Black leaders in Peoria are condemning the violence that broke out overnight, arguing it detracts from the message protestors are trying to send.
The city remained largely peaceful over the weekend, but in the early hours of Monday morning, people set fire to businesses, homes, vehicles, and dumpsters. Other incidents, including two shootings and a car accident involving a police officer, were also reported — though it’s unclear if those were connected to more widespread civil unrest.
Peoria NAACP President Marvin Hightower said if these people were trying to demand justice for George Floyd, who was killed by Minneapolis police last week, they’re missing the point.
“We all want all the officers involved arrested and convicted, but justice for Mr. Floyd also means the end of criminalization of black skin,” he said. “It means holding police departments accountable for their role. It means addressing policy in a way that is fair and just for us.”
Hightower said the NAACP will always support a peaceful protest, such as the “We Matter March” organized by young demonstrators over the weekend.
“However, what it has devolved into is trying to take the focus off of what’s important. You do not fight hatred, racism, and injustice with destruction of property, violence, and stealing,” he said. “I am asking all the individuals who have been involved in the criminal activity and the destruction of our city to please stop. This is not how we fight, this is not how we will win.”
Those sentiments were echoed by Carl Cannon, who runs the youth outreach program ELITE. He said those who engaged in destructive behaviour did more harm to their own community than anything.
“My question to those who commit selfish criminal acts is: who are you mad at? You mad at Target? Target announced it’s going to close, temporarily, 175 stores. Does that make our lives better? You mad at CityLink? How are we going to get around?” he said.
Cannon said the damage, especially to smaller businesses, will leave people in already resource-strapped neighborhoods without anywhere to shop or apply for jobs. He said the misguided anger needs to be redirected back toward the unfair murder of black people at the hands of police.
Sincere Williams, one of the organizers behind the “We Matter March,” said he doesn’t want the efforts of all protestors to be conflated with the turmoil that erupted overnight and elsewhere around the country.
“A lot of people have been asking what we say to that, and I say there’s nothing to say,” he said. “There were over a thousand people marching in solidarity together, and then you have a couple looters stealing flowers. In comparison, I don’t think there’s anything to say to that.”
Williams said organizers are looking to do more, both by holding more marches and engaging more young people to hold local officials accountable.
“As far as the Peoria Police Department is concerned, I know a lot of us — especially after the march — are aware that they’ve committed their own atrocities,” Williams said, referencing the police killing of Luis Cruz, which was determined to be justified by county prosecutors. "I think that we should look for legislative action within our own city, to start.”
Hightower, president of the Peoria NAACP, said he has not yet talked to Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis or Police Chief Loren Marion, but looks forward to having those conversations.
“The first thing I would tell the mayor is he needs to speak up and say something, first of all, about the injustice in Minnesota, before putting emphasis on what happened last night [in Peoria], and putting emphasis on the police department to treat us in the same manner that he would be treated.”
Hightower said the statement released by Chief Marion last week condemning the actions of Minneapolis police was “a good first step,” but there are still issues that need to be addressed.
Hightower said he expects more action in the coming days. He said to stay vigilant about justice, while also maintaining personal safety and reporting dangerous and destructive behavior.
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