Jibril Church saw the leap the Ottawa Police Department made in supporting anti-racism movements across La Salle County.
Now, he's supplying them with a way they can show it.
Church, a La Salle resident, came up with the idea of ordering black and blue wristbands for Ottawa officers to wear with the messages "Black & Blue" and "united we stand."
The black represents Black lives, and the blue represents law enforcement.
Ottawa Police Chief Brent Roalson agreed to buy the wristbands and said they will be made available to any officer who wants to wear them.
Church said he approached Roalson during the Empower, Unite and and Build Our Community event at Walsh Park organized by Angel Patterson – and Roalson liked the idea.
"They've been 100% behind it," Church said of Ottawa police, who have worked hand-in-hand with organizers at each anti-racism demonstration within the city since the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed in Minneapolis police custody and sparked nationwide protests against police brutality toward the Black community. "The department has supported unity between the protesters and police."
Church said Roalson's openness in supporting the cause against police brutality and racism has helped to build trust and unity within the community, and the wristbands will be a further symbol of it.
Roalson said Monday wearing the wristbands will be about showing support, noting demonstrations in Ottawa have stood for treating everyone equally, something his department agrees with 100%.
He's acknowledged the need to hold bad actors in the police force accountable.
"It's about cultivating trust and unity," Roalson said. "We want to bring that trust back into our community."
Roalson is hopeful other departments will follow Ottawa's example.
The chief said he expects the wristbands to be available to officers after the next Ottawa City Council meeting when the invoice is approved. He's seen the wristbands and likes the design.
Ottawa native Erika Sparby designed the wristbands with a black fist to represent Black lives and two fists bumping to represent the unity between Blacks and law enforcement.
Church said his idea was his own, and he's not acting for any organization.
"I am not BLM, I'm just Black," Church said. "I'm just a Black person using his platform to speak out for change."
He noted some people have tried to make it appear as if there is one Black voice, when all Black individuals have their own politicial beliefs. He noted there have been different messages among the anti-racism events in Ottawa, La Salle-Peru and Streator.
"It's important to notice the distinction," Church said. "I can speak independently, but we can always come together for a unified cause."
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