Families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Jacob Blake rally in Grant Park, urge voters to hit polls
A group of about 100 people — family members, friends and supporters of those killed or injured by police officers — gathered for two hours near Jackson and Columbus drives in Grant Park to reaffirm their calls for justice and to use their relatives’ stories as catalysts for social change.
Flanked by family members and supporters, Jacob Blake Sr. speaks during a Get Out The Vote rally, which brought together families of Black people killed or injured by police across the country, in Grant Park, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2020. Blake Sr.’s son, Jacob Blake Jr., 29, was shot and seriously wounded by a Kenosha police officer on Aug. 23.
Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
With their relatives’ names now etched in the collective consciousness, the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Jacob Blake and others killed or wounded by police officers gathered in Grant Park Thursday to urge voters to cast their ballots on Election Day next week.
The group of about 100 people — family members, friends and supporters — gathered for two hours near Jackson and Columbus drives to reaffirm their calls for justice and to use their relatives’ stories as catalysts for social change.
Stephanie Baskin, an aunt to Taylor, the woman shot and killed by police in Louisville, Kentucky said her family stands in solidarity with the families of Blake, Floyd and others, but conceded that there were others killed by police who she couldn’t remember.
“The fact that there are too many to remember is the reason why we all have to get out and vote, because what we’re finding more and more every day is that they have these laws designed to continue to keep their knee on our neck, to continue to hold us back, to continue to keep us in a place that they thought that we were going to stay in,” Baskin said.
“But we’re not,” she added. “We’re going to us our voices at the polls. We urge you all to use your voices at the polls because that’s the only way that we can change and reach the goals that we all are here, united, to reach.”
Tamika Palmer, mother of Breonna Taylor, cries as she listens to the family of George Floyd speak during a Get Out The Vote rally, which brought together families of Black people killed or injured by police across the country, in Grant Park, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2020. Taylor, 26, was fatally shot by a Louisville police officer on March 13. Floyd, 46, died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds on May 25.|Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
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Letetra Wideman (center), sister of Jacob Blake, holds hands with a supporter while praying during a Get Out The Vote rally, which brought together families of Black people killed or injured by police across the country, in Grant Park, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2020. Blake, 29, was shot and seriously wounded by a Kenosha police officer on Aug. 23.|Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
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Attorney Kevin O’Connor, who is representing the family of Marcellis Stinnette, speaks during a Get Out The Vote rally, which brought together families of Black people killed or injured by police across the country, in Grant Park, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2020. Stinnette, 19, was fatally shot by a Waukegan police officer on Oct. 20.|Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
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Jacob Blake Sr. raises his fist during a Get Out The Vote rally, which brought together families of Black people killed or injured by police across the country, in Grant Park, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2020. Blake Sr.’s son, Jacob Blake Jr., 29, was shot and seriously wounded by a Kenosha police officer on Aug. 23.|Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
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Selvin and Zharvellis Holmes, parents of Marcellis Stinnette, speak during a Get Out The Vote rally, which brought together families of Black people killed or injured by police across the country, in Grant Park, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2020. Stinnette, 19, was fatally shot by a Waukegan police officer on Oct. 20.|Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
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Selvin Holmes, father of Marcellis Stinnette, listens to a speaker during a Get Out The Vote rally, which brought together families of Black people killed or injured by police across the country, in Grant Park, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2020. Stinnette, 19, was fatally shot by a Waukegan police officer on Oct. 20.|Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
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Flanked by supporters, Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks during a Get Out The Vote rally, which brought together families of Black people killed or injured by police across the country, in Grant Park, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2020.|Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
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Tamika Palmer, mother of Breonna Taylor, cries as her sister, Stephanie Baskin, speaks during a Get Out The Vote rally, which brought together families of Black people killed or injured by police across the country, in Grant Park, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2020. Taylor, 26, was fatally shot by a Louisville police officer on March 13.|Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
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Dozens gather for a Get Out The Vote rally, which brought together families of Black people killed or injured by police across the country, in Grant Park, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2020. Blake Sr.’s son, Jacob Blake Jr., 29, was shot and seriously wounded by a Kenosha police officer on Aug. 23.|Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
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Brandon Williams, nephew of George Floyd, joins dozens for a Get Out The Vote rally, which brought together families of Black people killed or injured by police across the country, in Grant Park, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2020. Floyd, 46, died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds on May 25.|Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
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Jacob Blake Sr. hugs Katrina Curry, cousin of Breonna Taylor, during a Get Out The Vote rally, which brought together families of Black people killed or injured by police across the country, in Grant Park, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2020. Blake Sr.’s son, Jacob Blake Jr., 29, was shot and seriously wounded by a Kenosha police officer on Aug. 23. Taylor, 26, was fatally shot by a Louisville police officer on March 13.|Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
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Edward Davis, 51, of Evanston, a longtime family friend of Jacob Blake’s family, joins dozens for a Get Out The Vote rally, which brought together families of Black people killed or injured by police across the country, in Grant Park, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2020. Blake, 29, was shot and seriously wounded by a Kenosha police officer on Aug. 23.|Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
