Elmhurst Mayor's Views On Black Lives Matter Requested

ELMHURST, IL — A couple of speakers during this week's Elmhurst City Council meeting said they wanted to know about Mayor Steve Morley's position on Black Lives Matter. Morley did not respond to the inquiries, but officials often do not react to public comment during meetings.

One of the speakers also asked when the city would hold a promised public forum where residents could ask questions about the police department's practices and policies. In June, Morley said the city would organize such a forum, but did not set a date. A message to the city has not been returned.

At the meeting, resident Nina Villasenor said Morley had not made a public statement supporting Black Lives Matter.

"By city officials remaining silent with some often saying they can't take the political stance is in itself a stance," Villasenor said.

She then asked about the forum.

"We are now in August, with no set date, which makes it seem like this isn't a priority to either the mayor or Elmhurst police chief," Villasenor said.

Another Elmhurst resident, Andrew Stricker, was among a number of speakers who recommended the city form some type of committee dealing with diversity and inclusion.

He also inquired about the mayor's stand on Black Lives Matter.

"Have you offered your support to this movement on social media or elsewhere? That goes for the rest of you as well," Stricker said, referring to the aldermen.

During a mid-June meeting, the mayor and two others praised local Black Lives Matter protesters.

At the time, Morley said the public had been asking questions about the police department since George Floyd died in the custody of the Minneapolis police. Morley noted the local Black Lives Matter protests.

"I'm proud to see members of our community exercising their First Amendment rights and doing so in a peaceful manner," the mayor said. "Some of our younger citizens are driving this. I truly appreciate what they're doing."

At the meeting, Alderman Scott Levin said he had attended both major protests — the one at York Street and North Avenue on June 2 and the other at Wilder Park on June 13, where an estimated 800 to 1,000 people attended.

He said the events were productive and that he was impressed with the speeches during the Wilder Park event, with people of color talking about their experiences in Elmhurst. Their statements were educational, he said.

"It wasn't necessarily a fight between Black Lives Matter and All Lives Matter," Levin said. "I'll say to you that black lives do matter."

Alderwoman Dannee Polomsky said she had faith in the local police. But she said if society invested more resources in education and health, it would rely less on law enforcement.

She said she attended June 13 protest, calling it a success and thanking the police for their assistance. She said she listened and expressed support for her neighbors who feel "forgotten and excluded" because of their race.

Elmhurst is 1.4 percent African American, according to the U.S. Census.