It was a nice sunny morning to hold a prayer vigil in front of the Chicago Illini Union Building where the University of Illinois Board of Trustees were holding their monthly meeting.
Dan Marmer (35K), UIC grad student, speaks about UIC hypocrisy. He organized this event.
Jimmie Lee Robinson whistling( 22K) and leading us in prayer(38K).
David Landau(21K), education director of UIC's Levine Hillel Center leading a prayer.
Tasha(27K) lives on Maxwell St.. Her father was a vendor in the old market. Her father died a month after he was forced out of business by UIC. She blames UIC for her father's death.
Pictorial rendering of the Maxwell Street area(33K) showing the integration of old and new buildings, designed by architect Alan Johnson and engineer Bill Lavicka. Bill addresses the vigil(21K).
We had several displays. Here is a segment of a picture of how the old buildings would look(23K), rehabbed for adaptive reuse, as designed by Howard Decker and John Vinci, consultant architects, hired by the City of Chicago Dept. of Planning. This is the plan UIC has reneged on.
Norman Scott(32K) leading a prayer and holding a sign
Frank 'Little Sonny' Scott Jr.(39K) recites a speech on why Maxwell St. is important and should be preserved. He lived, got married, and played drums on Maxwell Street.
Bill Wendt(26K), a community activist, holds up an anti-TIF sign. TIF stands for Tax Increment Financing. UIC and their real estate development partner, Richard Stein, plan to divert money from the Board of Education and Park District to subsidize and demolition of Maxwell St. and the construction of private developments.
Another NO-TIF sign(14K) -- held by Frank Scott Jr.
Gererdo Reyes(21K), President of the St. Francis of Assisi Preservation Committee, leading us in prayer; and then holding up a sign(30K) next to Frank Scott Jr., playing the keys as percussion accompaniment for Jimmy Lee Robinson.
T-Bone Artis(34K), a Blues harmonica player and current Maxwell St. resident.
Two UIC administrators(33K), in suits, speaking to Allan Mamosar, UIC grad student and Maxwell St. supporter. Merlyn McPartland, a current resident of Maxwell St. and its caretaker, is in the background.
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