Protesters Support Black Lives Matter Movement In St. Charles

ST. CHARLES, IL — More than 1,000 people gathered Saturday in St. Charles’ Lincoln Park to call for an end to police brutality and support the Black Lives Matter movement after a week of protests nationwide.

Demonstrators listened as community members spoke about the movement and demanded justice for George Floyd, who died last month after fired Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck while trying to arrest him. Chavin has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with Floyd’s death, and three other fired Minneapolis police officers involved in Floyd's arrest have been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, according to court records.

Isabella Irish, a recent high school graduate who organized a rally of about 1,000 people Wednesday in Batavia, also spoke at the demonstration in St. Charles, according to a report by the Kane County Chronicle.

"In today's America, African-Americans don't need to be accused of a capital offense to be discriminated against and murdered,” Irish said, according to the report. “We shouldn't have to fight for the right to walk the streets or go for a run at dusk. We as black people aren't violent or criminals. We are strong and after one goal — the right to be seen and heard as equals."

St. Charles Mayor Ray Rogina also spoke to the crowd, and Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain knelt among hundreds of protesters as they lay with their hands behind their backs, as seen in a photo by the Daily Herald’s John Starks.