Black Lives Matter Cancels Protest at Marist

CHICAGO, IL - A planned Friday protest organized by the Black Lives Matter Youth group has been cancelled.

The group shared on Facebook Thursday that threats against members of the group by residents of Mount Greenwood have caused them to cancel the protest for their own safety.

The group also shared a lengthy news release indicating plans to instead meet with Chicago Police Department Superintendent Eddie Johnson, Marist High School Principal Larry Tucker and 19th Ward Ald. Matt O'Shea. The topic will be how all can work to make "productive changes" to improve relations between the Mount Greenwood community and the black community.

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At least some students from the BLM Youth group are from Walter Payton College Preparatory School.

Initial plans were for a group of black Chicago Public Schools students to ride CTA buses from Millennium Park to Marist Friday afternoon to engage in a protest that would be met with waiting members of the Chicago Police Department.

And perhaps just a few members of the community.

In anticipation of the protest and possible confrontation, Marist canceled all classes for the day.