se, its a division by wealth and not race. There is no longer (I'm not familiar before the 70's) a black side of town, such as the westside here, and a white side of town. EVERY neighborhood has every race of person. And not just some tokens, either. So Black Wiseman, I do know where your going with that. And we ALL know how Dr. King was a target of taunts and bricks, and what have you. I (I'm white) have been taunted with 'white mother f**ker', honkie, what have you' by blacks as they assembled when I use to install meters in black neighborhoods. More then once, too, may I add. And I bet other whites who use this blog have similar stories. You know what was different in my situation. I didn't have no politicians or columnists calling me telling me how bad they felt. NOBODY and NO GROUP has a 'halo' over their head. Yes, the black community probably is rampant with drugs and guns (so is the white neighborhood, if they'd own up to it). You know what though, just don't blame white people. NOBODY is mak