On July 7, 2018, Father Michael Pfleger and a few thousand of his supporters shut down a Chicago expressway known as the Dan Ryan in order to protest the gun violence and inadequate funding of schools and jobs for those in Black communities.
Father Pfleger is a White, Roman Catholic priest who has worked in the Black community for over 40 years focused on erasing the injustice the community constantly faces. This most recent protest was viewed by many as a waste of time. The ongoing questions are: Where does this march take us? What does it prove? And what will it accomplish?
Chicago has seen 52 fewer murders and 229 fewer shootings through the end of May, according to the Chicago Police. This has been the 15th consecutive month of declining gun violence. This isn’t necessarily something to hang your hat on, but it is progress and it highlights why marches like this are important.
“Today was the attention getter but now comes the action to follow up. Tell us what they are going to do to equal the playing field on the South and West Sides of Chicago like the North Side?” posed Pfleger.
We spoke with one of the marchers, H.L. Anderson, and asked why she thought this march was important to the Black community and how it will change things.
“The March is important because it highlights community concerns that relate to gun violence, and an overall lack of resources and disinvestment in communities of color, specifically Black communities that have a low social economic status. Many working class people felt it was a bit of an inconvenience because there are many people who work on Saturdays or need to shop for the week. Protests that are done in the community must be carefully considered as to not create more barriers for people,” she said.
