Before business began, the council paused for a moment of silence to honor recent losses in the community.
They also marked Indigenous Peoples Day with a local shout-out: exhibits on Native American history are up now at the Illinois State Museum, featuring hide paintings, photography and beaded textiles.
Public comment brought tough questions. Residents urged the council to engage with the Massey Commission’s recommendations and to show up at the remaining listening sessions. A new grassroots group — the Purple Coalition — invited the council and the public to a town hall at the Old State Capitol on Nov. 17 at 6:30 p.m., calling for accountability and community unity.
A grieving neighbor issued a raw call to action after three young people were killed last week, asking everyone to protect kids and push for change.
Tensions rose as members called for less politics and more on-the-ground work: mentoring youth, using formal complaint processes and showing up in neighborhoods between meetings.
Watch to see the emotion in the room, what the council was challenged to do next and where you can plug in.
