Lincoln-Way Area Towns Issue Alerts About Reports Of Protesters

NEW LENOX, IL — The villages of New Lenox, Frankfort and Mokena have all issued alerts Sunday about reports of large groups of protesters heading to the Lincoln-Way area. The village of New Lenox said many stores will be closed Sunday afternoon, and advised residents to "stay close to home and stay vigilant."

Mayor Tim Baldermann told Patch the village received a report of a large group of around 150 protesters heading toward the Lincoln-Way area.

"We are just telling people to stay close to home, and officers and emergency services are stationed around town," Baldermann said.

As of 8 p.m. Sunday, Baldermann said on Facebook that no vandalism has been reported in New Lenox.

The Mokena Police Department and the Frankfort Police department both issued safety alerts Sunday and said many stores were closing Sunday afternoon.

Frankfort Deputy Chief Kevin Keegan told Patch as of 4:50 p.m. Sunday that at this time there has been no reported looting or damage in Frankfort.

Mokena Police Chief Steve Vaccaro also said there has been no damage in Mokena.

"We are actively monitoring social media posts and have been in contact with other law enforcement agencies throughout the south suburbs, sharing information and intelligence," Keegan said.

The Southwest Suburban Activists did hold a caravan protest in Frankfort on Sunday. Keegan said the protest was peaceful.

That protest has ended, and the group said on Facebook its members are home.

In Manhattan, the police department said it has increased the number of on-duty units for the rest of the night and through the overnight hours Sunday.

After rioting and looting in the city of Chicago on Saturday, the Illinois National Guard has now been deployed.

"Governor Pritzker —at my request — has ordered a contingent of the National Guard to maintain a limited presence in support of our police department in order to ensure we don't have a repeat of last night. This wasn't an easy decision. I did it at the request of and in consultation with Supt. Brown. But it surely is the right decision in this moment," Mayor Lightfoot said Sunday morning.

Protests are being reported all over the country after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was charged Friday with third-degree murder and manslaughter in connection with the death of George Floyd after his arrest Monday.

Chauvin is the officer who was seen with his knee on Floyd's neck during the arrest. Floyd, 46, later died after saying that he was struggling to breathe during the arrest, video shows.