Personal Reflection: What’s Going On in Cicero?
Vigil outside of la Chiquita for Jose Gutierrez who was killed on June 1. (Photo by Jesus J. Montero)
By Emily Reynoso
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Gunshots sound in the distance, and the helicopter outside my window burrrrs for the fourth hour in a row. I stop to think if the news will ever be reported in my small town of Cicero, a neighboring community on the southwest side of Chicago.
As the Black Lives Matter movement continues on across the country it’s a time where maintaining your silence is a clear sign that you are privileged enough to be able to ignore the issues. News of what is going on in small towns and suburbs like Cicero is extremely minimal and mostly overshadowed by the protests in Chicago.
On May 31 at about 6 p.m. my friend sent me a tweet from the Cicero Police Department that said, “Cicero residents, please avoid Cicero Ave if at all possible.” Posts on Twitter showed police putting up barricades at Walmart preparing for potential looting.
Rumors surfaced on social media that claimed looters were breaking into homes in Cicero and Berwyn. My dad wasn’t home from work yet, so since I am the oldest, I had the responsibility to protect my four little sisters. When my dad came home around 9 p.m., I was still on edge. I decided to stay awake, just doing homework. We don’t have any weapons in my house, but I was well prepared with a lighter and a can of Lysol in the case of anything to protect my family, “Home Alone” style. I made it to 3:30 a.m. until I convinced myself that nothing would happen if I were to knock out.
The next day I believed that everything had calmed down, but I was wrong.
Around 5 p.m. I heard a helicopter outside. Looting had begun at El Patron, a local liquor store, not even 10 minutes away from me. During that time some people broke windows at the strip mall across the street.
Local gang members rose to arms to protect businesses in the area like Planet Fitness, La Chiquita, Dollar General, etc. Neighborhood men also began to go out and protect their neighborhoods by standing on street corners in groups with bats, masks etc. (As I write this at 11:59 p.m. they continue to sit outside in folding chairs). Gunshots continued all throughout the day and two people died.
As all this has been going on, racial tensions between two groups have been increasing. Although many Latinos are just protecting their businesses, many are taking it much farther.
Some of the looters happen to be Black, but some Cicero gang members are also using that as an excuse to generalize and assault. A horrible picture is painted of both sides with those who are Mexican being generalized as racist mobs who are working with the police to beat up those who attempt to loot. On the other hand, those who are Black are also being generalized as looting thugs regardless if they took part or not.
Online is not much better. The Cicero hashtag is full of misinformation and generalizations about both groups, with very few people trying to unite them towards a common goal. Now, in August, every time I pass the parking lot for La Chiquita, I see a flower memorial for one of the people who died in crossfire last June.
Emily Reynoso is a Cicero resident and a rising high school senior with a knack for writing and art.
