'We Are All United': D228 Alums Plan March Through Oak Forest

OAK FOREST, IL — A march "to bring attention to recent events and causes associated with the death of George Floyd" is planned along three major thoroughfares in Midlothian and Oak Forest Friday night. Protestors are planning to meet near the Walgreens store at 147th and Cicero in Midlothian around 6 p.m. and march south on Cicero to 159th Street, west on 159th to Central Avenue and along Central until they reach Oak Forest City Hall at 155th and Central.

The marchers will take up the southbound lanes of Cicero, westbound lanes of 159th Street and northbound lane of Central, the city of Oak Forest informed residents on its website Tuesday.

Traffic patters will be affected, but it's still unclear whether the march will cause any complete directional closure of traffic.

"Traffic may be difficult to maneuver," the city said in its alert, adding that they've been in touch with the protest organizers "to help assure a safe and orderly event."

Oak Forest Mayor Hank Kuspa said Wednesday he spoke to Daniel Alejandre, one of the four Bremen Township High School District 228 alums who are organizing the protest and that he "respects their right to organize peacefully."

Alejandre told Patch on Wednesday the idea for a march through Midlothian and Oak Forest came from last week's rally along Oak Park Avenue in Tinley Park. He said a number of counterprotesters who showed up that day led to the idea to have another rally, and this one to include a 3-mile march.

Organizing Friday night's event with Alejandre are Alexis Cox, both Tinley Park High School alums and Shannon Coyle and Jess Sandoval, both alums of Oak Forest High School. Cox was the primary organizer behind the Tinley Park rally, Alejandre said.

"We are all alumni from schools in District 228," Alejandre, currently a paraprofessional and junior varsity soccer coach at TPHS, said. "So we wanted to include this for all the cities in the district."

District 228 Spokeswoman Jamie Bonnema said that while the protest was not put together by the district, 228 "is supportive of any peaceful protestors and are proud of our alumni for using their voices against racism."

District 228 Superintendent Bill Kendall issued a statement expressing "outrage" shortly after Floyd's death.

"I want all of our students affected by racism to feel safe and heard and know that it won’t be tolerated," the statement read, in part.

Organizers of Friday's protest were working Wednesday afternoon on spreading the word on the event throughout the District 228 municipalities of Midlothian, Oak Forest, Tinley Park, Hazel Crest, Markham and Country Club Hills.

"These cities are closely connected, and we want to make that known," Alejandre, a Midlothian resident, said. "Although Hazel Crest is mostly black, Midlothian brown and Oak Forest and Tinley Park mostly white with a mix of other races: we want people to know we are all united."

Those marching, of which about 100 have confirmed to plan to be there, will be doing so "for Black Lives Matter, for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and all the injustices that have been going on for way too long," Alejandre said.

"We want to make it known that we know right from wrong, and what has been going on is wrong," he said. "It's hard to see people in our community with different views. It's people we work with and people we see all the time. That's hard because if we don't have the same views on racism, how can we get along?"

Both Kuspa and the Hazel Crest Mayor Vernard Alsberry are expected to attend the rally outside City Hall, and Alejandre said Wednesday a full list of speakers is in the works.

Other George Floyd Protests Held In The South Suburbs:

• 800 Gather For Protest In New Lenox: Photos, Videos
• Protestors 'Say Their Names' At Oak Lawn Black Lives Matter March

• George Floyd Protest Held In Chicago Heights: Photos
• Protest On Oak Park Avenue In Tinley Park Draws About 150
• Hundreds March In Peaceful George Floyd Protest In Evergreen Park

City officials have said the entire rally is expected to be complete by 8 p.m.

“We are confident this event will proceed in a safe and professional manner so residents and businesses are unaffected," said Kuspa, who sent a letter about the planned march to individual business owners in the city.

"Our staff has been taking steps to prepare for this event and is fully prepared to respond to any situations that may arise.”