'We want justice and we want peace' Protesters in La Grange decry police brutality, racism

LA GRANGE – Circled by a stirred-up crowd on an otherwise empty patch of Ogden Avenue, Destiny Hurd didn't hold back.

Hurd, the daughter of a retired cop, is angered by the death of George Floyd.A lifelong La Grange resident, she considers his killing the latest of injustices that have gone on for far too long.

"I come to you today because I'm tired of being tired," Hurd said. "Let me be clear about these protests – it's not just about George Floyd. His death was just a drop of water in an already bucket full of rage that we feel as black Americans. Every day we see a senseless killing of one of our own at the hands of the people who are supposed to be protecting us."

Hurd let it all out, belting into a bullhorn as her hair whipped in the breeze.

She spoke of injustices her great grandmother met with decades ago. Hurd spoke of growing up on the outskirts of what she called one of the most diverse, yet segregated cities in the country. She related childhood memories of being covered in towels during the summer, so her skin wouldn't get too dark, and of meeting discrimination at a job.

"It wasn't until last summer that I felt 100 percent comfortable in my skin," Hurd said.

Hurd, a Lyons Township High School graduate, led a few hundred protesters Thursday in La Grange's third protest over the last nine days in the wake of Floyd's death May 25 in Minneapolis, when white police officer Derek Chauvin pressed a knee to Floyd's neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds.

It was one of so many marches that have swept the nation the last two weeks. Hurd, however, organized this event to speak out against more than police brutality.

"Everybody needs to have the same opportunities in this country," Hurd said. "It's not just about police brutality. It's about jobs, whether we can get a housing loan, it's if my name is on a resume and so is a white girl named Michelle, she's going to get more callbacks. That's the system, and it needs to change now."

Black and white, young and old alike marched through the streets of La Grange's east side where Hurd grew up. It's a place she feels has been looked down on and is not on equal footing within her community. Residents looked on from front lawns and porch steps, many holding signs in solidarity.

"A lot of people don't come over there and they purposely don't because there is such a stereotype over the area, because it has been historically African-American," Hurd said. "It's nickname is literally 'Little Africa,' and on top of that the money in that area is not great. We've been building it up for years, but there's still that stereotype. You don't see a lot of white people walking through the area, our park isn't up to date, we have to constantly redo the pavement because they don't put money into it.

"I love the other protests, they're great, but I wanted to see us talk more about what needs to be done and about injustice. This isn't new."

Protesters carried signs from "No one is free, when others are oppressed," to "a badge is not a license to kill" and "police reform now."

At a stop sign on Lincoln Avenue, the crowd silently took a knee for eight minutes, 46 seconds.

"Nine minutes on your knees not just for George Floyd," Michael Hurd said, "but for every silent voice who can't defend themselves anymore."

The protest ended with a long walk down Ogden Avenue, where it stopped at the intersection with Maple and several speakers took the bullhorn.

Destiny Richardson spoke of the pain of knowing that every day there is someone facing a statistic, someone facing a stereotype, someone being followed in a store or being judged by the complexion of their skin.

Or, worse, someone being hurt or maybe even killed with acts of hatred.

"This has got to stop," Richardson said. "Keep applying the pressure."

Hurd, whose father is a retired cop in the Maywood Police Department, said her dad has been hurting since Floyd's death.

"He's hurt," Hurd said. "He cannot believe the way that these police officers are not only treating these civilians, but treating even the protesters. A majority of these protests going on in the country are peaceful and they started off peaceful but they ended in violence because the police decided that the First Amendment rights are not our rights. This is not OK. This is the injustice we are facing."

Tony Williams, who started his own individual peaceful protest #shutupanddribble and dribbled a basketball through the streets, spoke to the importance of "being proactive about change," rather than "reactive to pain." He's started his own nonprofit, United Pride and Produce, to distribute fresh produce for families in need.

"Don't let this just be a moment," Williams said. "Continue to spread positive messages. Black people don't want to feel like people pity us. It's important to be proud of who you are."

Lanita Cox, whose family has lived in La Grange since the 1960s, said the young people need to know "it's about the injustice and about being treated right and how the police treat us."

"This walk is important. We want justice and we want peace and to let them know that we have a voice," Cox said. "We want things to change and we want everyone to have a normal life without being discriminated."