Small, But Passionate Group Marches Against Alleged Racial Profiling

A small but peaceful crowd was on hand Saturday afternoon as a march was staged down 95th Street to protest alleged racial profiling by the Evergreen Park and Oak Lawn police departments. 

The march was greeted by a large police presence as area departments responded to the uncertain nature of protests planned in the age of social media.

Evergreen Park Police Chief Michael Saunders estimated that there were about 50 to 60 officers on the street and more on reserve should the need arise. 

The need never did as the small group of marchers proceeded largely without incident. One man was warned for standing in the middle of the street before the march began, but there were no arrests made, Saunders said. 

Watch: Protesters March Down 95th Street Over Alleged Racial Profiling

For some attendees the afternoon was about bringing attention to an issue that they say is well-known in the black community. 

"We all have the same rights and I don't want people to make me feel like I am any less than they are," said Cecelia Robinson. 

The event was organized by Erica Chriswell, a musician who goes by the stage name Eryka Kane, in part as a response to a 2009 incident she was a part of in Oak Lawn. As Patch reported last week, legal documents show police attempted to arrest Chriswell before she sped away, sparking a short police pursuit. She was charged with felony aggravated fleeing and eluding, aggravated battery to a police officer and resisting a police officer. She later pleaded guilty to aggravated battery to a police officer. 

Chriswell is currently involved in a lawsuit against Oak Lawn. 

Read: Legal Woes Surround 'Racial Profiling' Protest Organizer

Chriswell addressed the issue Saturday by saying that she wanted to withdraw her guilty plea within the 30-day window allowed by the court, but problems with lawyers and a judge who was unwilling to hear the motion were to blame. 

"I had two bad lawyers, one I paid $2,500 to, and the other I paid $3,000 to," Chriswell said, "and by the time I figured out that she was a bad lawyer too I was lawyerd out, I couldn't pay any more money."

She says that she felt railroaded by the system. 

"I was working on my M.B.A. at the time . . . and I didn't know that my lawyer had settled for a felony on my record," Chriswell said. "Maybe it was a misunderstanding between myself and the officer, but it definitely wasn't me fleeing from an officer. I would never do that. I had never been in trouble with the legal system in my life."

Chriswell said the protest's attendees were not there simply to support her, but showed up because of their own personal experiences with racial profiling. 

"We are human beings just like everyone else," Chriswell said. "I would like to drive down 95th  just like everyone else instead of going to 87th to go around and avoid the area."

For their part, the Evergreen Park Police Department disputes the claim that they profile people based on race. Saunders said that his officers target offenders, not races. 

Read: Statement Issued Ahead of Planned Racial Profiling Protest on 95th Street

For the first hour or so of the planned march, the scene was largely made up of scores of police officers, Evergreen Park Mayor Jim Sexton and Oak Lawn Mayor Sandra Bury and a few meandering media folks.

When it did eventually start around 2:30 p.m. the march proceeded without incident and the crowd dwindled as they made the long walk down 95th Street. 

Connect with Patch: Evergreen Park / Oak Lawn/ Beverly-Mt. Greenwood