The facts of what happened in Minneapolis just after 8 p.m. on May 25, 2020, are stark: Four Minneapolis police officers responded to a call from a store clerk that a Black man was suspected of having used a counterfeit $20 bill in his transaction. Three stood by while then-Officer Derek Chauvin held his knee […]
Category: Public Square
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Charles Wilkinson: Pandemic 101
Trying to make sense out of all we’ve been through for well over a year now is like wanting an answer to a very human question: “Why, God?” I’ve believed for many of my adult years that if God is synonymous with love, there is no way God would inflict us with such a deadly […]
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Peggy Tarr: Memorial Day Then and Now
As most people know, Memorial Day occurs this year on Monday, May 31. Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, was/is a holiday to commemorate those who died while serving in the United States military. In 1868, Decoration Day was established to be celebrated on May 30. In 1968, Memorial Day was moved to the last Monday […]
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Anna Galland and Sarah Williams: 100 Days In: Step It Up for Democracy
It’s been more than 100 days since President Biden and Vice President Harris took office, and even in the midst of a terrible and ongoing pandemic, there’s a lot for our country to celebrate. The number of children living in poverty is on track to be cut in half this year alone. More than half of U.S. adults have […]
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Larry Suffredin’s Statement on Completing Current Elected Term at County and Forest Preserve
Twenty years ago, I announced my candidacy for 13th District Cook County Commissioner and Cook County Forest Preserve District Commissioner. With the support of a diverse constituency, I was successful in that campaign and in four more campaigns for re-election. Today I announce that 20 years is enough and that I will not be a […]
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Microaggressions at ETHS
I am a sophomore at Evanston Township High School, and I feel like it is safe to say that Evanston likes to present itself as a progressive beacon when in reality, it consistently falls short. We saw this pattern when Evanston passed a reparations bill that ultimately was just a glorified housing bill and when […]
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Peggy Tarr: ‘What’s Going On’*
The month of May has several days designated for celebrating events and/or honoring individuals or groups of people, such as May Day, Cinco De Mayo, Mother’s Day, and Memorial Day. The month itself is given titles that focus on specific interests or groups of people, such as Mental Health Awareness Month and Asian American and Pacific […]
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Les Jacobson: The Two Stevies in a Season of Growth and Hope
The other day I shared on my Facebook page the wonderfully infectious video of Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk” synchronized to amazing clips from the Golden Era of Hollywood musicals. Aside from showcasing the greatest dancers – Ginger Rogers, Ann Miller, Fred Astaire, Bill Robinson, the Nicholas Brothers, Judy Garland, and Gene Kelly among them – […]
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Ann Rainey Apartments Fittingly Named
Nearly 40 years ago, when we were both young mothers, a mutual friend (was it the late Karen Chavers?) called and asked me whether I would introduce Ann Rainey to my neighbors. I had never met Ann, but was told she was running for Eighth Ward alderman and would appreciate an hour or two of […]
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Mayor Stephen Hagerty: ‘Farewell and Thank You’
Today, my term as Mayor of Evanston will come to an end. This evening, Daniel Biss will be sworn in as our 22nd Mayor, along with the 81st Evanston City Council. I hope you will offer Mayor Biss the support, encouragement, and personal perspective that so many of you generously offered me over the last four years. […]