Invisible Institute
@invisible.institute
A nonprofit journalism production organization on the South Side of Chicago. Home to CPDP.co, Beneath the Surface, and more.
For five years—from January, 1994 to December, 1998—a group of citizens gathered on the corner of 35th and State at twilight on the first Sunday of each month to read the names of those lost to violence on the South Side. Read more here: viewfromtheground.com/featured-pos...
The Vigil Against Violence — View from the Ground
For five years—from January, 1994 to December, 1998—a group of citizens gathered on the corner of 35th and State at twilight on the first Sunday of each month to read the names of those lost to violen...
viewfromtheground.com
December 11, 2025 at 8:09 PM
For five years—from January, 1994 to December, 1998—a group of citizens gathered on the corner of 35th and State at twilight on the first Sunday of each month to read the names of those lost to violence on the South Side. Read more here: viewfromtheground.com/featured-pos...
NEW: Two Chicago police officers were investigated for sexual misconduct — then promoted. It wasn’t an oversight. Despite a decades-long reform effort, the Chicago Police Department’s promotions system allows for disciplinary records to be ignored.
www.propublica.org/article/chic...
www.propublica.org/article/chic...
Chicago Promoted Two Police Officers After Investigators Found They Engaged in Sexual Misconduct
The Chicago Police Department’s promotions system allows officers’ disciplinary records to be ignored. Despite years of reform efforts, nothing has changed.
www.propublica.org
December 4, 2025 at 7:23 PM
NEW: Two Chicago police officers were investigated for sexual misconduct — then promoted. It wasn’t an oversight. Despite a decades-long reform effort, the Chicago Police Department’s promotions system allows for disciplinary records to be ignored.
www.propublica.org/article/chic...
www.propublica.org/article/chic...
Reposted by Invisible Institute
Two Chicago cops were recently promoted despite investigators finding sexual misconduct. An @invisible.institute and @propublica.org investigation published in the Sun-Times found the Chicago Police Department has ignored repeated calls to address this decades-long issue.
Chicago Police Department promoted 2 cops after investigators found they engaged in sexual misconduct
chicago.suntimes.com
December 4, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Ten years ago this month, dashcam footage was released showing Laquan McDonald being shot to death by a police officer. A decade after their historic victory, the key players recount how they helped bring the transformative video to light.
December 3, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Ten years ago this month, dashcam footage was released showing Laquan McDonald being shot to death by a police officer. A decade after their historic victory, the key players recount how they helped bring the transformative video to light.
Reposted by Invisible Institute
This investigation was co-produced by @blockclubchi.bsky.social , Cicero Independiente, the Investigative Project on Race and Equity, @invisible.institute, @southsideweekly.bsky.social, and @thetriibe.com.
thetriibe.com/2025/11/feds...
thetriibe.com/2025/11/feds...
Feds used chemical agents dozens of times in Chicago • The TRiiBE
An investigation by reporters from six newsrooms found that agents used chemical irritants nearly 50 times during Operation Midway Blitz.
thetriibe.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:47 PM
This investigation was co-produced by @blockclubchi.bsky.social , Cicero Independiente, the Investigative Project on Race and Equity, @invisible.institute, @southsideweekly.bsky.social, and @thetriibe.com.
thetriibe.com/2025/11/feds...
thetriibe.com/2025/11/feds...
Reposted by Invisible Institute
We just published a cross-newsroom investigation into the use of tear gas and pepper spray during Operation Midway Blitz. Reporters, photographers, and editors from across Chicago reviewed dozens of videos to build a verified record of how these weapons were used in our neighborhoods.
Feds Used Chemical Agents Dozens of Times in Chicago—Even After Judge Said To Stop
An investigation by reporters from six newsrooms found that agents used chemical irritants nearly 50 times during Operation Midway Blitz.
southsideweekly.com
November 19, 2025 at 9:28 PM
We just published a cross-newsroom investigation into the use of tear gas and pepper spray during Operation Midway Blitz. Reporters, photographers, and editors from across Chicago reviewed dozens of videos to build a verified record of how these weapons were used in our neighborhoods.
Reposted by Invisible Institute
An investigation by a group of Chicago-area newsrooms and independent journalists found that federal agents used tear gas and pepper spray at least 15 times in Brighton Park on Oct. 4 — more than the Chicago Police Department has used all year.
Read the full story here: tinyurl.com/9avc2xdf
Read the full story here: tinyurl.com/9avc2xdf
November 19, 2025 at 9:56 PM
An investigation by a group of Chicago-area newsrooms and independent journalists found that federal agents used tear gas and pepper spray at least 15 times in Brighton Park on Oct. 4 — more than the Chicago Police Department has used all year.
