Another week of protests, a new DePaul task force
And at-home graduation celebrations
Hello everyone,
It’s your (adjusted) Monday crew — Grace, Cam, Mikayla and contributor Keira Wingate — back with the latest news.
As we head into the summer, we’ll send out this newsletter once a week (instead of twice) on Mondays.
This week, we bring updates on Chicago’s Black Lives Matter protests, DePaul’s reopening and a college senior’s graduation plans.
What’s happening in Chicago?
Yesterday, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced over Twitter that Chicago’s curfew would be “lifted effective immediately.” This comes 8 days after the curfew was put into place, initially described as an attempt to keep the protests peaceful. Lightfoot also wrote, “I’m grateful to our residents for working together to navigate this challenging time.” The CTA also resumed its downtown bus and train routes to the Loop yesterday.
Both announcements came after another weekend of protests across the city and nation. This weekend there were more protestors than last weekend at many protests across the city. The largest was at Union Park, which is used to seeing thousands of people for Pitchfork Music Fest. However, on Saturday an estimated 30,000 people gathered for a rally against police brutality. “Activate! Chicago,” an organization that seeks to connect communities with public spaces, put the rally together just days before it took place. Protesters listened to speeches and marched together to another open space near Seward Park. The organizers also sent letters to different Chicago Police commanders beforehand, asking that riot gear not to be worn — and they listened.
Alongside protesting for justice for George Floyd, the marches and rallies being organized demand more changes and accountability from the Chicago Police Department.
Nini’s Deli, a well-known restaurant in Noble Square, has permanently closed after losing followers and customers over the weekend. Protestors marched outside of the deli after the managers shared social media posts that contained racist and homophobic remarks. Unlike many restaurants across the city that stand in solidarity with the movement and have donated to grassroots organizations, Nini’s associated Black Lives Matter with terrorist groups. Chicago organizations from the Chicago Fire soccer team to Intelligentsia Coffee have since cut their ties with Nini’s Deli.
Meanwhile, public libraries and some parks have reopened today. The city is still in Phase 3 of reopening, so the libraries must incorporate additional safety measures to allow for social distancing. Playgrounds, park facilities and the Lakefront trail remain closed.
Governor J.B. Pritzker highly encourages people who are protesting to get tested. Anyone in Illinois can now get a coronavirus test for free.
As of today, there are 658 new known cases, bringing the state total to 128,415 since the beginning of the outbreak. There are 20 new reported coronavirus related deaths and a total of 5,924 deaths in Illinois since the start of the pandemic.
Other Headlines In Chicago
Pritzker asks insurance companies to help small businesses recover, by Block Club Chicago’s Kelly Bauer.
Summer school can reopen, by Chicago Tribune’s Hannah Leone.
Midsommarfest has been replaced with a virtual fest, by Block Club Chicago’s Joe Ward.
Volunteers helped clean up the West Side, by Block Club Chicago’s Pascal Sabino.
Houses of worship can reopen with a max of 50 people, by Block Club Chicago’s staff.
WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight”’s Brandis Friedman is hosting a special on race and inequity tonight at 7 p.m., by Chicago Tribune’s Tracy Swartz.
Illinois’s population is declining, by Chicago Tribune’s Patrick M. O’Connell.
What’s happening at DePaul?
On the morning of June 8, students woke up to DePaul Newsline email with the headline, “DePaul’s approach to reopening campus.” The article introduced the university’s new task force which has five committees and four sub-committees.
Many different members from the administration, staff and faculty make up the taskforce. Three students are also on the taskforce including Student Government Association (SGA) President Gisselle Cervantes, SGA Senator for College of Law Andrew Keil and SGA Executive Vice President for Student Affairs Alyssa Isberto.
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Also announced today via Newsline, the university’s task force has “determined the use of face coverings will be a part of many aspects of returning to campus.”
Students will be responsible for providing their own masks and face coverings.
Finally, another reminder that students who have completed the FAFSA and were enrolled to be in intended face-to-face classes by March 13 are eligible for the CARES Act, where they could be awarded up to $500. You must apply for funds by June 15. The funds can be received either via direct deposit or by check.
If you don’t want to read the news, here’s the headlines to know.
Protests advocating for racial justice are in their third week as June gets into full swing, with demonstrations across the country and the world. Marches have taken place on every continent except Antarctica; this past week, crowds gathered outside U.S. Embassies, Consulates and public spaces in Nigeria, South Africa, Hong Kong, Seoul, Prague, Paris, Berlin, Dublin, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro and more. More on this from CBS Evening News’s Elizabeth Palmer.
At his court hearing earlier today, a $1.25 million bail was set for former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin, who killed George Floyd on May 25 and was charged with second degree murder, from the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Greg Stanley and Chao Xiong.
One demand of protestors is a call to defund or abolish the police forces within their communities; the Minneapolis City Council has released a statement with their intentions to “begin the process of ending the Minneapolis Police Department.” Other cities are slowly following suit, including New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, who “vowed” to reallocate some funding from the NYPD to youth services, from the New York Times’s Dana Rubinstein.
Last evening in Virginia, a 36-year-old man drove his car through a throng of peaceful protestors in Richmond; he has been identifying himself as the “president of the Virginia Ku Klux Klan.” One person was injured and the man has been charged with assault, from the Guardian’s Adam Gabbatt and Jason Wilson.
Almost 650,000 people have signed a petition to fire Buffalo Police Department officer Aaron Torgalski, who was caught on video last week shoving a 75-year-old man to the ground; Torgalski and a fellow officer were charged with one count of second-degree assault, according to Newsweek’s Benjamin Fearnow.
