2020 Year in Review: Black Lives Matter Rallies

After video footage surfaced of a now-former Minneapolis police officer, who is white, kneeling on the neck of George Floyd, a Black man, rallies advocating for racial equality and anti-police brutality messages ignited across Kane County, as well as around the country.

Rallies took place in several local communities, including St. Charles, Batavia, Elburn and Aurora. Rallies remained largely peaceful, but civil unrest unfolded in Aurora on May 31.

James Jennings was inspired to stand on the side of Farnsworth Avenue for “three or four hours” May 31, advocating for change.

“I’m not out here for Facebook. That’s not why I’m doing this,” Jennings said.

Many local rallies were organized by current or former high school students.

The sit-in rally in Batavia was spearheaded by recent Batavia High School graduate Isabella Irish.

The rally at Memorial Park in Elburn was primarily organized by Kaneland High School graduates Bethany Duffey and Izzy Mohatt.

A rally in Elgin was organized by former Burlington High School students Ellie Walsh, Olivia Ward, Sophia Jandry and Grace Thompson.

“I thought that because of the recent events a peaceful [rally] would really help people come together, especially in this town where there is a lot of prejudice. There’s a lot of confusion with everything that’s happening,” Irish said before the start of the rally June 3.

“Just having everybody here together would be perfect, so that they can listen, express themselves safely and [healthily],” Irish added.


The rallies attracted people of all backgrounds, beliefs and ages. Some rallies offered opportunities for voter registration, charitable donations to advocacy programs and more.

Speakers, including local political leaders, engaged at the rallies with crowds estimated to be in the hundreds. Individual experiences regarding racism, privilege and engagement with police were shared to the masses.

“My kids are fully grown,” began Traci O’Neal Ellis, the human resources director for the Illinois Math and Science Academy, in a speech at the Elburn rally June 8. “And yet, when I talk to them and I know that they’re leaving and going to be out and about doing their lives, I always tell them ‘come home alive.’ Because that’s the talk that Black parents have.

“And at 26 and 30 [years old] for them, I’m still telling them that,” O’Neal Ellis continued. “But when I left this morning, my 26-year-old looked at me and said ‘Mom, come home alive’ because that is the Black experience in America.”