Protestors 'Say Their Names' At Peaceful Black Lives Matter March

OAK LAWN, IL — In what may have been a first for Oak Lawn, a large crowd of protesters where white youth outnumbered black youth chanted, “Black Lives Matter” in front of village hall, in a peaceful demonstration protesting state violence against African-Americans.

The march was organized by Brian Adam, a 20-year-old Oak Lawn Community High School graduate and owner of a fashion company. The Oak Lawn protest followed on the heels of a march that took place Wednesday in Evergreen Park that drew 400 young people.

About 200 protesters gathered at 95th Street and Southwest Highway on a muggy Friday afternoon and marched to Oak Lawn Village Hall. Passing cars honked their horns in support of the marchers, while a few shouted “all lives matter” from open car windows. Some residents stood in parking lots watching the diverse crowd of all races and ages stream down the sidewalk.

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Covington Elementary School staff brought water to keep the demonstrators hydrated.

The peaceful march ended at village hall. Most of the protesters heard about the march on Facebook and Snapchat.

Devon Jackson, an African-American, Illinois State University student said he’d been attending protests non-stop since last Saturday. He said black people aren’t trying to surpass everyone because they’ve simply wanted to be included after being excluded.

“This community means a lot to me and I don’t know if y'all are on Facebook, but there’s a lot that has been said that should not be said,” Jackson told the cheering crowd. “You guys are bringing on a bigger movement … and I cannot be more happy that each of you have come out to stand up for people who look like me.”

Another man who said his daughter was somewhere in the crowd, called the demonstration, one of thousands of large and small demonstrations against racism taking place across the country a “history-making moment.”

“People are having conversations right now they’ve been afraid to have for years and years,” he said. “You’re the ones that give me hope that this could be a better world.”

The protesters then kneeled for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the span of time George Floyd’s neck was restrained by a Minneapolis police officer during his deadly arrest on Memorial Day.

Following the moments of silence, a group of young women sang happy birthday to Breonna Taylor, an unarmed African-American woman who was fatally shot by police on March 13, who would have turned 27 on Friday.

Mayor Sandra Bury watched the demonstrators gathered in front of village hall but did not address the crowd. Later, she released a written statement praising her team of police officers for keeping the protesters safe as well as the many residents who turned out in a spirit of love and healing.

“Residents of diverse backgrounds have reached out to me in the past several days to share their stories fears and challenges regarding race and I have been very touched by their experiences … I believe [Brian Adam] who organized this event because he was so deeply hurting perhaps may begin to heal, and my hope is that we all can continue this positive path, and continue these conversations for a better future.”

Part 1 - Oak Lawn Say Their Names March

Part 2 - Oak Lawn Say Their Names March

~ Video by Lorraine Swanson/Patch