Democratic legislators in the House and Senate proposed the “Justice in Policing Act of 2020,” today, aimed at reforming law enforcement nationwide. Some of the proposals include prohibiting chokeholds, banning no-knock warrants in drug cases, and creating a national registry for police misconduct, according to NPR’s Claudia Grisales, Susan Davis and Kelsey Snell.
Parts of the Southern United States are getting pummeled with heavy winds and torrential rain as Tropical Depression Cristobal shifts inland into the Mississippi River Valley from the Gulf of Mexico. The storm system made landfall last night and is expected to remain a Tropical Depression as it moves inland into the Midwest on Tuesday and Wednesday, reaching as far north as Wisconsin and Canada, from CNN’s Jennifer Gray.
On Twitter and Instagram, staff at Bon Appétit are calling out inequitable pay conditions, dismissive behavior and a lack of response to demands by journalists, photographers and producers of color for a better work environment. This comes as a photo of the current editor-in-chief, Adam Rapoport, circulated on social media showing him in brownface for a Halloween costume. Rapoport resigned this evening.
In other news, in advance of graduation this weekend, seniors are finding creative ways to celebrate
Commencement was one of the many in-person events canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thousands of students throughout the country were told their big day was going virtual — if it was happening at all.
Many looked forward to the chance to walk across the stage in front of friends and family, showing off a well-earned accomplishment. But as restrictions worsened, many graduates have had to be creative with celebrating.
Whether it be with one or a few people, a lot of graduates have made the most out of an unfortunate situation, celebrating in ways that’ll surely be as memorable — if not more — than the usual commencement.
Photo courtesy of Jessical Terrell at her home graduation party.
Jessical Terrell, 21, graduated from the University of St. Francis on May 9 with a degree in social work. She was able to wear her grandmother's cap and gown and had a drive-by celebration in addition to watching the virtual ceremony with her immediate family.
“It wasn’t what I was expecting, but it was better than I had thought a virtual ceremony was going to be,” she said. “I was able to appreciate my school while being able to see my loved ones smiling along with me and that’s something I wouldn’t have gotten at the actual graduation. Being negative about not walking the stage is something I went through, but I was not going to let it ruin my day by any means. It was still a graduation and definitely a day I won’t forget.”
Daniella Magee, 22, will be graduating from DePaul on June 13 with a degree in PR & Advertising with a concentration in influencer relations, and has some fun and adventurous plans of her own.
Magee is having a photoshoot with her Alpha Phi sorority sisters to celebrate their achievement together and a small family gathering. She also has a Paris trip in the works that she will be going on with her father.
“Our last year was cut short, but we want to make the best of it,” she said. “The class of 2020 will be remembered as having a unique and different graduation. We are special and will be remembered throughout history.”
The creativity in seniors' new graduation celebrations are sparking memories that will surely make up for a walk across a stage and give a unique perspective to the importance of friends, family and accomplishments.
Photo courtesy of Daniella Magee
Mental Health Resources
This document is a resource for Black people experiencing racial trauma. This master list includes specific resources as well as protesting tips and donation links.
Here’s 7 virtual mental health resources supporting Black people right now, including Chicago-based community organization Sista Afya’s support groups
Text SHARE to 741741 for free 24/7 crisis counseling by Crisis Text Line
Contact Illinois’ Call4Calm mental health resources. Residents can text TALK for English or HABLAR for Spanish to 552-020 and the state will put them in touch with a counselor
Call 833-626-4244 for the NAMI Chicago Helpline or 833-TURN-123 for the Bright Star Community Outreach to speak to a mental health counselor
If it’s late at night: text HELLO to 741741. Crisis Text Line is a 24-hour hotline that serves anyone, in any type of crisis
Where to Access Food in Chicago
This spreadsheet highlights businesses and locations providing food. There are also links to donate to these organizations.
Check out the Greater Chicago Food Depository for food banks or donate.
Here’s a list of places to access food in Chicago today.
Free Resources for Non-Black Allies
An anti-racist reading list from Ibram X. Kendi, the author of How to Be Anti-Racist, and the same list through the Chicago Public Library, so you can check the books out for free.
And a reading list from anti-racist researcher Victoria Alexander, who separates her recommendations based on entry level and topic.
Reading guide of texts about race. All PDFs are free.
Here’s a guide to protest safely during the pandemic
Here’s the ACLU’s Right to Protest guide for Illinois
Can’t protest but want to help? Use this social media toolkit by the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR)
If you think someone you know has been arrested – call the Chicago Community bail fund at 773-309-1198 to locate them (you need to know their birthdate and full legal name)
Where you can donate
Chicago Community Bond Fund: https://chicagobond.org/donate/
Good Kids Mad City: https://www.facebook.com/GKMC2018/?ref=page_internal
https://twitter.com/GKMC18?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Black Lives Matter Chicago: https://www.blacklivesmatterchicago.com
Assata’s Daughters: https://www.assatasdaughters.org
Circles and Ciphers: http://www.circlesandciphers.org
Chicago Torture Justice Center: http://chicagotorturejustice.org
E.a.t.: https://www.eatchicago.org
Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression: https://www.caarpr.org
Liberation Library: https://www.liberationlib.com
Market box: https://experimentalstation.org/m
Thank you once again for reading. Please stay safe and healthy, and put on some sunscreen — it’s a scorcher this week!
All the best,
Grace, Cam, Mikayla and Keira