'Justice For Jemel' Protest Will Have Rhymefest As Guest Speaker

MIDLOTHIAN, IL — A protest in memory of Jemel Roberson, the security guard who was shot and killed by a Midlothian police officer at a bar in Robbins in November 2018, is planned for Midlothian on Saturday, June 27. Marchers are expected to meet at the Walgreens at 148th and Cicero at 1 p.m. and begin marching about an hour later, organizer Daniel Alejandre said, and the Chicago-born hop-hop artist Rhymefest is scheduled to be a guest speaker.

Alejandre, a paraprofessional and soccer coach at Tinley Park High School who helped organize a similar Black Lives Matter march in Oak Forest earlier this month, said community activist Stringer Harris "has been working very hard on trying to get justice for this family and Jemel's daughter in particular."

Roberson, a Black man, was shot by the police officer while he was subduing a gunman who had moments earlier shot four others. Reports from the time indicate a number of patrons at Manny's Blue Room around the time of the shooting at 4 a.m. on Nov. 11, 2018 had tried to inform the police officer that Roberson was a security guard. Roberson's family has filed a lawsuit against the Midlothian Police Department.

Midlothian police did not respond Tuesday to a request for comment or indicate whether they are aware of the protest.

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Alejandre said the plan for Saturday is to meet at Walgreens and march through Midlothian, but with no planned route in place.

"We will march wherever the people march," he said.

A separate flyer promoting the protest states: "We march to honor the innocent Black victims of police brutality and to raise awareness of systemic racism in our country."

For Alejandre and others affiliated with the "TeamString" group seeking justice for Roberson's family, it continues to be a fight.

"His (Roberson's) daughter's birthday was last week without her father being there," Alejandre said. "We want this family to know that we have not given up TeamString. We will continue to fight for justice for all."