Read the full story here: tinyurl.com/9avc2xdf
Read the full story here: tinyurl.com/9avc2xdf
An investigation by a group of Chicago-area newsrooms and found that federal agents used chemical weapons on protesters at least 49 times across 18 incidents across Chicago and the suburbs since Oct. 1. Read: bit.ly/fedsteargas
November 19, 2025 at 11:40 PM
An investigation by a group of Chicago-area newsrooms and found that federal agents used chemical weapons on protesters at least 49 times across 18 incidents across Chicago and the suburbs since Oct. 1. Read: bit.ly/fedsteargas
Join us on Thursday, November 20th from 6:30 - 8:30pm for our Annual Supporters Convening at the Chicago Athletic Association. The event is free and all are welcome! Register here: invisible.institute/events
November 17, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Join us on Thursday, November 20th from 6:30 - 8:30pm for our Annual Supporters Convening at the Chicago Athletic Association. The event is free and all are welcome! Register here: invisible.institute/events
Join us on Thursday, November 20th from 6:30 - 8:30pm for our Annual Supporters Convening at the Chicago Athletic Association. The event is free and all are welcome! Register here: invisible.institute/events
November 14, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Join us on Thursday, November 20th from 6:30 - 8:30pm for our Annual Supporters Convening at the Chicago Athletic Association. The event is free and all are welcome! Register here: invisible.institute/events
Our longtime collaborator Sarah Conway covered Chicago’s ongoing resistance to ICE for @nymag.com. Read the story here: nymag.com/intelligencer/article/chicago-resistance-against-trump-and-ice.html
November 7, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Our longtime collaborator Sarah Conway covered Chicago’s ongoing resistance to ICE for @nymag.com. Read the story here: nymag.com/intelligencer/article/chicago-resistance-against-trump-and-ice.html
Join the Invisible Institute and South Side Weekly on November 2 for an arts showcase honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Margaret T.G. Burroughs, featuring a special performance of “Tuesday” by Mud Theatre. Register here: invisible.institute/events
October 31, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Join the Invisible Institute and South Side Weekly on November 2 for an arts showcase honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Margaret T.G. Burroughs, featuring a special performance of “Tuesday” by Mud Theatre. Register here: invisible.institute/events
Join the Invisible Institute and South Side Weekly on November 2 for an arts showcase honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Margaret T.G. Burroughs, featuring a special performance of “Tuesday” by Mud Theatre. Register here: invisible.institute/events
October 29, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Join the Invisible Institute and South Side Weekly on November 2 for an arts showcase honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Margaret T.G. Burroughs, featuring a special performance of “Tuesday” by Mud Theatre. Register here: invisible.institute/events
Join the Invisible Institute and South Side Weekly on November 2 for an arts showcase honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Margaret T.G. Burroughs, featuring a special performance of “Tuesday” by Mud Theatre. Register here: invisible.institute/events
October 27, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Join the Invisible Institute and South Side Weekly on November 2 for an arts showcase honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Margaret T.G. Burroughs, featuring a special performance of “Tuesday” by Mud Theatre. Register here: invisible.institute/events
Join the Invisible Institute and South Side Weekly on October 26th for a day of art making and community building in honor of the life and legacy of Dr. Margaret T.G. Burroughs. Register here: invisible.institute/events
October 21, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Join the Invisible Institute and South Side Weekly on October 26th for a day of art making and community building in honor of the life and legacy of Dr. Margaret T.G. Burroughs. Register here: invisible.institute/events
Last week, residents of a South Shore apartment building were jolted awake late at night last week when nearly 300 federal agents, backed by helicopters and flashbang grenades, stormed their homes in a massive immigration raid.
October 6, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Last week, residents of a South Shore apartment building were jolted awake late at night last week when nearly 300 federal agents, backed by helicopters and flashbang grenades, stormed their homes in a massive immigration raid.
“Kicking the Pigeon” is a series of articles by Jamie Kalven published between July 6, 2005 and February 16, 2006 in the View From The Ground.
October 2, 2025 at 5:06 PM
“Kicking the Pigeon” is a series of articles by Jamie Kalven published between July 6, 2005 and February 16, 2006 in the View From The Ground.
Reposted by Invisible Institute
NEW — Video posted to social media shows Unraveled Press co-founder Steve Held being detained by federal agents outside the Broadview immigration facility earlier this evening.
A collection of Chicago newsrooms is calling for his immediate release.
thetriibe.com/2025/09/chic...
