Activists, residents in Roseland march in support of businesses, revitalization

Several dozen community organizers marched past a string of boarded up businesses in Roseland’s commercial corridor Wednesday in an effort to call for and support revitalization in the Far South Side neighborhood.

The group, which included activists, residents and Chicago police officers, chanted “Roseland Rise Up” as they walked south on Michigan Avenue, expressing the need to repair and rebuild properties that were damaged as a result of the unrest during the protests following the killing of George Floyd.

“I grew up in Roseland and I remember shopping down here with my aunt and my mom plenty of times,” Julian High School Principal Myron Hester said. “I want to see my community go back to magnificent way it used to be.”

Hester said the march is a good start but said community leaders and lawmakers need to “sit down and meet” to address Roseland’s needs.

“We need to have dialogue as to what the issues are and then start strategizing about how we can fix it,” he said. “ First, we need to bring resources to black and brown communities. We shouldn’t see so many boarded up buildings out here. It’s insane.”

The march was organized to support Roseland businesses that were damaged, but it also was designed to encourage attendants to turn “thought into action,” community organizer Joyce Chapman said.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

“We are going to put an action plan together,” Chapman said before giving her phone number to the crowd. “I want you all to call and text me about what you think our plan should be. Say what you have to say so we can strengthen our community. Your input is vital to the process of improving our quality of life.”

State Rep. Nicholas Smith, D-Chicago, said he will share the group’s message with the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus.

“What we’re working on now is legislation to combat this vicious inequity in our communities. We’re looking to reform the police, reform the criminal justice system and invest dollars in our community,” Smith said.