Batavia Protesters Support Black Lives Matter Movement

BATAVIA, IL — Batavia officials enacted a curfew and declared a state of emergency this week after looting and violent clashes between police and demonstrators at protests in the region. But after protesters demonstrated Wednesday outside the Peg Bond Center, “there wasn’t even a piece of litter out there,” Batavia Deputy Police Chief Shawn Mazza said, commending the group.

Batavia Imposes Curfew, Declares State Of Emergency Amid Protests

About 1,000 people demonstrated peacefully Wednesday afternoon in downtown Batavia, protesting against the killing of black citizens by police. Organizers, community leaders and some elected officials spoke to the crowd, urging them to keep demanding equality and supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.

Isabella Irish, who recently graduated from high school, told the Kane County Chronicle she organized the protest to “help people come together, especially in this town where there is a lot of prejudice.”

Speaking to the crowd Wednesday, Batavia native Lester Harris reflected on the significance of so many people from the city gathering as one.

“To see this kind of outpouring today is important,” Harris said, before referencing online rumors and efforts to keep the demonstration from occurring. “‘You can’t do it because there might be trouble.’ Well, unfortunately, that’s the life that black people live every day — every single day — for no reason, other than they’re black.”

Though the city enacted emergency measures and stores in Geneva closed down ahead of the protest, Mazza said the Batavia Police Department did not respond to any reports of injuries or property damage Wednesday afternoon.

“We had nothing, no issues,” Mazza said.

The demonstration “was a really peaceful rally,” Mazza said, praising Batavia community members who showed up. Mazza called the event’s organizers “really fantastic” after they urged protesters to leave the area “a better place than when they showed up.”

“I think that they were able to effectively get their message out there,” Mazza said.