Chicago Activist Coalition For Justice

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rabbi Michael Ben Yosef for President 2028 reflections on the Karmelo Anthony and Cyrus Belton case

June 10, 2026

There are no winners for the families of Karmelo Anthony, Austin Metcalf, and Cyrus Belton. My heart goes out to each of them and to the unimaginable pain they carry as parents whose children’s lives ended in tragedy. Yet beyond the sorrow, these cases have forced our nation to confront a painful truth: the judicial system is failing too many people, and the public can see it plainly.

In the Karmelo Anthony case, testimony indicated that bullying was a factor in the events leading to a claim of self-defense. In the Cyrus Belton case, a teenager accused of taking four bottles of water was chased for roughly 130 yards by Rick Chow and his son. Cyrus Belton was ultimately shot in the back and killed. These facts are not just disturbing, they demand serious reflection about how justice is interpreted, applied, and too often denied.

Although these cases differ in circumstance, they raise the same urgent questions about race, accountability, and equal justice under the law. Many Americans look at outcomes like these and cannot escape the conclusion that race still shapes who receives the benefit of doubt, who is presumed dangerous, and who is held accountable. That reality should disturb every person who believes in fairness. When justice appears unequal, public trust is broken. And when public trust is broken, the foundations of our democracy are weakened. That is why we must continue these difficult conversations—not to divide, but to heal, to learn, and to build a system that serves every community with equal dignity and equal protection.

'We Walk For Her' March Honors Missing And Murdered Black Women: 'It's Time For A Change' Organizers are calling on the mayor to establish a formal office aimed at supporting families, sharing information and community awareness.