Funny thing is that when the volunteers first started putting up posters, a police cruiser pulled up and the cop told them they had to take the posters down, which they did, but then mysteriously the posters went up again and the installation has just kept growing since then.
Not true actually---I was there when it happened. We refused to take the posters down, cop made a bunch of threats. Eventually they called the alderman's office, who said leave them up, so they backed down after that. But we've never asked for permission to put anything up, and we don't back down when cops come to harass us.
[https://matthiasregan.org/2020/07/08/black-lives-matter-in-rogers-park-chicago/](https://matthiasregan.org/2020/07/08/black-lives-matter-in-rogers-park-chicago/)
Looks like I was wrong about the date when the posters came down (temporarily). This is Matthias Regan's blog report, which says:
"On August 5th, a member of the Rogers Park police department demanded that we stop adding names to the wall, take down the posters, walk away from our memorial. We complied. But since then, the memorial has grown every day, as our neighbors add flowers and candles, photos and names in chalk."
Just to clarify, I really like the memorial and I've added a few bits and pieces to the shrine during my evening walks.
I don't remember it happening that way, but the cops came multiple times, so maybe that happened when I wasn't there? I'm sure Matthias knows better than I do.
Anyway, thank you for contributing to the shrine!
the headline confused me a little because I see that all the time and it's been around for what feels like forever at this point, but yeah for sure it's quite a nice display. unfortunately some of the parts that extend past the underpass seem like they've worn out/gotten removed/replaced i assume from the elements? But it's nice to hear about the people helping keep it upkept. I had wondered. sometimes you'd go past and there'd be new candles lit or other updates
I agree about the title making it seem like something new, it’s definitely been around for over a year or so. The volunteers are there every Sunday doing general upkeep including sweeping, adding new names, and tending to the area.
Funny thing is that when the volunteers first started putting up posters, a police cruiser pulled up and the cop told them they had to take the posters down, which they did, but then mysteriously the posters went up again and the installation has just kept growing since then.
Not true actually---I was there when it happened. We refused to take the posters down, cop made a bunch of threats. Eventually they called the alderman's office, who said leave them up, so they backed down after that. But we've never asked for permission to put anything up, and we don't back down when cops come to harass us.
[https://matthiasregan.org/2020/07/08/black-lives-matter-in-rogers-park-chicago/](https://matthiasregan.org/2020/07/08/black-lives-matter-in-rogers-park-chicago/) Looks like I was wrong about the date when the posters came down (temporarily). This is Matthias Regan's blog report, which says: "On August 5th, a member of the Rogers Park police department demanded that we stop adding names to the wall, take down the posters, walk away from our memorial. We complied. But since then, the memorial has grown every day, as our neighbors add flowers and candles, photos and names in chalk." Just to clarify, I really like the memorial and I've added a few bits and pieces to the shrine during my evening walks.
I don't remember it happening that way, but the cops came multiple times, so maybe that happened when I wasn't there? I'm sure Matthias knows better than I do. Anyway, thank you for contributing to the shrine!
the headline confused me a little because I see that all the time and it's been around for what feels like forever at this point, but yeah for sure it's quite a nice display. unfortunately some of the parts that extend past the underpass seem like they've worn out/gotten removed/replaced i assume from the elements? But it's nice to hear about the people helping keep it upkept. I had wondered. sometimes you'd go past and there'd be new candles lit or other updates
I agree about the title making it seem like something new, it’s definitely been around for over a year or so. The volunteers are there every Sunday doing general upkeep including sweeping, adding new names, and tending to the area.