Highland Park Peace Rally Planned At Memorial Park

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Members of the Highland Park and nearby communities have planned a Friday evening rally to show solidarity in response to the violence and white supremacist ideology on display in Charlottesville, Virginia last weekend. The event begins at 6 p.m. at Memorial Park, 405 Prospect Ave., in Highland Park. Speakers include Highland Park's mayor, state senator and state representative, among others.

"I just felt this overwhelming need to do something," organizer and Highland Park resident Joan Kahn Zahnle told Patch. She contacted city officials and the park district on Sunday, got a permit on Monday and began planning the event right away.

"It is imperative for all of us – community leaders, faith leaders and all residents – to speak out against racist and anti-Semitic ideology whenever and wherever it surfaces," said Sen. Julie Morrison, who is scheduled to speak at the rally, announcing the event. "Hatred and violence have no place in our communities, our state or our country."

"My hope is that this is the kick off of something," Zahnle said. "We're all alike. It doesn't matter what your religious belief are or the color of your skin. We're human beings and we need to get along." (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Highland Park, Deerfield — or your community. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

Speaker Lineup for Highland Park Peace Rally:

"Just having a rally, that's not the end, that's the beginning of getting people excited and motivated to break down those barriers," Zahle explained.

"Highland Park is a very inclusive community, so something has to come out of this."

_{Top photo: Memorial in Charlottesville, Virginia | Patch Editor Geoff Dempsey}