West Cook News

About 100 youths gathered in protest outside of Oak Park Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb’s home, where he was on a Zoom village board meeting addressing a “defund police” measure, following a rally at nearby Fox Park on Aug. 25.

Although the Oak Park Village Trustees had already voted against defunding the police 5-2, the board had plans to identify a third-party consultant at the meeting to review the Citizens Police Oversight Committee (CPOC) and to evaluate use-of-force polices, according to a meeting agenda obtained by West Cook News. Consideration of the three-step initiative was thwarted, the media reported, after protestors interrupted the meeting by allegedly causing a commotion on Abu-Taleb’s front porch and filtering into his back yard.

The incident has sparked a wave of divisive commentary on social media.

“Defining a group of loudmouths who employ trespassing and intimidation as a 'new, stronger generation' is like saying cops who beat confessions out of people are a new, stronger police force,” posted a Facebook user under the name Warren's Refinement on Aug. 26. “If we ever see a strong generation again, it will be made up of productive people who first listen, then confront problems with level heads and innovative solutions. The vulgarity and violence we've seen across this nation will do nothing but create more division.”

The rally’s start time conflicted with the village board's consideration of a resolution that would have defunded the police, which trustee Arti Walker-Peddakotla had introduced. Although Walker-Peddakotla told Oakpark.com on Aug. 27 that she did not organize the demonstration, Abu-Taleb said he believes the village trustee was involved.

The trustees did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but the following statement appeared in a letter to the editor published in the Chicago Tribune on Aug. 27.

“In the midst of our village board meeting, protesters left the park and took the rally to the mayor’s home, trespassed in his back yard, threw eggs at his house and extensively damaged his wife’s garden,” the letter stated. “They spray-painted graffiti on the public sidewalk and street. These actions prevented the mayor and police chief from participating in the meeting which resulted in the meeting being adjourned.  As a result, the police reform initiatives up for discussion and progress have been stalled.”

The letter was signed by trustees Deno Andrews, Simone Boutet, Susan Buchanan, Dan Moroney and Jim Taglia. Walker-Peddakotla’s name was notably missing from the letter’s signature block.

“Its really about trustee Arti taking short cuts in a sloppy way,” Oak Park resident Tom MacMillan posted on Facebook on Aug. 27. “She must have been expecting that everyone would just agree to defund police and then hand her a bag of police budget money, to spend on what? No plan, just vague rage.”

To which Sandra Mui from Oak Park replied, “I stand with the protesters. Less funding for police, more funding for social programs. That's not too much to ask.”

The protesters who made their way from Fox Park to Abu-Taleb’s doorstep were reportedly made up of members of the Thrive Oak Park and Revolutionary Oak Park Youth Action Leagues, according to media reports.

Facebook followers of Oakpark.com offered their differing points of views on the matter.

“The adults in Oak Park need to take charge,” Robert Zeh posted on Aug. 26. “Protesting in front of someone's house is bad enough but going into their back yard? Messing with their front-door window? Who skipped Kindergarten? Only small children get away with these violations of personal space. Adults know better.” 

Jason Cohen responded on Aug. 26, “You have done an excellent job of proving that BLM is necessary. You are proof that there are still significant racial issues in this town. Let's have guns drawn on a bunch of kids protesting. That sure seems like a good move. There was no violence. I love the comment about prosecuting to the fullest extent of the law. What extent would that be? They would get a ticket at most for this. If this was a bunch of white kids pulling a prank on the mayor I wonder how up in arms everyone would be?”

“Once a protester steps on private property all bets are off,” Rob Ruffulo wrote on Aug. 27. “When you damage someone's house, that is not a peaceful protest.”