EP Teens Planning Peaceful Protest Against Racism Wednesday

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — An Evergreen Park teen is organizing a peaceful protest over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed African American man who died at the hands of white police officer in Minneapolis. The demonstration will kick off at 3 p.m. Wednesday, in Klein (Circle Park), 97th and Homan Avenue, Evergreen Park. Please be mindful of social distancing guidelines and wear a mask or face coverings.

Although billed as a Black Lives Matter demonstration, it is not clear if this event is formally affiliated with the Chicago faction. Nevertheless, Josh Marley, who posted the event on Patch, and his group fully intend for this event to be peaceful without the rioting that has broken out after other peaceful protests in Chicago and around the nation have ended. Marley writes:

“[W]e are all very adamant on a peaceful protest to exercise our rights as Americans and hopefully provoke change and our voices heard so change can justice can happen. To many times have we have witnessed the racism in this country, and we would be extremely happy if we can get people to join us on this march/protest. Seeing what has happened to so many African Americans, killed or abused by police is completely and utterly disgusting, and we want change to happen. So we ask and call on the people seeing this to please join us and have our voices heard.”

The Evergreen Park Police Department issued a written statement, saying police are aware of the Black Lives Matter event in the community to meet and march peacefully in the area of the Klein (Circle) Park.

“The police department is currently monitoring similar marches that are supposed to begin [Tuesday] in other south suburb locations,” police said. “An adequate police presence will be deployed to the area to ensure public safety for all and the protection of property.”

Mayor Jim Sexton also emailed residents reminding them of the event and that police would be on hand to not only ensure the safety of residents, "but to keep the peaceful protestors fully protected as well."

The announcement of the protest as a “Black Lives Matter” event drew some negative comments from readers citing looting and terrorism. Marley said that he and his young friends intend to “keep it peaceful, keep it all love.”

“We have no plans to ‘terrorize’ the residents,” Marley commented back. “We all literally live here in EP, and we would hate to see rioting or terrorizing of people in this town. We’re just teenagers wanting to voice our opinions.”

No specific route was given for the march/protest on Wednesday. Marley just hopes that neighbors and residents from nearby communities will join him and his friends to take a stand against racism.

“We must come together and protest the horrible acts that has happened to George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Christian Cooper, Oscar Grant, Sandra Bland and many other African Americans. So we would be grateful if anyone seeing this would join us to peacefully protest.”