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By Kelly Wynne
Culture Writer
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A Chicago Labor Day protest will aim to shut down O'Hare airport by blocking the surrounding highway. Activist minister, Gregory S Livingston, organized the protest and shared the details on his Twitter account Sunday. O'Hare is the country's second busiest airport after Hartsfield-Jackson airport in Atlanta.
The protest will take place on the I-90 expressway at 11:30 a.m. Monday.
"I would rather see my people marching on the expressways than dying in the streets," Livingston tweeted along with a promotional image, which detailed the rally's goals.
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The photo listed seven demands, including the resignation of Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Other talking points included passing legislation that requires support for African Americans in the workforce, repurposing schools, inmate rights and funding for non-violent, Black activism initiatives.
The flyer also noted a demand for recognition of the Fraternal Order of Police contract (FOP), which aims to protect police and civilians in an act of transparency.
Livingston shared his idea of fighting segregation on his Twitter feed. "Our demands are about desegregating people and resources," he said. "Segregation is a tool of racism that indoctrinates one group with irrational fears and dehumanizes another. Thank God we're all created to be great even if we don't realize it yet."
Illinois State Police have stated traffic will be uninterrupted, Chicago 5 News reported Friday. "There are several options that we've given him," Major David Byrd said. "I don't want to get into what they are but at the end of the day one option is not walking on the expressway."
The police department stated they are ready to make arrests if needed. Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson explained interfering with the airport could be a federal offense. "Let's not forget that shutting down expressways is illegal – that's number one," Johnson said. "You start talking about shutting down operations at O'Hare Airport, now we're going to federal issues."
O'Hare Airport did not immediately respond to Newsweek's request for comment.
Livingston previously organized a similar march, which took place on August 2 and shut down Lake Shore Drive in a hike to Wrigley Field. About 200 protesters participated in the march, WGNreported. The march aimed to shine a light on gun violence in low-income areas of the city.
Tio Hardiman, an organizer of the August 2 march, noted excessive killings in the city. "There are too many killings in Chicago, there are too many police-involved killings in Chicago," said Hardiman. "It's time to change the narrative in Chicago."
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