Chicago’s City Council voted 28-21 on May 20, 2026, to ban police officers with verified ties to extremist organizations such as the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers from serving in the Chicago Police Department.
The ordinance from Alderman Matt Martin prohibits active participation in groups advocating government overthrow by violence, including fundraising, recruiting, or displaying supportive symbols. Investigations will be handled by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability rather than the department’s internal affairs unit.
At least a dozen Chicago officers were previously investigated for alleged links to groups involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. An earlier version applying to all city employees was narrowed after the law department warned of constitutional challenges.
Police unions opposed the measure, while Mayor Brandon Johnson supported it. The vote followed more than a year of committee hearings and revisions.
Mayor Brandon Johnson supported the ordinance after the city inspector general faulted CPD in 2024 for insufficient extremism screening. The measure defines active participation to include paying dues, recruiting, and posting extremist content online. Passive membership without intent to further illegal activity is excluded to address First Amendment concerns. The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 opposed the bill as discriminatory.
The ordinance took more than a year to reach a final vote after committee revisions.
Created by Ayen Stabel.
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Sources:
https://dailycuratednews.substack.com/p/news-headlines-may-22-2026