Hinsdale Protest Planned Saturday: Village

HINSDALE, IL — Hinsdale Central High School students are planning an assembly Saturday in downtown Hinsdale, the village's police department announced Thursday night. It is planned for 1 p.m. in Burlington Park, just north of the railroad tracks and next to Chicago Avenue and Garfield Street.

"The Hinsdale Police Department will be present at the event for everyone’s safety. The event is anticipated to be a peaceful gathering," the police department said in a statement on Facebook.

The event is part of nationwide Black Lives Matter protests that were sparked by the death of George Floyd in an encounter with Minneapolis police last week. In recent days, Black Lives Matter demonstrations have taken place in both La Grange and Elmhurst, both of them ending peacefully.

In Elmhurst, about 200 demonstrators staked out four corners of the intersection of York Street and North Avenue. In La Grange, a protest was held at Village Hall, then demonstrators marched 2½ miles. A similar demonstration and march are planned in Western Springs on Wednesday. Lyons Township High School students are behind the La Grange and Western Springs events, officials said.

On Monday, the Hinsdale Police Department announced it was made aware of a demonstration the next day. But it was then postponed. Police officials said they worked with protest organizers "to help plan a peaceful and safe protest."

On Thursday, the police department's Facebook post drew more than 125 comments. Some praised the students for their efforts, while others wondered why it had to be done in downtown. African Americans make up 1.2 percent of Hinsdale's population, according to the U.S. Census.