Hundreds Protest For Blacks To be Seen As 'Equal Human Beings'

PLAINFIELD, IL — Residents attended a protest Friday in Plainfield organized by the Plainfield South High School Black Student Association.

From 4-6:30 p.m., around 300 people gathered at the corner of Ridge Road and Caton Farm.

According to one of the protesters, Sonja Richards, Joliet police officers were nearby who gave "us a respectable distance, and we felt comfortable protesting."

Speakers inspired the crowd with slogans such as "hands up don't shoot" and "no justice, no peace". Participants also knelt down and observed 8 minutes 46 seconds of silence — the amount of time taken by the officer to drain Gorge Floyd of is life.

Illinois has seen several demonstrations in the last week after Floyd, a 46-year-old black man was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis May 25, after he knelt on Floyd's neck while trying to arrest him.

"It's a long time coming. The black community is so tired of seeing our people killed by police officers and no charges/convictions occur. Even when there is proof," Richards said. "Not only that, the systemic racism that occurs has to stop. I feel like it's still the 1950s or 60s."

She said racism is so rampant in every sphere of her life that the first night her family moved into their north Plainfield home, large rocks and concrete pieces were thrown through the windows.

"I'm tired of telling my sons to be careful of the police when they're out. I'm tired of the subtle racism that occurs in the workplace. Tired of it all. Change needs to happen. If not now, when?"

Despite being worried about safety concerns due to the pandemic, Richards said "this issue is too important for me not to be present."

"It felt liberating, it felt like I was doing my part to impart change. At the same time it was emotional. I fought tears several times because I just couldn't believe my people have to literally fight just to be seen as equal human beings," she said. "There were many passersby who honked their horns in solidarity and that helped to empower us. There were also those who shouted 'go home,' 'get a job,' etc. That right there tells me these protests and dialogue are much needed in this community."