Unity Peace Walk in Elgin promotes equality

Signs displaying messages of peace, love and unity were held high Sunday as community members and leaders walked through the streets of Elgin promoting racial harmony and justice.

Among them were Elgin resident Michael Cole and his brother, Christopher, who organized the Unity Peace Walk to bring people of all ages, races, religions and professions together in light of recent national tragedies.

"How are our children going to be affected by how our world is going today?" Michael Cole, 30, said. "What kind of conditions and challenges will they have to face? And is this the life that we want for them?

"Absolutely not," he continued. "We must lead by example and demand for a change."

After gathering at Festival Park for a prayer and opening remarks, the large group of attendees made their way throughout downtown Elgin, stopping at the Elgin Police Department and ending with a rally at DuPage Court.

Chants, speeches and posters touched on several hot-button issues, including the Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter movements. "They are not mutually exclusive," said Danise Habun of the Elgin Human Relations Commission.

Deputy Police Chief Bill Wolf said the Elgin Police Department is taking steps to improve relations with the community. Officers are being trained on violence and the use of force, he said, and the department is making policy adjustments to increase officers' accountability.

"We get it that there are issues. We get it that there are changes that need to be made," Wolf said. "I think we're all on the right path. It's about us coming together as a community."

The Elgin Police Department was one of the many organizations involved in coordinating the event, Cole said, including the YWCA, the Coalition of Elgin Religious Leaders and Elgin-City of Peace.

Pointing to frequent "community conversations" and other similar events, Elgin Mayor David Kaptain lauded the city for setting a positive example. Minorities represent more than 50 percent of Elgin's population, he said, and the crime rate is relatively low for a city of its size.

"We have a diverse community that works together to provide the type of city we'd like to live in," he said. "We're not afraid to talk about issues that face our city and face us racially, ethnically and religiously. I think that's something that speaks well for the community."