Lake Forest Young People Organize Silent March For Black Lives

LAKE FOREST, IL — A group of past and present Lake Forest High School students announced plans for a silent march Wednesday evening from the downtown train station parking lot to Market Square. Organizers said the demonstration was called in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and to commemorate the life of George Floyd and "other lives lost to police brutality."

"As a community, we are of immense privilege and it is our job to be respectful and show our solidarity with people of color," organizers said, announcing the event on social media. They called on all attendees to wear masks, maintain a 6-foot social distance between non-household members and stay on the sidewalk to avoid any disruptions to traffic.

Organizers said the goal of the gathering was to raise awareness and educate the community. Earlier peaceful demonstrations on the North Shore have taken place in Evanston, Glenview and Lake Bluff.

The demonstration is due to begin at 6:30 p.m. on the east side of the train tracks at the parking lot. A silent protest is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. before moving to Market Square ahead of music and speeches from unspecified local voices at 7:30 p.m.

Organizers plan to light candles at 8 p.m. and hold a silent vigil for 8 minutes and 46 seconds — the same amount of time Minneapolis police spent asphyxiating George Floyd in the now-infamous cellphone video of his killing. (Update: The demonstration was rescheduled to begin at 5 p.m. and is now due to end at 7 p.m., organizers said late Tuesday night.)

Lake Forest police and city staff have been coordinating with organizers to make sure the event is safe for residents, attendees and property owners, according to a statement from police.

"Our Police Department is in constant contact with their counterparts in neighboring communities and well beyond," it said. "They are well prepared to handle this event."

Watch livestreamed video from demonstration »