Formed by torture survivors and organizers from the #ReparationsWon campaign, Chicago Torture Justice Memorials Foundation (CTJMF) is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to create and maintain the Memorial promised as part of the reparations legislation for Chicago Police torture survivors.

The Memorial for the Burge torture survivors is an essential part of creating an enduring dominant narrative that documents racist state violence in the United States. It explains how the torture under former Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge’s command was allowed to manifest and fester during the rise of mass incarceration nationwide. The Memorial is also essential for telling the unique and exceptional story of survivors, organizers, lawyers, and independent journalists who worked collectively for decades to expose the truth and secure reparations for the Chicago Police (Burge) torture survivors, making history. 

The Memorial tells a story that we hope inspires and emboldens others to continue to fight, resist, and work towards a better world.