ELGIN (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Local filmmakers will begin work in Elgin next week on a documentary about how that city last summer reacted to the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd. And the film is only a part of the project.
Elgin, like many cities, saw big protests over George Floyd’s killing last summer, and many merchants boarded up storefronts out of fear there’d be violence. But, Amanda Harris, Elgin Cultural Arts Manager, said that didn’t happen.
"Rather than Elgin experiencing violence, artists and residents and business owners actually came out and they used those [plywood] boards as an expression of art," Harris said. "Within about 24 hours of those boards going up on the businesses, they were adorned with just some of the most incredible images."
The colorful boards were a backdrop to the city’s response and discussions about race and policing. And Harris said community people wanted to keep the momentum going.
"You know, we were trying to figure out how we preserve these boards and not alter them and use them to help tell the story and further this mission," she said.
So, the city and the Elgin Social Justice Collective have launched the "Making Space" project, commissioning a mural and a documentary; creating a scholarship; and having citywide conversations about how to move forward.
"Beyond having this new scholarship program to further education for those who are interested, are these two versions of conversation," Harris said.
Chicago artist Pablo Serrano will create the community mural as part of the commemoration.
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