MOUNT GREENWOOD — Protests in the wake of the fatal police shooting of a 25-year-old black man in Mount Greenwood will continue this weekend.
Three demonstrations are planned in the area that has seen racial upheaval since Joshua Beal of Indianapolis was shot and killed Nov. 5 at 111th and Troy streets. A pair of protests followed the incident.
Area residents and others holding signs that read "Blue Lives Matter" clashed with black activists on Nov. 6 and 8. The activists said they encountered '60s-style racism as they marched demanding, "Justice for Joshua Beal."
Area residents and others claim they were merely standing up for their neighborhood and voicing support for police with chants of "CPD, CPD, CPD." Motivated by these events, three groups have planned public displays, according to the Chicago Police Department:
• Southsiders For Peace host vigils from 1-2 p.m. on the third Saturday of the month on the northwest corner of 103rd Street and Western Avenue in Beverly. The upcoming event asks residents to "Stand Up For Unity — Against Racism!"
Attendees are encouraged to bring signs "for a peaceful vigil in support of a multi-racial and diverse community."
• The Southwest Chicago Diversity Collaborative will have a silent protest from 3-5 p.m. Saturday at 111th Street and Kedzie Avenue in Mount Greenwood. The group plans to "stand and hold space in support of diversity and inclusion."
Those interested in the event are also encouraged to make "signs, art and other visible messages of inclusion."
• The Revolution Club of Chicago or RevCom along with several black activists, religious leaders and others have organized a protest from 2-4 p.m. Sunday at 111th Street and Kedzie Avenue. The group is asking its supporters to "stand up in Mount Greenwood to racist mob threats."
A meeting held Wednesday night between black activists and community residents aimed to quell racial tensions ahead of Sunday's planned protest, and residents condemned racial slurs used at previous protests. The protest will conclude with a dinner at St. Christina Parish at 3342 W. 111th St. in Mount Greenwood.
The idea behind the meal is to create a dialogue between the two camps, organizers said.
"We're going to allow love, peace and understanding to defeat this war," activist Eugene Stanley said Wednesday night.
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