The message we need to hear now

When I was at the Chicago Women's March in 2017, I noticed that many of the women around me would not chant "Black Lives Matter" with the crowd. I heard some women change the chant to "All Lives Matter."

At the protest in Arlington Heights on Sunday, the protesters loudly shouted "Black Lives Matter." A shift has happened. With the outrageous death of George Floyd and the backdrop of over 100,000 dead from the pandemic in the U.S., a spotlight has been shown on some fundamental issues in our country that need to change - living wages, health care for all that is not tied to employment, a good education for all kids that isn't based on ZIP code, unemployment and labor issues and especially systemic racism.

Black and brown people are being disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Racism kills. Of course, all lives matter, but Black Lives Matter is the message that most needs to be heard now. People have had enough and they are protesting and rioting.

The arrest of one police officer or four police officers in Minneapolis is not enough. We need real change in our country and we need to work for justice.

Wendy Dunnington

Arlington Heights