Chicago hip-hop artist Vic Mensa has organized an event through his SaveMoneySaveLife foundation, giving away 10,000 pairs of shoes in the same neighborhood where the bait truck sting took place.
SaveMoneySaveLife executive director and co-founder Laundi Keepseagle told The Chicago Sun-Times yesterday that calls to donate from Mensa and activist Shaun King resulted in the donation of 10,000 pairs of shoes ranging from toddler to adult sizes. This also included large monetary donations from athletes and musicians who preferred to remain anonymous. Donations were made from as far as Germany, China and Australia.
“It’s amazing. I spent the last half hour crying,” she says. “It’s been overwhelming. It’s been so beautiful. I’m so excited for these kids to get shoes for the new (school) year.”
The event comes after residents filmed police arresting a man and accused officers of trying to entrap impoverished Englewood residents.
The Chicago Police Department organized the sting with help from Norfolk Southern Railroad . The effort was, supposedly, meant to combat thefts from nearby rail yards. The railroad company has since apologized , and prosecutors dropped charges against three people arrested during the sting.
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The even will consist of the giving away of free shoes from brands like Nike, Adidas and Puma, free haircuts and appearances by Mensa and Chance the Rapper—who wrote yesterday on Instagram, “Vic’s nonprofit @savemoneysavelife collected literally THOUSANDS of shoes to GIVE AWAY in Englewood in response to that racist ass fucking Bait Truck … it sickens me to think about it but we must do for our own. Bring your cousins and siblings and whatnot to come and receive a free pair of shoes and repost this to tell someone who may be in need.”
