Invisible Institute

Accusation Dismissed Archives Slow investigations and a lax disciplinary system allow Chicago police officers to escape punishment for sexual misconduct.

This is the second installment of Accusation Dismissed, our joint investigative series with @propublica.org. Read the previous reporting here: www.propublica.org/series/accusation-dismissed

Chicago Promoted Two Police Officers After Investigators Found They Engaged in Sexual Misconduct The Chicago Police Department’s promotions system allows officers’ disciplinary records to be ignored. Despite years of reform efforts, nothing has changed.

NEW: Two Chicago police officers were investigated for sexual misconduct — then promoted. It wasn’t an oversight. Despite a decades-long reform effort, the Chicago Police Department’s promotions system allows for disciplinary records to be ignored.
www.propublica.org/article/chic...

My latest investigation for @invisible.institute @propublica.org @chicago.suntimes.com

Read the story here: www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/november-2025/the-video-that-shook-chicago/

Ten years ago this month, dashcam footage was released showing Laquan McDonald being shot to death by a police officer. A decade after their historic victory, the key players recount how they helped bring the transformative video to light.

Feds used chemical agents dozens of times in Chicago • The TRiiBE An investigation by reporters from six newsrooms found that agents used chemical irritants nearly 50 times during Operation Midway Blitz.

This investigation was co-produced by @blockclubchi.bsky.social , Cicero Independiente, the Investigative Project on Race and Equity, @invisible.institute, @southsideweekly.bsky.social, and @thetriibe.com.

thetriibe.com/2025/11/feds...

Feds Used Chemical Agents Dozens of Times in Chicago—Even After Judge Said To Stop An investigation by reporters from six newsrooms found that agents used chemical irritants nearly 50 times during Operation Midway Blitz.

We just published a cross-newsroom investigation into the use of tear gas and pepper spray during Operation Midway Blitz. Reporters, photographers, and editors from across Chicago reviewed dozens of videos to build a verified record of how these weapons were used in our neighborhoods.

An investigation by a group of Chicago-area newsrooms and independent journalists found that federal agents used tear gas and pepper spray at least 15 times in Brighton Park on Oct. 4 — more than the Chicago Police Department has used all year.

Read the full story here: tinyurl.com/9avc2xdf

Read the story here: bit.ly/fedsteargas

An investigation by a group of Chicago-area newsrooms and found that federal agents used chemical weapons on protesters at least 49 times across 18 incidents across Chicago and the suburbs since Oct. 1. Read: bit.ly/fedsteargas

Join us on Thursday, November 20th from 6:30 - 8:30pm for our Annual Supporters Convening at the Chicago Athletic Association. The event is free and all are welcome! Register here: invisible.institute/events

Join us on Thursday, November 20th from 6:30 - 8:30pm for our Annual Supporters Convening at the Chicago Athletic Association. The event is free and all are welcome! Register here: invisible.institute/events

nymag.com/intelligencer/article/chicago-resistance-against-trump-and-ice.html

Our longtime collaborator Sarah Conway covered Chicago’s ongoing resistance to ICE for @nymag.com. Read the story here: nymag.com/intelligencer/article/chicago-resistance-against-trump-and-ice.html

Join the Invisible Institute and South Side Weekly on November 2 for an arts showcase honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Margaret T.G. Burroughs, featuring a special performance of “Tuesday” by Mud Theatre. Register here: invisible.institute/events

Join the Invisible Institute and South Side Weekly on November 2 for an arts showcase honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Margaret T.G. Burroughs, featuring a special performance of “Tuesday” by Mud Theatre. Register here: invisible.institute/events

Join the Invisible Institute and South Side Weekly on November 2 for an arts showcase honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Margaret T.G. Burroughs, featuring a special performance of “Tuesday” by Mud Theatre. Register here: invisible.institute/events

Join the Invisible Institute and South Side Weekly on October 26th for a day of art making and community building in honor of the life and legacy of Dr. Margaret T.G. Burroughs. Register here: invisible.institute/events

Read more: bit.ly/southshoreraid

Last week, residents of a South Shore apartment building were jolted awake late at night last week when nearly 300 federal agents, backed by helicopters and flashbang grenades, stormed their homes in a massive immigration raid.

It describes the incidents and underlying conditions that gave rise to Bond v. Utreras, a federal civil rights case that has figured centrally in the public conversation about police accountability in Chicago. Read the story here: viewfromtheground.com/kicking-the-pigeon

“Kicking the Pigeon” is a series of articles by Jamie Kalven published between July 6, 2005 and February 16, 2006 in the View From The Ground.

via @unraveledpress.com, Steve Held has been released.

Chicago journalist detained while covering protest outside Broadview immigration facility • The TRiiBE Video posted to social media shows Unraveled Press co-founder Steve Held being detained by federal agents earlier this evening.

NEW — Video posted to social media shows Unraveled Press co-founder Steve Held being detained by federal agents outside the Broadview immigration facility earlier this evening.

A collection of Chicago newsrooms is calling for his immediate release.

thetriibe.com/2025/09/chic...

This reporter helped expose the falsity of ICE's narrative on the fatal shooting of Silverio Villegas Gonzalez. His work is a perfect example of why we don't have secret police.

Journalists have a constitutional right to cover protests and their aftermath. Release @peoplesfabric.com immediately.

Last week, an agent snatched Steve Held’s reporter credentials and shot chemical weapons at him while he reported on the protests at Broadview. Tonight, federal agents detained him while he was reporting.

We urge for his immediate release.
@peoplesfabric.com @unraveledpress.com

Minnesota police group fights release of undercover officers’ names The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association is suing the Minnesota POST forreleasing the names of undercover police officers to media outlets, but many have already been publiclyidentified.

The Invisible Institute reported on officers in Minnesota a police association says were undercover, but have high-profile uses of force or have been accused of misconduct. Read the story here: bit.ly/mppoalawsuit

View from the Ground

View From the Ground is a public digital archive of Jamie Kalven & Patricia Evans’ reporting from the State Street Corridor during Chicago’s Plan for Transformation. This period of reporting is our organization's origin story. Read the archives here: www.viewfromtheground.com

In 2000, the CHA launched its “Plan for Transformation” to demolish high-rise public housing buildings and replace them with mixed-income housing. Twenty-five years later, many former residents remain displaced and affordable housing is still scarce.

Have a car? Our reporting team focused on sexual assault by the Chicago Police plans to distribute copies of our investigation and findings about assault within the department.
If you’d like to volunteer at the end of September, sign up here: bit.ly/btsprintdistro