Boystown drag march, River Forest rally voice support for Black Lives Matter as protests against police brutality continue
CHICAGO (WLS) -- For the third straight weekend, protesters are taking to the streets across Chicago and its suburbs.
At its peak, there were at least a thousand demonstrators, if not more, who attended the Drag March for Change in Boystown Sunday. Protesters filled several blocks of Halsted Street, continuing their demands for justice and police reform for the black and trans community.
"This is such a big deal for all of us and even in the middle of a pandemic people are coming out here and doing this because it's so important," said Molly Lester, one of the demonstrators.
"I'm actually glad that people are starting to speak out from this, but at the same time just anger because of all the lives that have been taken out of our hands," said Catrina Roberts.
Hundreds lined the neighborhood streets filled with pride and solidarity for the Black Lives Matter and the Black Trans Lives Matter movement.
Like others across the country, this peaceful and vibrant march is demanding justice for victims of police brutality.
'What people don't seem to understand is that trans humans are in crisis right now. They are a top attacked minority. Their death rate is more than alarming and they are glossed over in every page of society," said Jo Mama, a Chicago drag queen and activist who organized Sunday's Drag March for Change.
The march also advocated for the reclassification of violence against transgender individuals as hate crimes, as well as defunding the police and establishing a civilian police accountability council.
On Sunday afternoon, a Black Lives Matter march also gathered at Christian Unity Church in River Forest.
Meanwhile, people gathered for a Vigil for Black Lives in Skokie.
Organizers held a moment of silence for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the amount of time George Floyd had a police officer's knee on his neck.
They also called for an end to police brutality.
Some Chicago Public School graduates marched Sunday to demand that the district cut its $33 million contract with the Chicago Police Department and remove officers from their schools.
They said those funds can be better used elsewhere.
The graduates marched from Hyde Park Academy to the 3rd District police station.
Earlier this month, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said CPS has no plans to dump the contract with CPD, citing security reasons.
Saturday's House Music Peace March used song and dance to address issues plaguing the nation, the city and the black community.
"We will not accept police brutality," said DJ and minister Farley Jackmaster Funk. "We are here on a positive note and we are going to have a peaceful protest."
The One House-One City group made their way from the South Loop to Buckingham Fountain, playing music and picking up some supporters along the way.
"The world is realizing that racism is a problem in America and across the world," said protester Wallace Gator Bradley.
A moment of silence and a dance, called the George Floyd slide, was used to bring attention to the call for justice in the Minneapolis police killing.
"We want to cross that line of racism," Farley Jackmaster Funk said. "I made a song called 'Get the Knee off of My Neck.'"
In the wake of chaos and destruction across the city, the group wanted to focus on resetting the mood in Chicago, looking for solutions to heal and rebuild.
"All of this starts at home, with the community," activist Andrew Holmes said.
"Kids matter too," said protester Coalani McCollough. "It is not just adults who have to be doing this."
Some families helped their children take a stand Saturday. A kids protest against racism was held on the city's South Side.
Parents and their children marched from Mandrake Park in Oakland to the steps of Rainbow PUSH headquarters.
The event was hosted by the Chicago chapter of Jack and Jill of America, an organization of mothers dedicated to nurturing future African American leaders.
A protest against police brutality kicked off downtown at 3 p.m. They gathered at Michigan Avenue and Madison Street, and marched through the Loop.
As the march for change continues in Chicago, a peace vigil was also held at Wilder Park in Elmhurst.
"How long will they protest? A week? Two weeks? Then fizzle out?" asked Farley Jackmaster Funk. "I hope that this will go on as a war, a war against injustice and racism."
