On March 29, Chicago, Illinois police chased 13-year-old Adam Toledo into an alley and shot him when he raised his hands, killing the unarmed seventh grader. In recently released body camera footage, police demand that the boy show his hands. When he did so, police opened fire.

The murder comes at a time when calls for justice for police killings have never been stronger, including the ongoing murder trial of Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis and the murder of 20-year-old Dante Wright by Officer Kim Porter just a few days ago.

At an April 2 press conference (opens in new tab), the Toledo mother, who did not know her son had been killed until two days after the shooting, demanded answers from Chicago police. "They had a lot of options," she told reporters, visibly emotional, and said the officers "could have shot him in the leg or the arm ... I don't know, but they didn't kill my baby," she indicated.

The man who killed Toledo, 34-year-old white police officer Eric E. Stillman, is currently on administrative leave and under investigation by the Citizens Office of Police Accountability (COPA), but has not yet been arrested or fired.

In the wake of yet another officer shooting and killing an unarmed person of color, there are calls to cut off funding to the Chicago Police Department and instead put the money into underfunded schools and communities. The Chicago Teachers Union issued a statement saying, "Adam's murder is tragic and all too common. But on Monday, when Adam's friends and educators return to the school community, they will not have sustained support to help them cope with their grief and trauma."

The release of the video, which clearly shows Toledo being asked by officers to raise his hands and then complying, has led to calls for the arrest of Eric E. Stillman According to the Invisible Institute (opens in new tab), Stillman s file contains three and four uses of force between 2017 and 2020.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said at a press conference, "Simply put, we failed Adam."

There are several ways to seek justice for Adam Toledo.

The petition calls for separating CPD and instead using its resources to invest in drug treatment, mental health services, and homeless services.

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Children First Fund (CFF) will match donations to improve Chicago Public Schools and provide improved resources for children.

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The group seeks justice for Adam Toledo and other victims of police violence.

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ICHG has partnered with the Center for Gun Violence Prevention and Education to raise awareness of this issue and provide training, resources and gun prevention education.

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The charity is taking a multi-pronged approach to reducing gun violence by 80% over five years through outreach, education, counseling, and other means.

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CFS conducts youth programs and trainings to educate young people on how to participate in social change.

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You can donate to bail funds across the country, including the Chicago Community Bond Fund.

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Campaign Zero aims to end police brutality in America.

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Demand transparency and justice for victims of police brutality.

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This post will be updated as more resources become available.