Chance the Rapper Shows up at Chicago City Council Meeting to Oppose Rahm Emanuel Plan

During a Chicago City Council meeting,Chance the Rapper spoke out in opposition to a plan by Mayor Rahm Emanuel --Barack Obama's former WH Chief of Staff -- who wants to spend $95 million on a new police training academy. Chance says the money would be better-spent funding education and mental health services in the community. The Grammy Award-winning artist began his remarks by introducing himself, saying, “My name is Chance the Rapper, and I’m here representing the City of Chicago.” Noting that Emanuel had left the council chambers before it was his turn to speak, Chance said, “But it’s cool. It’s cool, cuz I’m here to talk to you guys right now.” He continued, “I think you guys are familiar with the work that I’ve been doing -- thank you guys -- working very closely with Orr Academy, which is right down the street from where this proposed police academy is going to be at.” He talked about the need for more money to build school facilities and help the mentally ill, noting that “schooling is my big thing.” He added that “there’s a lot of ways to transform the city that don’t have anything to do with police training.” See his remarks here.