Rallies are scheduled in Rockford, Chicago, and Carbondale today as part of the National Day of Protest Against Police Brutality.
The day of protest is in its 19th year nationally, and it has picked up a lot of steam because of the continuing demonstrations in Ferguson, Missouri. Christopher Sims is one of the organizers of the Rockford rally.
"It will be a peaceful rally where people can protest and share how feel, and what they’ve experienced pertaining to law enforcement, racism, and mass incarceration."
Sims says the national response to the shooting of Michael Brown and ensuing protests in the St. Louis area are fueling an important discussion:
"Now is the time for a big change in the way police deal with citizens of all races and ethnicities in that this becomes the conversation that will change race relations in America for years to come."
The protest in Rockford gets underway at 5:30 in front of the Winnebago County jail, then moves to the nearby Federal Courthouse. It was organized by the Rockford Anti-Racism Network and the Unitarian Universalist Church.