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Katrina Curry, cousin of Breonna Taylor, joins dozens for a Get Out The Vote rally, which brought together families of Black people killed or injured by police across the country, in Grant Park, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2020. Taylor, 26, was fatally shot by a Louisville police officer on March 13.|Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
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U.S. Reps. Danny Davis (right) and Bobby Rush speak during a Get Out The Vote rally, which brought together families of Black people killed or injured by police across the country, in Grant Park, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2020.|Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
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Tamika Palmer, mother of Breonna Taylor, joins dozens for a Get Out The Vote rally, which brought together families of Black people killed or injured by police across the country, in Grant Park, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2020. Taylor, 26, was fatally shot by a Louisville police officer on March 13.|Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
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Flanked by family members and supporters, Brandon Williams, nephew of George Floyd, speaks during a Get Out The Vote rally, which brought together families of Black people killed or injured by police across the country, in Grant Park, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2020. Floyd, 46, died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds on May 25.|Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
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Jacob Blake Sr. joins dozens for a Get Out The Vote rally, which brought together families of Black people killed or injured by police across the country, in Grant Park, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2020. Blake Sr.’s son, Jacob Blake Jr., 29, was shot and seriously wounded by a Kenosha police officer on Aug. 23.|Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
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Flanked by family members and supporters, Jacob Blake Sr. speaks during a Get Out The Vote rally, which brought together families of Black people killed or injured by police across the country, in Grant Park, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2020. Blake Sr.’s son, Jacob Blake Jr., 29, was shot and seriously wounded by a Kenosha police officer on Aug. 23.|Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
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Philonese Floyd, brother of George Floyd, joins dozens for a Get Out The Vote rally, which brought together families of Black people killed or injured by police across the country, in Grant Park, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2020. Floyd, 46, died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds on May 25.|Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
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Letetra Wideman, sister of Jacob Blake, holds hands with a supporter while praying during a Get Out The Vote rally, which brought together families of Black people killed or injured by police across the country, in Grant Park, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2020. Blake, 29, was shot and seriously wounded by a Kenosha police officer on Aug. 23.|Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
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Flanked by family members and supporters, Jacob Blake Sr. speaks during a Get Out The Vote rally, which brought together families of Black people killed or injured by police across the country, in Grant Park, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2020. Blake Sr.’s son, Jacob Blake Jr., 29, was shot and seriously wounded by a Kenosha police officer on Aug. 23.|Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
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Dozens gather for a Get Out The Vote rally, which brought together families of Black people killed or injured by police across the country, in Grant Park, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2020. Blake Sr.’s son, Jacob Blake Jr., 29, was shot and seriously wounded by a Kenosha police officer on Aug. 23.|Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
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Brandon Williams, a nephew of George Floyd, who was killed by a Minneapolis police officer encouraged voters to not just focus on the presidential race, but on local elections, as well.
Floyd’s younger brother, Philonese Floyd, urged voters to “think about your children’s future, your income taxes, raising minimum wage, food stamps, Medicaid and any government assistance. Vote for your neighborhoods as your ancestors have fought for equality for so many years.”
“Don’t listen to people when they say, ‘Your vote doesn’t matter.’ Your voice won’t be heard,” added Philonese Floyd, who wore a face mask emblazoned with “8:46,” the length of time that the Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kept his knee on George Floyd’s neck.
“If people can stand for hours in a line to get new Air Jordan tennis shoes, stand in lines to get in clubs, camp out for Black Friday discounts, then I know that you should be able and willing to stand and vote.”
Thursday’s rally also featured video messages from Mayor Lori Lightfoot, California senator and Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris and members of the band the Black Eyed Peas, all of whom echoed calls for voters to cast their ballots.
According to the Cook County Clerk’s Office, more than 300,000 votes have already been cast in the county.
Jacob Blake Sr., the father of the man shot and paralyzed by an officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin, earlier this year, said he and Blake’s other relatives “came here to Chicago to show unity of families. We came here to tell the world that we will not stop.”
“If we do not get up and we do not stand for justice, then what are we?” Jacob Blake Sr. asked rhetorically, his voice rising. “We are fake, pretenders. I do not pretend to do what I do.”
Selvin Holmes, father of Marcellis Stinnette, listens to a speaker during a Get Out The Vote rally, which brought together families of Black people killed or injured by police across the country, in Grant Park, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2020. Stinnette, 19, was fatally shot by a Waukegan police officer on Oct. 20.
Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Philonese Floyd, brother of George Floyd, joins dozens for a Get Out The Vote rally, which brought together families of Black people killed or injured by police across the country, in Grant Park, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2020. Floyd, 46, died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds on May 25.
Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Selvin and Zharvellis Holmes, parents of Marcellis Stinnette, speak during a Get Out The Vote rally, which brought together families of Black people killed or injured by police across the country, in Grant Park, Thursday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2020. Stinnette, 19, was fatally shot by a Waukegan police officer on Oct. 20.
A man was driving ‘at a high rate of speed’ in the 8900 block of South Ashland Avenue about 9:52 p.m. Saturday when he hit the side of an apartment building, police said.
A man was shot in an altercation in the 0-100 block of West 87th Street about 7:54 p.m. Sunday. He was in fair condition at Stroger Hospital, police said.
A two-vehicle crash occurred about 2:15 a.m. Sunday in the westbound lanes of Palatine Road near Wheeling Road, according to police. One person suffered serious injuries.
Chicago firefighters responding to reports of an apartment building fire Sunday at 6430 South Stony Island Ave. put the fire down by 8:51 p.m., officials said.
