Chance the Rapper Criticizes Chicago Aldermen for $95m 'Cop Academy'

Chance the Rapper was among several activists who appeared at the Chicago City Council chambers on November 8 to criticize a planned $95 million public safety training campus, arguing that funds were needed for schools and mental health services.Mayor Rahm Emanuel was in attendance for the first 30 minutes of the public participation session, but left before Chance the Rapper, whose real name is Chancelor Bennett, spoke. Bennett made note of the mayor’s absence as he began his speech, adding: “But it’s cool. It’s cool, ’cause I’m here to talk to you guys right now.”The musician asked the chamber not to fund the facility, which opponents branded a “cop academy” and, along with several other speakers, called on the council to spend money on underfunded schools and mental health.Also present were teachers and students from the publicly-funded National Teachers Academy (NTA) elementary school, some of whom spoke against the council plans to turn the NTA into a high school. One female student became emotional while speaking to the chamber, after telling alderman, “It’s not okay for you to take away something that’s made us a whole, and taught us valuable lessons, to give it to someone else who hasn’t worked as hard as we have.” Credit: Twitter/niketasays via Storyful