#StopITOA Campaign | Fall 2016

The #StopITOA campaign was an effort to stop an anti-Muslim, hyper-militarized police training called the Illinois Tactical Officers Association (ITOA). Organizers chose ITOA as a target because of its direct involvement in training and arming Cook County officers, even utilizing empty school buildings as training grounds. 

The campaign organizers held teach-ins on police militarization in Illinois, co-organized press conferences, launched a petition, and held call-in days to stop the conference, culminating in a rally and street blockade on the day of the Chicago Marathon on Michigan Avenue.

Lead organizations of the campaign included CAIR-Chicago, AFSC-Chicago, For The People Artists Collective, and Assata’s Daughters. FTP Artists Collective supported the campaign through lead decision-making, hosting art builds, creating memes and graphics, banner designing and painting, and participating in direct action.
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Old Website: #StopITOA: End the militarization of our communities
Video: #StopITOA street blockade
Photos: #StopITOA street blockade

Independent Media Coverage of #StopITOA Campaign

11/16/2016  -  Schooled in Terror: The Tactical Trainings Where Cops Militarize Their Brutality  |  TruthOut
10/18/2016  -  4 Things You Need to Know About Police, Militarization, and Islamophobia  |  JooJoo Azad
10/18/2016  -  I Was Arrested for Protesting Police Brutality  |  Muslim Girl ​
​10/17/2016  -  Activists Shut Down Michigan Avenue to Protest Police Training Conference  |  SJNN 
10/13/2016  -  StopITOA effort launches in Chicago  |  AFSC
10/11/2016  -  Activists Shut Down Chicago Intersection to Protest Police Training Conference  |  TruthOut
10/10/2016  -  Chicago Youth Protest Police Militarization and Anti-Muslim Training  |  Chicago Monitor
10/09/2016  -  #StopITOA: Shining A Light on Militarization  |  Transformative Spaces
10/05/2016  -  How the 'use of force' industry drives police militarization and makes us less safe  |  Waging Nonviolence
9/26/2016  -  No Abolition Without Demilitarization  |  Rad Fag
09/23/2016  -  Far-Right Trump Consultant to be Honored Speaker at Illinois Police SWAT Training  |  AlterNet
09/22/2016  -  Statement on Harassment of  #StopITOA Organizers  |  AFSC Chicago

Mainstream Media Coverage of #StopITOA Campaign

10/10/2016  -  15 Arrested at Protest Near Chicago Marathon Route  |  SunTimes
10/09/2016  -  Protest against police policies near marathon  |  Chicago Tribune