HYDE PARK — A rally for the two mayoral candidates turned heated Saturday with prominent South Side pastors walking out before speaking when neither candidate made an appearance.
Young Leaders Alliance hosted the rally at the DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Place, for Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Jesus “Chuy” Garcia to present their agendas for how to address a lack of jobs, economic development and other issues important in black neighborhoods.
Both candidates canceled, sending a representative instead, which riled up the crowd of about 200 people gathered near the steps of the museum.
“Since just their representatives came, I’m not going to give them the microphone,” said the Rev. Jedidiah Brown, president of Young Leaders Alliance. “They better get their butts down here from St. Patrick’s Day.”
Brown eventually relented and allowed U.S. Rep. Danny Davis (D-7th) to make his pitch for Garcia. Davis said he had known Garcia since he was a young man, but was interrupted by shouts from the audience unhappy that Garcia was not personally making his case.
“’Chuy,’ I wish you were here,” Davis yelled in exasperation before closing his remarks.
Brown said he was told by Garcia’s campaign that the candidate could not attend because he was preparing for a debate.
Garcia’s campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The representative for Emanuel, the Rev. Torrey Barrett of Life Center Church of God in Christ, never made it to the microphone.
Barrett left after a heated exchange between himself, Brown, the Rev. Corey Brooks of New Beginnings Church and other prominent south side pastors.
“He said things about me that would have made it difficult for me to get my point across when I did speak,” Barrett said by phone after the event, referring to Brown’s criticism to the crowd about Emanuel sending a representative instead of appearing in person.
Brown said the discussion was political, but he agreed that Barrett should not speak and that his criticism was directed towards the mayor and not Barrett personally.
Emanuel’s campaign did not immediately respond to questions about the rally.
Though many in the crowd carried signs for Garcia, there was not enthusiastic support for Emanuel or Garcia, who was endorsed on Friday by Willie Wilson, a black candidate during the first stage of the mayoral race who garnered significant support in black neighborhoods.
Several attempts to start chants for Garcia fell flat, but the crowd eagerly joined in a chorus calling on both candidates to say more about what they would do for black communities on the South and West sides.
“What do we want? Plans. When do we want it? Now,” the crowd chanted before hitting a new refrain. “It’s unacceptable.”
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