Violence Interrupters Inc., led by founder and executive director Tio “Mr. Ceasefire” Hardiman, will hold a press conference Monday morning, December 15, calling on Chicago Transit Authority leadership and city officials to authorize an immediate pilot program placing trained community violence interrupters on CTA trains.
The 11:00 a.m. Central time press conference will take place in the 200 block of South State Street, outside the Jackson Red Line station in the Loop. Organizers said the event is being held in response to the recent assault of a physically disabled woman on CTA property and reflects growing concern among riders about safety on public transit.
Hardiman is expected to appeal directly to city and transit officials to act now rather than wait for longer-term reforms. In a prepared statement, he said riders should not have to wait until 2027 for changes to take effect.
“This is not about waiting until 2027 for reforms or new governance,” Hardiman said. “Every rider deserves protection today. We are appealing to city officials to allow us to launch a pilot program now — trained Violence Interrupters on the trains, visible, proactive, and committed to saving lives.”
According to the organization, the proposed pilot program would immediately deploy more than 100 trained violence interrupters to patrol CTA trains, beginning with the Red Line and focusing on high-risk stations and routes. Violence Interrupters Inc. said it is seeking formal authorization from CTA and city officials so the pilot can be evaluated and potentially expanded across the transit system.
Following the press conference, members of Violence Interrupters plan to board Red Line trains to demonstrate their readiness and what an on-train intervention presence could look like in practice.
Hardiman said addressing violence on public transit requires both immediate and long-term solutions. In addition to visible intervention on trains, he cited untreated mental illness, substance use, homelessness and failures within the judicial system as contributing factors to transit violence.
“We know the causes, and we know the solutions,” Hardiman said. “Riders cannot wait while lives are at risk.”
The organization said its proposal would complement, not replace, other safety measures, including increased police patrols, expanded unarmed security, and stronger mental health and housing support services.
Violence Interrupters Inc. describes its staff as trained community mediators whose role is to de-escalate conflicts before they escalate into violence. According to the group, all interrupters receive training in conflict resolution, mental health awareness and crisis intervention. The organization said its strategy emphasizes visibility, intervention and prevention, particularly during peak crime hours and the holiday season.
In previous years, Violence Interrupters have boarded CTA trains to address rider concerns and de-escalate conflicts, efforts the organization says helped reassure passengers and restore confidence in the transit system.
Hardiman also warned against reducing transit service hours in response to safety concerns, saying such moves would negatively affect workers, families and the city’s reputation.
“Chicago’s transit system must remain a 24-hour operation,” he said. “Cutting service hours due to crime would be a defeat for the city’s workers, families and reputation. Legislators who called for reform must now deliver immediate solutions.”
Hardiman, widely known as “Mr. CeaseFire,” founded the CeaseFire initiative in 2004. He is featured in the 2011 documentary “The Interrupters” and later produced “The Chicago Way,” a film examining political corruption, police brutality and gun violence in the city. Hardiman also ran for Illinois governor in 2018 and currently hosts a weekly radio program on WVON 1690 AM.
The press conference is open to the media.