EDGEWATER — Greater than 250 neighbors and activists got here out loud and proud to help a drag story time on the Edgewater public library department on Monday, serving to to securely escort households and library patrons into the constructing as a handful of individuals gathered to protest the occasion.
The occasion was nearly completely peaceable, although one of many protesters was arrested exterior the library after a signed grievance was filed, in line with police.
Final week, ChicagoFlipsRed, a company that usually protests drag story occasions, introduced on social media it was planning to protest Monday, prompting the massive swell of help for the story time from the Edgewater neighborhood.
For 2 hours on Monday morning, music and cheers rang out on the 6000 block of North Broadway, as just a few spots of purple had been seen in a crowd that was in any other case a sea of rainbow and bubbles.
Library department supervisor Joanna Hazelden regarded out on the kaleidoscopic group of neighbors, trans and homosexual activists, and fogeys from contained in the library. The library has scheduled comparable applications in previous years, however none have prompted the identical degree of curiosity as Monday’s occasion, she stated.
“It permits us to have a good time the neighborhood,” Hazelden stated. “I’m so happy with our neighborhood.”
As library employees ready contained in the constructing, Asher McMaher, an activist with Trans Up Entrance Illinois, ready the rising crowd exterior. Neighbors sang songs, blasted Chappell Roan and waved flags, all in celebration of the start of Satisfaction month.
“The protesters try to carry hate, nevertheless it’s really bringing our neighborhood collectively,” McMaher stated.
Denise Rondini, a author who serves on the board of the Edgewater Public Library, stated it was necessary to return out and present her help for not simply the library, however the neighborhood and fogeys it serves.
“The library has all the time been a protected house for everybody,” Rondini stated. “I don’t get why anyone would protest anybody studying to anyone.”
A kind of protesters was David Dewar, who got here wearing a visor that had a wisp of faux Donald Trump-like hair protruding from the highest.
As Dewar marched on the sidewalk, an American flag on his again, and proclaimed there have been solely two genders, he was met with chants from the group referencing his Trump wig — with some retorting that Dewar really regarded just like the one in drag.
“The problem is that they’re going after the children,” Dewar stated, talking to Block Membership.
A handful of different protesters exterior the library wore shirts that learn “Flip Chicago Purple” or expressed help for President Donald Trump. They introduced blow horns and loudspeakers and infrequently exchanged phrases with individuals supporting the occasion, calling them “pedophiles” or saying “go away the children alone.”
“It’s not age-appropriate,” stated protester Zoe Leigh, referring to the story time occasion.
Leigh stated regardless that she is homosexual, she felt it was fallacious for taxpayer {dollars} to fund drag readings to youngsters.
“Cash will not be going the place it must be,” she stated.
As mother and father arrived for the occasion, volunteers with Indivisible Chicago and different activists made positive that sidewalks had been clear, utilizing flags and positioning their our bodies to make sure protected passage into the library. Mother and father had been greeted with loud applause as they entered, shielded from the protesters.
The occasion had a big police presence, with about 20 officers current alongside Broadway all through the morning.
Police arrested one protester, a 48-year-old man, about 10:50 a.m. In response to twenty fourth District Commander Alison Christian, an individual filed a signed grievance, prompting the arrest for battery. The person approached a 26-year-old man and “pushed him with an open hand” throughout the protest, a police spokesman stated in an e-mail.
“The offender then resisted arrest from responding officers and tried to chew one officer earlier than being positioned into custody,” the spokesman stated. “Costs stay pending.”
The particular person arrested was there to assemble footage and protest the drag story time, in line with his spouse, who was additionally current Monday.
No different incidents occurred throughout the studying, and all of the mother and father and youngsters who attended had been safely escorted out of the library by midday, in line with activists.
Helen Hunter got here to the studying along with her 2-year-old toddler, Iris.
“I needed to seek out some queer children programming for satisfaction,” stated Hunter, who stated they determine as queer and stay within the neighborhood. “I would like my children to know that queer persons are valued and seen on this neighborhood.”
About 20 households attended the studying, which included “The Rainbow Snail” by Karin Akesson and “Julian Is A Mermaid” by Jessica Love. The occasion was closed to media.
When requested how the studying went, Iris was all smiles. The identical may very well be stated for Erika Haaland, who introduced her 4-year-old daughter and her daughter’s 5-year-old good friend.
“We love story time. We love drag queens. We love Andersonville,” stated Haaland. “And it’s necessary for my women to see love, not hate.”
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