CHICAGO _ Former Bears standout Matt Forte stood on a platform in downtown's James R. Thompson Center plaza_ his makeshift stage _ and read a statement appealing for Cook County to change how it establishes bail for people awaiting trial.
"We must lead the movement to end the money bail system," the retired running back said during the Tuesday morning rally. "In America, we promise equal justice for rich, for poor, for black, for white, for men and women, and yet we're not holding up to our end of the bargain in Chicago.
"There are 2,500 people held in (Cook County) jail mostly because _ they're not (found) guilty _ they can't pay to get out."
Forte alluded to an estimated number of current inmates, according to the Chicago Community Bond Fund, a charitable bail fund that organized the rally.
Tuesday marked the one-year anniversary of Cook County Circuit Chief Judge Timothy Evans' order requiring judges to set affordable bail amounts for defendants charged with nonviolent felonies, which authorities credited with a historic drop in Cook County Jail's inmate population _ 5,909 in late December. The current count of 6,314 inmates represents a 15 percent reduction (1,176 inmates) from a year ago, according to data the judge's office released Tuesday. Just five years ago, the overall inmate population was about 10,000.
While activists have applauded the smaller overall jail population, they expressed concern that the number of inmates, particularly those held on unpaid money bonds, has crept up again since December.
Sharlyn Grace, co-executive director at the bond fund, said that the county's judges have set high bonds in direct conflict with Evans' order and noted that activists want to abolish the cash bail system altogether, like California did this summer when Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law set to take effect in October 2019.
"It is definitely the case that many judges in Cook County continue to set money bonds in amounts that people cannot afford to pay, which sends them to jail solely as a result of their poverty," Grace said. "And what we're calling for is an Illinois Supreme Court rule that would basically mirror the Cook County rule. It would have more enforcement power, it would have hopefully more oversight and more weight with the judges. We're also calling for enforcement of this order in the meantime."
The fund's campaign aligns with a national movement spearheaded in part by Malcolm Jenkins and Anquan Boldin's Players Coalition, which tapped Forte to represent the cause in Chicago through Forte's former Jets teammate Demario Davis.
"The Players Coalition, the great thing about it, is they have a lot of different fronts that they are fighting against," Forte said. "We can as players kind of pick and choose whatever your passion is about. I'm all about helping anyone who has been wronged or injustice of any type."
Since he announced his retirement in February, Forte has spread his wings as an activist.
At the Bears' request, he went on a police ride-along in the 6th District with Gresham District Cmdr. William Bradley in July.
"I think they chose me because I have a foundation and I mentor a lot of youth down on the South Side, and that is where the district was," Forte said.
"(The ride-along) was very revealing to me (about) how hard their jobs are, but also how the community is scarred by so many police officers that have done something wrong or made a mistake or did something bad and that haven't been convicted of those crimes," he said. "We have to find some kind of middle ground, some kind of common ground, where police can't be looked at as all of them are bad."
Forte credited the Players Coalition for creating a culture and support network for tackling social issues, which has included criminal justice reform, racial equality and economic empowerment.
"We're doing many things," he said. "(Bears linebacker and union rep) Sam Acho is a good friend of mine. I haven't reached out to him yet in regards to anything about this, but I will be doing that because he's here in Chicago. Colin (Kaepernick) is doing a great thing. He has been doing a lot of great things in the community himself.
"We're just trying to motivate and inspire a lot more professional athletes who have this platform to get up and not sit back in our houses because we've been paid millions for playing a game, but to fight for others who need it."
