Renault A. Robinson, former Head of CHA and Neighborhood Activist dies

Photograph caption: Renault Robinson (middle) executing police work. (Photograph offered)

The household of former Chicago police officer Renault A. Robinson introduced his dying on July eighth. Robinson, a lifelong Chicagoan, was a member of the Chicago Police Division (CPD) from 1964 to1983, and co-founder of the Afro-American Patrolmen’s League (AAPL), a corporation devoted to enhancing police service in Black communities and advocating for equal entry to management alternatives for Black law enforcement officials. Robinson, who handed following a prolonged battle with most cancers, was 80 years previous.

The AAPL introduced and gained the primary civil rights lawsuit towards the CPD for discrimination towards Black, Hispanic and girls law enforcement officials. Robinson was a vocal critic of racism within the Chicago Police Division. Additional, Robinson criticized occasions such because the raid that resulted within the homicide of Black Panther Social gathering member Fred Hampton and a dragnet operation run by notorious Chicago police commander Jon Burge that resulted in a military-like occupation of Chicago’s South Aspect.

Robinson was an influential organizer in each the 1977 and 1983 mayoral campaigns of Harold Washington, the latter resulting in his victory as Chicago’s first Black mayor.

From 1983 till 1987, Robinson served as Chairman of The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) underneath Mayor Harold Washington. Throughout his tenure he oversaw the reinvention of high-rise public housing tasks, together with the development of recent mixed-income housing developments. He labored tirelessly to enhance the standard of life for residents of public housing.

Robinson was vice chairman of ASI Personnel Service, then based his personal firm, Services and Floor Upkeep Providers, in 2000. In these roles, Robinson is credited with serving to 1000’s of unemployed and underemployed Chicagoans discover work. Robinson retired in 2018.

He continued to be energetic in neighborhood affairs and was a member of the board of administrators of a number of organizations, together with the Chicago City League (CUL) and the Nationwide Affiliation for the Development of Coloured Folks (NAACP). Over the course of his profession, he was the recipient of numerous awards, plaques, commendations and accolades for his civil rights accomplishments. Writer Robert McClory recounted Robinson’s typically contentious relationship with CPD within the guide, “The Man Who Beat Clout Metropolis (1977).”

Robinson acquired his bachelor’s and grasp’s levels from Roosevelt College and was a PhD candidate at Northwestern College. He was a devoted public servant who fought for the rights of all Chicagoans. He was a pioneer within the battle towards racism within the Chicago Police Division and made important contributions to the town’s housing authority. He shall be remembered as a tireless advocate for social justice and a champion of the town’s poor and underserved.

He’s survived by his spouse, Annette, 4 sons, 10 grandchildren, and 6 siblings. He was proceeded in dying by his dad and mom Robert and Mable Robinson and his brother Robert Jr.

A memorial service shall be held on Tuesday, July 25, at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Sabina Catholic Church, Chicago, Illinois.

The household of former Chicago police officer Renault A. Robinson introduced his dying on July eighth. Robinson, a lifelong Chicagoan, was a member of the Chicago Police Division (CPD) from 1964 to1983, and co-founder of the Afro-American Patrolmen’s League (AAPL), a corporation devoted to enhancing police service in Black communities and advocating for equal entry to management alternatives for Black law enforcement officials. Robinson, who handed following a prolonged battle with most cancers, was 80 years previous.

The AAPL introduced and gained the primary civil rights lawsuit towards the CPD for discrimination towards Black, Hispanic and girls law enforcement officials. Robinson was a vocal critic of racism within the Chicago Police Division. Additional, Robinson criticized occasions such because the raid that resulted within the homicide of Black Panther Social gathering member Fred Hampton and a dragnet operation run by notorious Chicago police commander Jon Burge that resulted in a military-like occupation of Chicago’s South Aspect.

Robinson was an influential organizer in each the 1977 and 1983 mayoral campaigns of Harold Washington, the latter resulting in his victory as Chicago’s first Black mayor.

From 1983 till 1987, Robinson served as Chairman of The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) underneath Mayor Harold Washington. Throughout his tenure he oversaw the reinvention of high-rise public housing tasks, together with the development of recent mixed-income housing developments. He labored tirelessly to enhance the standard of life for residents of public housing.

Robinson was vice chairman of ASI Personnel Service, then based his personal firm, Services and Floor Upkeep Providers, in 2000. In these roles, Robinson is credited with serving to 1000’s of unemployed and underemployed Chicagoans discover work. Robinson retired in 2018.

He continued to be energetic in neighborhood affairs and was a member of the board of administrators of a number of organizations, together with the Chicago City League (CUL) and the Nationwide Affiliation for the Development of Coloured Folks (NAACP). Over the course of his profession, he was the recipient of numerous awards, plaques, commendations and accolades for his civil rights accomplishments. Writer Robert McClory recounted Robinson’s typically contentious relationship with CPD within the guide, “The Man Who Beat Clout Metropolis (1977).”

Robinson acquired his bachelor’s and grasp’s levels from Roosevelt College and was a PhD candidate at Northwestern College. He was a devoted public servant who fought for the rights of all Chicagoans. He was a pioneer within the battle towards racism within the Chicago Police Division and made important contributions to the town’s housing authority. He shall be remembered as a tireless advocate for social justice and a champion of the town’s poor and underserved.

He’s survived by his spouse, Annette, 4 sons, 10 grandchildren, and 6 siblings. He was proceeded in dying by his dad and mom Robert and Mable Robinson and his brother Robert Jr.

A memorial service shall be held on Tuesday, July 25, at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Sabina Catholic Church, Chicago, Illinois.