DeKalb Black Lives Matter town hall brings forward list of demands for police, race reform

DeKALB – DeKalb Black Lives Matter organizers on Thursday told Mayor Jerry Smith that he was talking "empty promises" after his comments following an evening in which demands regarding police and race reform in the community were made.

"Everything that you're saying just sounds like empty promises," said Trinity Alexander, 20, a student at Northern Illinois University who's helped organize local demonstrations over the past few weeks. "You need to actually say, 'I hear you, this is what we're going to do.'"

After being asked to speak, Smith said he wanted to be "the mayor of all people," and began sharing a story of how, when he was an NIU student, he participated in a protest because black students at the time in 1961 were unable to receive haircuts in the city.

"I want to be the mayor of all people, young, old, black, white, red, green, blue," Smith said. "Unfortunately, I can say very little on the concerns tonight. The reason being is that if I did that I would be violating the Illinois Open Meetings Act."

Smith said he is aware some have called for his resignation after his use of the word "thug" in response to looting which occurred May 30 and said being on the City Council and making decisions is "not easy."

"There are no green people," said Maurice McDavid, DeKalb native and church pastor. "I'm Black. And that has been my experience. And for people who have told me, 'You should just be a child of God,' I would love to, but I'm Back."

It's the second time this week residents who've been outspoken about their desire for police reform and an end to brutality involving the black community have expressed frustrations with the way city and county leaders respond to their demands and calls for action. A third town hall is set for 5 p.m. Monday before the City Council meeting and will be held virtually from the DeKalb Public Library's Yusunas Room, 309 Oak St.

About 100 people attended a Black Lives Matter town hall meeting and community forum Thursday evening at Hopkins Park in DeKalb. During the town hall meeting, members of the public addressed DeKalb city officials and demanded change. It's the third week of daily protests and community meetings spurred by the death of George Floyd, 46, a black man, who died in police custody after Derek Chauvin, a white Minneapolis police officer, was seen in video kneeling on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes even after he'd passed out. Chauvin later was fired and charged with murder.

DeKalb officials who attended the event included Mayor Jerry Smith, City Manager Bill Nicklas, Ward 1 Alderman Carolyn Morris, Ward 6 Alderman Mike Verbic, DeKalb County Board Member Rukisha Crawford and acting Police Chief Bob Redel.

One of the event's coordinators, Vivian Meade, described the town hall as "a very important first step."

"Our purpose is anti-racism, anti-police brutality, justice and peace," Meade said.

Meade and others read from a list of demands compiled by organizers, which included implementing policy reform in the police department, getting rid of cash bail for the DeKalb County Jail, cutting police department budgets in half and reallocating funds to social services and calling for all officers to wear body cameras while on patrol.

Additional demands called for firing officers if they have been the subject of misconduct records or have used choke holds such as police Sgt. Jeffrey Weese, and committing to not destroying misconduct records.

In August, Weese was seen on video arresting Elonte McDowell, a Black man, using what a police forensic doctor described as a choke hold.The arrest gained national attentionas McDowell yelled "I can't breathe." Weese was placed on desk duty pending an investigation by the Illinois State Police which later included a DeKalb County grand jurywho declined to press criminal charges against Weese. In February, after an internal investigation by the DeKalb police department, Weese was placed on unpaid suspension for up to 30 days, ordered to undergo cultural competency training and prohibited from being promoted for a year.

Marquita Seals of DeKalb asked for proceeds from fines the police department collected be put into the community.

"The funds should be used to rebuild the economy and help the less fortunate," she said. "We also need to be holding the police accountable for what they do, not just a slap on the wrist. [We should all] be treated the same."

Bryton Rimmer of DeKalb called for every police officer to go through de-escalation training. Shrestha Singh of DeKalb asked for cash bail to be eliminated. Other demands included affordable housing and a "common lease" to be used consistently for all landlords in DeKalb, banning tear gas, police accountability and the identities of all police officials and their photos to be published online.

"Our county sheriff has come out and publicly said he will not support cash bail reform, saying it would put violent criminals out on the streets," Singh said. "But what the cash bail system does is it penalizing people of color. It destabilizes families, you might lose your job. We also just spent $3 million on creating and expanding the DeKalb County Jail due to overcrowding, and where overcrowding comes from is when people sit in jail due to not being able to afford bail."

In an interview following the town hall, Bob Redel called the meeting "eye-opening."

"It was important to hear what changes needed to be made," Redel said. "Changes need to happen. We were told how people have been treated differently because of their skin color. That can't be tolerated. We need to treat everyone with dignity and respect, and if not, I will hold them accountable."

In response to the demands, Nicklas said, "It's time to act."

"First, we had to listen," he said. "We have to build a community based on tolerance, inclusivity, civility and mutual respect. Let's not wait, let's take action. We're in need of pulling together."

In her closing comments, Meade asked the crowd, "What are you going to do?"

"Action needs to come," she said. "We are tired of fighting alone."

This article has been edited to correct a quote by Shrestha Singh regarding DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott not supporting cash bail reform. The Daily Chronicle regrets the error.