Thousands Gather In Chicago To Demand An End To Police Brutality

CHICAGO, IL — Thousands gathered Saturday in Chicago to demand justice for George Floyd, a 46-year-old man who died last month when a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck while trying to arrest him.

Protesters started Saturday morning with a sit-down demonstration in Union Park, calling for an end to police brutality and demanding the following actions:

• Criminal prosecution of all officers involved in the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Tony McDade.
• Firing and criminal prosecution of all CPD officers who exercise excessive force against protesters.
• Release and pardon of all arrested protesters in the custody of the CPD
• Resumption of CTA services during protests and the removal of the city-wide curfew meant to silence peaceful protesters.
• Defunding of CPD
• Full access to the FOP contract renegotiation
• Creation of a Civilian Police Accountability Council

Activists gathered in the Near West Side park, then headed north on Ashland Avenue and marched through West Town.

Drawing energy from the people on the street who cheered for the demonstrators as they flooded the streets, about 20 blocks of the city reverberated with inspiring chants such as "these racist cops have got to go" and "silent cops are guilty too."

Black residents inhabiting a building on Division Street opened their windows and chanted along. After a nearly 3-mile walk, the group arrived at the site of the former Cabrini Green public housing complex on the Near North Side.

One of the protesters, Suzanne Plunkett, said she is passionate about equal rights and has been "disgusted" by police brutality. However, access to videos and witnessing the horror made her realize "change is necessary immediately."

"I've been part of many protests over the years, and they always help me feel less alone in my frustration," she said. "The protest on Saturday was really inspiring to me. I was very moved by the solidarity of the group, it gave me goosebumps several times. A particularly profound moment was when all 30,000 marchers knelt down on one knee in silence for several minutes."

Organizers from Activate Chi addressed the crowd and said within just four days of deciding to organize this protest, they were able to get 30,000 people to participate.

Founder Dom Brown said he started Activate Chi during the 2016 presidential election and the nationwide cry for justice reawakened his passion for activism, and he once again formed a congregation of like-minded people.

He encouraged people to vote this November because "all of this will be in vain if we don't show up at the polls."

"We have to beat these politicians up at the polls," he said.

Brown and his crew had organized buses to take the protesters back to the city. As people left, charged after a day of motivational speeches, they filled every inch of the area with one last resounding chant — "Respect my existence or expect my resistance."

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