Natalia Chi
CHICAGO – Ja’Mal Green, a South Side community activist, is one of two candidates in the mayoral race to have never held political office.
Tune in at 5pm Monday, January 30 to watch Green’s hour-long conversation live with Laura Washington, or watch the recording here after the stream ends at 6pm
Green took part in high-profile protests, including against Chase Bank’s lending practices, which prompted the bank to announce it would increase lending to Black and Latino Chicagoans by $600 million. Green was arrested in 2016 protesting after police shot and killed Laquan McDonald.
At 27, Green is the youngest candidate in the field. He ran for mayor in 2015 but withdrew after not getting enough signatures on his campaign petition.
Green’s candidate website identifies him as a real estate agent and social entrepreneur, and he said he has started a nonprofit that plans to build a youth center in Auburn Gresham.
Green focused his candidacy on crime prevention, banning the boot and “universal 3K.” He is a self-identified progressive and has said he backed Bernie Sanders for president.
Read more about his mayoral platform in our candidate guide here, part of The Ballot, our one-stop shop for election coverage and resources.
