Dozens gather for vigil to end systemic racism

Originally aired June 4, 2020 on WCBU Peoria Public Radio 89.9 and published on WCBU.org. Photos by Tory Dahlhoff

Nearly 100 people gathered last night in the parking lot of Sous Chef grocery store in Peoria’s Warehouse District at a vigil for George Floyd and what organizers described as a peaceful gathering of community connection and support in the effort to end systemic racism.

The event opened with a community drum circle followed by a series of prayers and speeches from a group of speakers who shared their experiences as Black Americans.

The crowd listened in silence as Antoine Rabbit Smith Sr. of Rock Island, Ill., with his young son by his side, gave an emotional speech stressing his fears for his son’s future and his frustration following the killing of yet another black American while in police custody.

“Please pray for a better future because I’m tired of doing the same stuff over and over again, we joining hands singing kumbaya, the same old rally, something has to change," Smith said.

Another speaker, Chris Martin, stressed the importance of understanding the root causes of racism.

“400 years, a system that is in place in the very fiber of the American society," Martin said. "Why is it that your child has everything and my child has none, simply because of your zip code?”

Martin said he hoped the event encouraged people to stay involved in the effort beyond demonstrations in the streets.

“We all are a part of the process of change, and we can impact the schools, churches, legislation, the whole nine yards," he said.

The event was organized by Peoria Drum Circle and the Peoria Cleanup Volunteers. They encouraged residents looking to support the effort to donate to the Peoria chapter of the NAACP.