Staff Reports
Kathleen Miles never planned on becoming the face of Chicago’s broken justice system, but after a violent encounter in broad daylight, she’s unwilling to stay silent. On her way through the city’s Loop, Miles was suddenly and brutally punched in the face by 32-year-old William Livingston—a man with a rap sheet so extensive it reads like a career criminal’s résumé. The assault left her with broken bones and a concussion, yet the deeper wound comes from realizing this was entirely preventable. Livingston, with over a decade of arrests and multiple violent offenses, should have been behind bars long before he had the chance to attack her.
Livingston’s criminal history is staggering: thirteen mug shots since 2012, most tied to assaults on women. He’s been arrested for everything from random sucker punches to attempted robberies, yet thanks to repeated leniency from Chicago’s liberal prosecutors and judges, he has managed to slip through the cracks time and again. Instead of a justified prison sentence, he’s been given slaps on the wrist and endless “second chances.” The tragic result is that women like Kathleen become victims of a revolving door justice system that shields repeat offenders more than it protects law-abiding citizens.
The pattern here should outrage every taxpayer. Chicagoans have been forced to live under the consequences of policies that prioritize leniency over accountability, where violent criminals are treated like misunderstood youths rather than predators. Livingston isn’t some first-time offender with a minor mistake; he is a one-man crime spree who has proven, repeatedly, that he poses a danger to society. Each time he was released, the judicial system sent a message loud and clear: criminals come first, and victims don’t matter. That reality is exactly why cities like Chicago continue to bear the brunt of violent crime crises.
Miles, however, is determined not to let this get brushed aside. By speaking out, she’s forcing attention back where it belongs—on the safety of ordinary citizens. Her call for accountability resonates with countless Chicago residents frustrated that they cannot even commute without fearing random, senseless attacks. Her message cuts to the heart of what’s wrong: no community can thrive when its justice system prioritizes ideology over protection. People aren’t asking for miracles; they’re demanding the basic right to live without constant fear of predators roaming free.
The sad truth is that Chicago’s leadership has enabled this climate of chaos through soft-on-crime policies, and everyday Americans are paying the price. What Miles experienced is not an isolated incident but rather the bitter fruit of a system more interested in virtue signaling than enforcing the law. If lawmakers truly cared about women’s safety, they’d stop coddling repeat offenders and start putting them in prison where they belong. Until then, citizens like Kathleen Miles will be forced to do what weak leaders won’t—stand up and demand justice before more innocent people suffer for the failures of a broken system.