A collection of Chicago newsrooms is calling for his immediate release.
thetriibe.com/2025/09/chic...
Chicago journalist detained while covering protest outside Broadview immigration facility • The TRiiBE
Video posted to social media shows Unraveled Press co-founder Steve Held being detained by federal agents earlier this evening.
thetriibe.com
September 28, 2025 at 3:11 AM
NEW — Video posted to social media shows Unraveled Press co-founder Steve Held being detained by federal agents outside the Broadview immigration facility earlier this evening.
A collection of Chicago newsrooms is calling for his immediate release.
thetriibe.com/2025/09/chic...
A collection of Chicago newsrooms is calling for his immediate release.
thetriibe.com/2025/09/chic...
Reposted by Invisible Institute
This reporter helped expose the falsity of ICE's narrative on the fatal shooting of Silverio Villegas Gonzalez. His work is a perfect example of why we don't have secret police.
Journalists have a constitutional right to cover protests and their aftermath. Release @peoplesfabric.com immediately.
Journalists have a constitutional right to cover protests and their aftermath. Release @peoplesfabric.com immediately.
September 28, 2025 at 2:17 AM
This reporter helped expose the falsity of ICE's narrative on the fatal shooting of Silverio Villegas Gonzalez. His work is a perfect example of why we don't have secret police.
Journalists have a constitutional right to cover protests and their aftermath. Release @peoplesfabric.com immediately.
Journalists have a constitutional right to cover protests and their aftermath. Release @peoplesfabric.com immediately.
Last week, an agent snatched Steve Held’s reporter credentials and shot chemical weapons at him while he reported on the protests at Broadview. Tonight, federal agents detained him while he was reporting.
We urge for his immediate release.
@peoplesfabric.com @unraveledpress.com
We urge for his immediate release.
@peoplesfabric.com @unraveledpress.com
September 28, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Last week, an agent snatched Steve Held’s reporter credentials and shot chemical weapons at him while he reported on the protests at Broadview. Tonight, federal agents detained him while he was reporting.
We urge for his immediate release.
@peoplesfabric.com @unraveledpress.com
We urge for his immediate release.
@peoplesfabric.com @unraveledpress.com
The Invisible Institute reported on officers in Minnesota a police association says were undercover, but have high-profile uses of force or have been accused of misconduct. Read the story here: bit.ly/mppoalawsuit
Minnesota police group fights release of undercover officers’ names
The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association is suing the Minnesota POST forreleasing the names of undercover police officers to media outlets, but many have already been publiclyidentified.
bit.ly
September 25, 2025 at 9:07 PM
The Invisible Institute reported on officers in Minnesota a police association says were undercover, but have high-profile uses of force or have been accused of misconduct. Read the story here: bit.ly/mppoalawsuit
In 2000, the CHA launched its “Plan for Transformation” to demolish high-rise public housing buildings and replace them with mixed-income housing. Twenty-five years later, many former residents remain displaced and affordable housing is still scarce.
September 25, 2025 at 4:24 PM
In 2000, the CHA launched its “Plan for Transformation” to demolish high-rise public housing buildings and replace them with mixed-income housing. Twenty-five years later, many former residents remain displaced and affordable housing is still scarce.
Have a car? Our reporting team focused on sexual assault by the Chicago Police plans to distribute copies of our investigation and findings about assault within the department.
If you’d like to volunteer at the end of September, sign up here: bit.ly/btsprintdistro
If you’d like to volunteer at the end of September, sign up here: bit.ly/btsprintdistro
September 24, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Have a car? Our reporting team focused on sexual assault by the Chicago Police plans to distribute copies of our investigation and findings about assault within the department.
If you’d like to volunteer at the end of September, sign up here: bit.ly/btsprintdistro
If you’d like to volunteer at the end of September, sign up here: bit.ly/btsprintdistro
The View from the Ground archive is a searchable collection of Jamie Kalven’s original reporting and a robust collection of black and white film photographs by Patricia Evans from the final chapter of high-rise public housing in Chicago.
September 22, 2025 at 4:40 PM
The View from the Ground archive is a searchable collection of Jamie Kalven’s original reporting and a robust collection of black and white film photographs by Patricia Evans from the final chapter of high-rise public housing in Chicago.
We're excited to introduce the View from the Ground archive: a searchable collection of Jamie Kalven’s original reporting and Patricia Evans’ photography from the final chapter of high-rise public housing in Chicago.
September 17, 2025 at 3:43 PM
We're excited to introduce the View from the Ground archive: a searchable collection of Jamie Kalven’s original reporting and Patricia Evans’ photography from the final chapter of high-rise public housing in Chicago.