WHAT I LEARNED AT THE REVOLUTION
When the protests in the wake of George Floyd’s killing came to Chicago in late May, I felt like I needed to be there. I worried about potential clashes between protesters and police, especially in a city with a long, troubled history surrounding its law enforcement. Having a reporter documenting events in real time would add a layer of accountability.
I went without an assignment from any media outlet, at least initially. I would just write about what I saw and post that and videos and photos on my Twitter feed. Though I had been a staff reporter for Block Club Chicago, I left that job a year ago to finish my journalism degree at DePaul University. I was not your ordinary undergrad. For one thing, I’m 29. And I spent five years in the Marine Corps, in the mechanized infantry, before getting out in 2017, as a sergeant, and pursuing journalism. I was in the middle of my finals, in fact, about to graduate, but reporting on the protests seemed more important.
When I left my apartment that Friday, I had no idea I would be witnessing a war between a city and its police force. By the end of that weekend, I had seen moments that inspired me as a Chicagoan — moments that made me feel like the protests might lead to real changes. But I had also witnessed wanton acts of violence, rage, and destruction by both protesters and police. I watched my city burn and its stores looted, often while officers helplessly looked on from just blocks away. I saw police in riot gear descend upon Chicago’s neighborhoods, armed with weapons that the government issues to Marines in war zones. Some nights, because of the violence and destruction, I didn’t recognize places that had once been familiar to me.
I’ve tried to make sense of everything that happened in those first days, to wrap it up neatly with a bow. But the more I process the events, the more I realize the futility. Instead, I’ll just share with you what I remember most — the images and scenes that have stuck with me from one of the most chaotic yet pivotal weekends in Chicago’s history.
FRIDAY, MAY 29
The Spark
I’VE COVERED MANY PROTESTS IN Chicago, and they tend to follow a pattern. Participants rally at a central location (usually Federal Plaza) for an hour, then march along a police-approved route. Streets are often blocked off ahead of time, and the demonstrations cause a minor inconvenience for a couple of hours.
When I arrived downtown that Friday evening, it was clear from their raw anger that protesters would not be content with that version of events. It felt
