Demonstrators Across Illinois Protest Police Violence

It’s been one week since George Floyd died with a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on his neck. Four officers on the scene were fired the next day, and by Friday one of them had been charged with murder and manslaughter. Protests have been erupting all over the country, including in multiple cities in Illinois: Chicago, Aurora, Springfield, Peoria, Belleville and more.

In some places there was also looting and violence. As we’ll hear, some of that seemed to be linked to elements of the demonstrations, but in other cases, local officials have said it’s been opportunistic, and protest organizers have sought to distance themselves from that activity.

This is a fast moving situation and we’ll continue to bring you updates and more in-depth conversations about not just the protests and violence, but the legacy of racism in America that led to this moment.

For now, we’re going to talk to several reporters around Illinois who have been reporting on what happened this weekend.

Guests:

Matt Harvey, The Triibe

Stacy St. Clair, Chicago Tribune

Kelsey Landis, Belleville News-Democrat

The police killings of unarmed Black people such as #GeorgeFloyd and #BreonnaTaylor have sparked uprisings nationwide. In Chicago, tensions stem from CPD’s abusive, and at times torturous, relationship w/ the Black community. https://t.co/uojMfaq5k4

��: Darius Griffin/The TRiiBE pic.twitter.com/SFzmEoDonf

— The TRiiBE (@TheTRiiBE) June 1, 2020

Aurora’s police chief joined peaceful protests. Hours later, rioters looted and set fire to the downtown. @MeganA_Jones and I take you through a violent, heartbreaking night in Illinois' second-largest city. https://t.co/GTjASqIrs9

— Stacy St. Clair (@StacyStClair) June 1, 2020

“We could do this once a day, once a week, once a month, but authority has to change,” one protester said. “We just want justice.” https://t.co/mCWfQvb01I

— Kelsey Landis (@kelseylandis) May 31, 2020