Hundreds Set To March Thursday For 'New Narrative For Plainfield'

PLAINFIELD, IL — When her 4-year-old biracial daughter agonized over not finding the right color for the skin tone of a princess in a coloring book to match her own, Miravone Dorough said it broke her heart.

"I knew that our journey started on that day," she said.

Saddened by the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police and armed with her own personal struggle, Dorough is organizing a protest at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the Plainfield Central High School parking lot.

Participants will start at the school, walk up north James Street, turn left on Lockport Street over DuPage River and then head to Settlers' Park.

"This protest was important years ago. Systemic racism has been in this country since before slavery was abolished," she said. "However we are celebrating pre-Juneteenth 'Freedom Day' by honoring the work of many who helped end slavery...with a public commitment to continue the work to abolish systemic racism."

Once at Settlers' Park, Dorough said, the participants will have a speaker, a moment of silence, worship, prayer and a "public commitment as a community to continue forward in anti-racist racial injustice work." According to the Facebook page, about 300 people have indicated an interest in attending the event so far.

She said that because her family is being home-schooled, they have been intentional for a couple of years in exposing the children to multiple cultures and learning about prominent inspirational leaders of history including Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, Ruby Bridges and Harriet Tubman.

"Our intention for our children is to enrich their education as well as provide them with a space to stand in full pride and acceptance of their own heritage," she said. "This intention also comes with the responsibility of being truth speakers and seekers in thought, faith and world/American history, so we do not promote the ideals of 'colorblindness' or sugar coating."

Dorough said her children have inspired her with their ability to show empathy and understanding, and become more justice-minded.

"If we want to prepare our children to step out into the world without us one day, I want them to be the catalyst for peace, change and truth," she said.

Her friend Cheryl Lynn Cain said that less than 100 years ago in the month of June, 50,000 Klansmen had gathered on the same streets in Plainfield that the protest will march through, to initiate 3,000 into an anti-gospel vision of community.

"This Juneteenth, generations will march for a better, more redemptive vision where we affirm that Black Lives Matter," she said. "We are taking a stand to reclaim a new narrative for Plainfield."

In order to ensure safety and contain the spread of the coronavirus, Dorough is encouraging everyone in attendance to wear a mask and practice social distancing. Anyone with symptoms will be encouraged to stay home.

She said they have been fortunate to have the support of the Plainfield Police Department, which will be present on Thursday to keep residents safe.

"True peace starts with our children and committing to do our own work, while amplifying voices of color and practicing a posture of lament with our black community," Dorough said. "We can all be part of change. We all have to decide if we are ready for it. It is never too late to start."

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