‘Black lives matter!’ - Joliet demonstrators resume calls for justice as the nation’s attention returns to systemic racism

It was a familiar scene late Monday afternoon at the corner of Larkin Avenue and Jefferson Street in Joliet as a few demonstrators continued calls for an end to police brutality against African Americans.

A group of about seven people gathered as the nation awaited a verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former police officer charged with killing George Floyd in Minneapolis last year.

Despite the chilly temperature and smattering of rain, the demonstrators said they wanted to remind locals about systemic injustice and the calls for change which permeated last year.

Local activist and community member Trista Graves Brown calls speaks through a megaphone to motorists on Monday, April 19, 2021, at the intersection of Jefferson St. and Larkin Ave. in Joliet, Ill. Members of Joliet's community of faith came together to raise awareness and call for justice for George Floyd. — Local activist and community member Trista Graves Brown calls through a megaphone to motorists on Monday, April 19, 2021, at the intersection of Jefferson Street and Larkin Avenue in Joliet, Ill. Members of Joliet's community of faith came together to raise awareness and call for justice for George Floyd. (Geoff Stellfox - gstellfox@shawmedia.com)

One held up a hand-made sign which read “Pray 4 Justice.” They chanted “Black lives matter!”

“The only way a police (officer) can stop putting his knee on somebody’s neck or a gun in one of your child’s back, is they need accountability,” said Trista Graves Brown, a Joliet activist who helped organize the demonstration.

Floyd’s death in May sparked demonstrations against police misconduct and systemic racism around the nation, including several in Will County. Even as fears and rumors of violence spread on social media last year, the demonstrations locally were overwhelmingly nonviolent.

Several demonstrators also sought to bring attention to the overdose death of Eric Lurry after he was arrested by Joliet police.

Lurry, 37, died after ingesting fatal amounts of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine, according to the Will County Coroner’s Office. The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office said his death was not directly caused by the officers present. Still, Lurry’s family criticized the Joliet Police Department for its handling of the case.

After nearly a year of protests and calls for systemic change, many have argued there is still a need for public officials and law enforcement agencies to address inequities in the criminal justice system and beyond.

Rev. Larry Ellis of St Mark CME Church calls for justice for George Floyd as demonstrators hold hands in prayer on Monday, April 19, 2021, at the intersection of Jefferson St. and Larkin Ave. in Joliet, Ill. Members of Joliet's community of faith came together to raise awareness and call for justice for George Floyd. — Rev. Larry Ellis of St Mark CME Church calls for justice for George Floyd as demonstrators hold hands in prayer on Monday, April 19, 2021, at the intersection of Jefferson Street and Larkin Avenue in Joliet, Ill. Members of Joliet's community of faith came together to raise awareness and call for justice for George Floyd. (Geoff Stellfox - gstellfox@shawmedia.com)

Rev. Larry Ellis of St. Mark CME Church in Joliet, spoke to that still existing need for reforms at Monday’s demonstration.

“Right now I see us as a nation that is in serious need of healing,” he said. “Simply because this should not be happening. This is 2021, but we’re living in almost a reality of 1950 or 1940.”

Monday’s demonstration also came as the Joliet City Council has been considering a citizens police review board at the urging of local activists. The state legislature recently passed a sweeping police reform law which, among other measures, ends cash bail and requires body cameras for all officers in Illinois.

Still, Brown called for legislative changes to take place at the national level.

An activists tops to pray on Monday, April 19, 2021, at the intersection of Jefferson St. and Larkin Ave. in Joliet, Ill. Members of Joliet's community of faith came together to raise awareness and call for justice for George Floyd. — An activists tops to pray on Monday, April 19, 2021, at the intersection of Jefferson Street and Larkin Avenue in Joliet, Ill. Members of Joliet's community of faith came together to raise awareness and call for justice for George Floyd. (Geoff Stellfox - gstellfox@shawmedia.com)

Even if Chauvin is found guilty of the charges against him, Brown said residents should continue to demonstrate to bring light to other injustices. She pointed to the case of Joliet West graduate Jazzpher Evans, a Black 19-year-old college student who was allegedly assaulted at a night club in Quincy earlier this month. While the alleged assailant was charged with battery last week, an attorney for Evans called the incident a hate crime.

Brown said she has asked residents, faith leaders and even candidates in the recent local election to demonstrate with her group every day for the rest of the week.

“There’s so many more people that we have to stand up for,” she said.

‘Black lives matter!’ - Joliet demonstrators resume calls for justice as the nation’s attention returns to systemic racism

‘This is 2021, but we’re living in almost a reality of 1950 or 1940′