'We Have Seen A Modern-Day Lynching': Protesters In Hyde Park Call For Justice, Demonstrate Peacefully

Organizers of a march through the streets of Hyde Park say it was meant to start dialogue about racism, not conflict.
Photo credit WBBM Newsradio/Andy Dahn

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A Hyde Park protest on Sunday over the death of George Floyd in Minnesota had a much different tone than others across Chicago over the weekend.

Crowds took to the streets of Hyde Park on Sunday with one goal: honor the life of George Floyd in a peaceful manner. Police officers monitored from the sidewalks. 

Waving a sign that simply read "Black Lives Matter" was Charlie Lemke-Bell of Oak Park.

"We need to demonstrate, we need to make our voices heard," he said. "There are so many people within this country who do not know why we're out here today, who see the misrepresentative videos and photos of looting and don't understand why we're upset and angry."

Bell and other organizers said the goal of the peaceful march was to start a dialogue about racial inequality, while also honoring the life of George Floyd.

"We want justice. We want awareness. We want action," he said. 

Lemke-Bell said until serious conversations lead to serious changes when it comes to racial inequality, protesting and demonstrating will continue. 

This group of demonstrators in Hyde Park just came from a peaceful march, and say the narrative of violent protests and looting has overshadowed the real message. “Last week in Minneapolis was modern day lynching...that can’t continue.” @WBBMNewsradio #GeorgeFloydProtests pic.twitter.com/DE1kyIb9Fd

— Andy Dahn (@thisisandydahn) May 31, 2020

"We have seen for too long the economic oppression, the criminal justice system put us down, and we have seen various forms of overt and non-overt oppression. Last week we have seen a modern day lynching in Minneapolis - out in the plain open," he said.

Lemke-Bell and others said they were disappointed to see some protests turn violent over the weekend, taking away the spotlight from the memory of George Floyd. 

While certain Chicago streets were clogged by police blockades throughout the day on Sunday, Hyde Park seemed to quickly clear out once the march came to an end.