A handful of new political action committees have been created in the Chicago area, one of which was created by an activist who helped freelance journalist Brandon Smith in his efforts to get the Emanuel Administration to release the Laquan McDonald video.

Activist William Calloway filed a D-1 with the State Board of Elections to create the Christianaire Political Action Committee. Its purpose, according to form he filed with the state, is to “raise awareness towards socialism, civil, and political issues.”Kenya Atwater is listed as the group’s treasurer, but we could not confirm her identity or background and their D-1 is illegible.

Another group, Chicago Organizing for Blackroots Action, created with the purpose of, “promot[ing] issues, candidates, and initiatives which directly impact Black Communities.” That group, according to the D-1 filed with the State Board Of Elections (SBOE), was created by two members of Action Now, a grassroots organization that promotes working families. The chairman of the new PAC, Alvesta Sanders, is a Chicago-area tax preparer and member of the grassroots group. The PAC’s treasurer,Katelyn Johnson, is the executive director for Action Now. The group has been a major player in the “Fight for 15” movement, the campaign to raise the minimum wage, and made recent headlines over the Christmas holidays when one of their members,Bettie Jones, was fatally shot by police who were responding to a domestic violence incident.

Judge Denise Bradley and Charles Morris (no background information found) filed a D-1 with the SBOE to establish the Illinois Voter Education Project to, “educate Illinois Voters about new ways to vote and participate in the political process.”

Then there’s Illinois United for Change, a PAC created by Nick Antonacci, an Chicago-area attorney in areas of DUI/Traffic and Estate Planning, according to hisLinkedIn page. The group, according to the D-1 Antonacci filed with the SBOE, will support, “reform-minded candidates and other political movements in Illinois.”

The stated purpose for the so-called Progress Chicago PAC is vague: “To better government in Chicago and Cook County, IL.” The group was formed by Anthony Boylan, a former journalist who now owns a public relations company that, “handles everything from public affairs issues to small and mid-sized corporate Public Relations,” according to Boylan’s LinkedIn.

Another ill-defined PAC, Young Independents United, lists “Non-partisan PAC” as their purpose. That group is led by Quovadis Green, owner of KalQulated Entertainment, and Maurice J. Robinson, a native of the city’s West Side. He made a run for alderman of the 29th ward but withdrew his candidacy during the objection process.

None of these groups have raised a cent.