After weeks of protests across the city against police brutality, this year’s Juneteenth march will focus on police reform and equity in black communities, according to march organizers.
Ashley Munson, lead organizer of the March for US 2020, said the march scheduled for Friday morning will focus on community organizing around the city.
“This movement started as a result of black people being fundamentally frustrated with how things are,” she said. “You can’t address police reform without addressing the other things that affect black people.”
Munson added some demands include assuring the city provides support to South and West side hospitals and equitable education for students of color.
Juneteenth celebrates June 19, 1865, the day Union soldiers told enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, that the Civil War was over and they were free. The holiday is recognized in 47 states, including Illinois.
The march will begin in the South Loop and end at City Hall. Munson said the organization estimates 4,000 to 5,000 people will participate.
“Police reform has been something that’s been needed for years, this has been a movement,” she said of recent rallies and protests. “We want more than police reform and at a fundamental base we want people to stop killing us.”
The Chicago Peace and Equality Juneteenth Rally and Celebration is also focusing on police redistribution of funds and demands for overall equality said lead organizer Romel Murphy.
The march will begin in the South Loop on Friday afternoon. An estimated 5,000 participants are expected, Murphy said.
“Now we have everyone’s eyes and ears,” Murphy said of this year’s march. “This highlights that this is our day of independence, I think it’s going to shine a light on the fact that black people were enslaved in American for over 200 years.”
jvillagomez@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @JessicaVillag
