PROTEST RALLY FOR GEORGE FLOYD UNITES THE SOUTHLAND TO MARCH FOR JUSTICE AND LOVE

More than 1,000 people attended a June 8, 2020 Black Lives Matter rally in south suburban Matteson to protest the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, who recently died after a white Minneapolis police officer allegedly held his knee on Floyd’s neck until he could not breathe for nearly nine minutes. Photo credit: Wendell Hutson
More than 1,000 people attended a June 8, 2020 Black Lives Matter rally in south suburban Matteson to protest the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, who recently died after a white Minneapolis police officer allegedly held his knee on Floyd’s neck until he could not breathe for nearly nine minutes. Photo credit: Wendell Hutson

Protest Rally For George Floyd Unites the Southland to March For Justice and Love

BY WENDELL HUTSON

Contributing Writer

The recent death of George Floyd united more than 1,000 people living in the Southland including U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-2nd) and Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx to participate in a peaceful rally in Matteson.

Floyd, an unarmed black man, died on March 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer allegedly held his knee on Floyd’s neck until he could not breathe for nearly nine minutes. Hennepin County State’s Attorney, Mike Freeman, has charged Derek Chauvin and three other former police officers with Floyd’s death.

Kelly, a Matteson resident and Foxx, who lives in Flossmoor, were among a host of elected officials, which included Gov. JB Pritzker, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, and Matteson Mayor Sheila Chalmers-Currin, who spoke at the rally before marching with protestors.

Foxx, who lived in the former Cabrini-Green public housing complex on the Near North Side as a little girl, told the crowd it breaks her heart every time the criminal justice system does not work fairly.

“I talk about the fact that I come from the ‘projects’ and that I have more in common with the people who come through our [justice] system than many of the lawyers I work with,” explained Foxx. “And that’s not because we [blacks] are not as brilliant, bright or because we don’t have the opportunity to change our world, but because the system has oppressed us for so long.”

Longtime Matteson residents like Rosie O’Brien, 76, said the march was important because it showed the unity that exists in the south suburbs.

“I have lived in Matteson since 1972 and I have seen this predominately black suburb go through several transformations before it got to where it is today,” she said. “And here in Matteson and [in] the surrounding villages, are families that stick together especially during times like these with the COVID-19 and now the unjust murder of yet another unarmed black man.”

The Unity Bridge in Matteson is where protestors ended their march after starting at Victory Apostolic Church, also in Matteson, which organized the rally. The Rev. Andrew Singleton Jr., pastor of the church, emceed the rally, which included a poetry reading and musical selections by local entertainers.

“God is good and is still in the business of delivering blessings to anyone who needs it, and a blessing is what we all can use these days,” Singleton told the crowd. “We want this march to be loud but peaceful and vibrant, but organized,” Singleton said. Most of all, he added, “we want this march to bring unity to the area and serve as a blessing to those who want their concerns,” heard about what is happening in the world today,” he said.

The rally was well attended by many youth including 19-year-old Anthony Orr, who marched with his 7-year-old brother.

“He needs to be here so I brought him with me so he can see what black people are fighting for and how to go about making change happen in your community,” said Orr. “I could be at a lot of places right now instead of here, but this march is important to me and my future. I could be the next black man killed senselessly by police like George Floyd, and if that should happen, I want people to march on my behalf and for change in America.”

Chalmers-Currin thanked elected officials and Matteson trustees for attending and credited the community’s support for the rising economic developments taking place in the village.

“It’s because of you that I am able to bring more housing and new businesses to the area,” contends Chalmers-Currin. “And it is because you, the community, that Matteson stands strong within the Southland and will never sit back and allow injustices to occur without having our voices heard loud and clear.”

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