A peace walk organized by Chicago Votes took place in the River North neighborhood on July 6, serving as a somber reflection on two fatal shootings that occurred just hours apart in separate Chicago locations on July 2 and July 3.
The first shooting happened outside of Mello Buckzz’s mixtape release party at Artis Lounge and Restaurant, and the second incident took place in Altgeld Garden in the early morning hours after.
Jonathan Lykes, founder and executive director of Liberation House and a founding member of the Black Youth Project 100 (BYP100), led the group of marchers, chanting, “I love Black people. You don’t love Black people? What’s wrong with you?” This call stirred mixed reactions among predominantly white onlookers, many of whom appeared surprised and intrigued.
Lykes expressed his satisfaction with the gathering, emphasizing that it was a celebration of community rather than merely a protest against systemic injustices. “I just like that people were able to come together, not just in a march against police violence or against the state, but a march for our community, to be in love with our community, to have a dedication to our community and to build our community,” he stated. He added, “Because at the end of the day, the government is not going to save us. We have to save ourselves.”
Originally scheduled for July 4, the peace walk was postponed to July 6, allowing for the involvement of grassroots organizations and music groups like Babes Only and Classick Studios, who helped spread the message through their social media platforms.
Richard Wallace, founder of Equity and Transformation (E.A.T), shared his aspirations for future events, stating, “I hope that we begin to do this in mass, similar to when the state has harmed us, that we respond in mass.”
Wallace characterized the violence in Chicago as a complex riddle needing resolution, noting the societal structures contributing to the issue. “The riddle wants us to point the finger at each other, but those that know, know that there’s a system in place that removes 50 schools from the city of Chicago. That knows that the unemployment rate of Black men is damn near 48% right in the state of Illinois,” he explained. “Our folks are not prone to the streets, but we’ve grown in the streets.”
The aftermath of the shooting outside of Mello Buckzz’s party sparked a broader conversation about drill music on social media. Commentators debated whether Chicago should distance itself from the genre, or if the roots of the issue lie within the city’s entrenched gang culture.
Local comedian Larry Legend, known for his viral presence, remarked on Twitter, “It had its time, we’ve seen the damage and it don’t help nobody but Dwights. They sold y’all on a dream that this was a way out but nobody escapes a life of revenge. The only people who profit and live a nice life off this shit is people like [music executive] Lyor Cohen. Lil Durk became a superstar and it cost [him] everything. Drill is WACK.”
Chimeka, the rapper formerly known as Chin Chilla Meek, also contributed to the discussion through social media, highlighting the contradiction in praising drill music while simultaneously questioning the violence associated with it. “The fact that Chicago praises murder music only to turn around and say ‘idk how this happened’ is insane! Y’all asked for this!” she expressed.
Rapper Joel Q shared his insights on Instagram, responding to the tragedy by emphasizing the need for reflection on the impact of drill music. He noted the messages he received following the violence, stating, “I felt obligated to check in and see what was going on, but also use my platform to have a voice, because we also know that unfortunately, the artist who was in that unfortunate event is somebody who creates music that expands the behavior that’s already going on in these unresourced, or disinvested neighborhoods.”
Joel Q reiterated a point made earlier this year, calling for an end to the drill movement. “At the end of the day, it’s not a true reflection of who we are as Black people. It’s a reflection of who anybody can be under the right circumstances. That’s what these shorties, for the most part, don’t understand. You all are injecting this in your body. So you live in it. You talking it, you hearing it, like, eventually that’s going to become you,” he declared.
DJ Nehpets of Power 92 shared personal concerns related to gun violence, noting that a fellow DJ was present at Mello Buckzz’s release party, expressing relief that his friend was unharmed. “When I saw him, I just told him, ‘man, I’m just so glad you’re here,’ because I’ve dealt with that personally in my own personal space, of somebody coming to shoot up a spot,” he recounted.
He also reflected on the broader implications of drill music, explaining that Power 92 strives to curate the music they play. “If we didn’t edit them songs, you wouldn’t hear anything on the radio,” he remarked.
DJ Nehpets further elaborated on the issues surrounding drill tracks, stating that many songs are influenced by existing conflicts, and that he often cannot predict which tracks might provoke reactions at events. “I’ve been approached at parties and asked specifically not to play certain artists due to current beefs and feuds,” he explained.
image source from：thetriibe
