Objections raised to bike rider arrests

Karen Courtright.

Aldermen on Evanston's Human Services Committee heard complaints Monday about an incident in which police took two 12-year-olds into custody after they were seen riding on the handlebars and rear pegs of a bike that crossed a downtown intersection on a red light.

Karen Courtright argued that the children should not have been taken into custody and said they were "placed in a paddywagon -- a metal box" for transport to the police station.

She also claimed that the children, who are black, would not have been taken into custody if they'd been white.

Evanston Police Cmdr. Joseph Dugan says that officers were in the downtown area about 7:45 p.m. on July 14 in response to several reports of 20 to30 juveniles blocking the sidewalk and darting in and out of traffic.

He says the officers saw three juveniles riding on a one-person bike westbound on Clark Street and that they crossed the intersection with Sherman Avenue on the red light while cars were headed southbound on Sherman, creating a dangerous condition.

Dugan says the youths were seen going into a business in the 1700 block of Sherman Avenue and were able to identify a female juvenile who'd been riding on the front handlebars and a male juvenile who'd been riding on the rear pegs, but were unable to locate the youth who'd been pedaling the bike.

He says both youths were taken to the police station and released to their parents about a half hour later with no formal charges being filed.

Betty Ester.

Betty Ester also objected to the police action saying, "When I was younger, and stupider, and braver, I did that myself and was not arrested."


Alyce Barry.

Alyce Barry said police should provide the race, age and gender of each child arrested and that those statistics could help determine whether they are behaving in a biased fashion.

The police department's Office of Professional Standards is investigating the incident after a complaint was filed regarding it. Results of that investigation are not yet available.



Bike Riding in Downtown Evanston

I certainly agree that this and every other law and ordinance should be applied fairly.  However, I would like to see more bike riders detained in the downtown area.  I walk in downtown Evanston about 3 times a week and on numerous occasions have had to dodge sidewalk bikers...of all ages, sizes and ethnicities - including mothers with children on the bikes.  I also think that sometimes learning that violations have consequences is a lesson usefully learned earlier than later.

City Council considered this 2 years ago

I agree with you.  The city should start enforcing the most dangerous behavior.  Two years ago the city contemplated increasing fines to discourage riding on sidewalks, but backed off and dediced to put up more signs instead.  On the one hand, it does not matter if the police are not giving out citations anyway, but it was an opportunity call attention to the problem so that the police would step up enforcement.  The Evanston Now article is linked to below.


bicycle enforcement

The bike riding laws should be enforced fairly.  But they should be enforced.  Red light, one way, and other safety laws are routinely ignored.  If bicycle and motorcycle police were dedicated every once and a while to stop and give citations to offenders, the city would be a safer place.

As a fellow cyclist

I would also like to see a greater effort to enforce the laws for all cyclists. I see so much dangerous behavior - running red lights, running stop signs, cyclists not signalling, biking the wrong direction on one way streets, riding on the sidewalk and telling pedestrians to get out of their way! Crossing intersections in the crosswalk while cycling, rather than walking their bike... it is interesting to me that these youths were detained when I regularly see adult cyclists engaging in the behaviors listed above. If we expect motorists to share the road with cyclists, cyclists should obey the rules of the road. That said, there are an awful lot if angry motorists...

More detaining might not be the best solution

I wonder if asking Evanston Police to _detain_ more sidewalk bicyclists would add a lot to EPD's workload -- it requires a trip back to the station and paperwork, right? -- and I wonder how expensive that would be. I believe other cities across the country are struggling with this issue as well, I believe NYPD switched a few years ago to "decriminalize" bicycling on sidewalks and now issues traffic citations instead. Of course, that hurts those most who can least afford the fines, especially when some populations are targeted for a disproportionately high number of citations. I'd like to know more about why adults ride their bikes on the sidewalk when they know it's prohibited: are they opting for greater safety away from cars (I could imagine this being the case with the mom and her child)? are they focusing only on their own desire to get somewhere faster and damn the rules? I wonder if increased sidewalk bicycling reflects a significant transition our society is going through, namely, away from cars (a recent NPR article called it "growing pains"). Auto traffic downtown is already pretty congested and is only likely to get worse as Evanston's population grows. Many people living in relatively urban settings like Evanston are choosing to live without a car, and I tend to applaud that, as it not only reduces greenhouse gases but puts fewer cars on the road to further congest traffic, but it sounds to me as if we could use solutions that recognize the underlying reasons. The same NPR article says "Research from the D.C. Department of Transportation shows that the number of sidewalk bicyclists fell 56 percent where protected bike lanes were installed," but those lanes are expensive, and I wonder why they dropped only 56%. I heard of another study recently that said a majority of drivers thought that the purpose of "Share the Road" signs was to persuade bicyclists to share the road with cars, not the other way around, which I found hilarious but worrisome, and I wonder to what degree bicyclists are staying out of the street because cars are acting aggressively toward them.

Where Prohibited

You said " I'd like to know more about why adults ride their bikes on the sidewalk when they know it's prohibited.."


I'd complained to the Mayor,  aldermen and police about bikers on downtown side walks---so far little action.

The law and former Alderman Grover confirmed, it is only prohibited on certain marked sidewalks---like downtown, south side of Foster and Noyes [at least from Maple], Central from Eastwood to several blocks west of Greenbay and maybe a couple of other places.

This adult rides on the sidewalk

I will ride the sidewalk when I am with my chidlren, as allowed by Evanston statutue, until they are 12 years old. And I have instructed both of my kids that after they turn 12, they should ride on the sidewalk if they feel unsafe on the road, regardless if a bike lane is present or not. I have told them I will gladly pay a fine/go to court rather than have them struck by a vehicle and possibly killed. 

Thank you EPD

Thank you EPD for enforcing the laws.

Hopefully a good scare will make them think

From the description this was not a case of riding around the neighborhood.  20-30 kids riding in traffic borders on a gang or mob. Which would people like, a scare or deaths from getting hit by a car.

Being  'stupid' is not an excuse---it is a problem.

Bike riders Downtown

If the report was about a group of 20-30 bike riders, but ends up stopping 2-3 on and off the bike, why wasn't this a teachable moment and not ending in a paddy wagon ride to the police station.....

A teachable moment indeed.  

A teachable moment indeed.   Hope the youngsters took notes & shared with the crew.

Let's pretend this is a

Let's pretend this is a "teachable moment" and the police let the kids go.  Five minutes later, when the police have moved on, the kids do it again but this time they are struck by a car coming through the intersection.  Who's liable?  Think about that for a moment because your tax dollars will paying for the wrongful death suit filed against the police and city because the police had a duty to stop the behavior.  Think long game...not "teachable moments".  Those are for the parents.

If it were my 12 year old

If it were my 12 year old child riding on the handlebars of a bike in downtown Evanston, crossing the street against a red light, I certainly would want the police to take him/her into custody and call me.  Being called into the police station to pick up my child, is a minor inconvenience compared to having my child injured or killed through his/her reckless behavior. 

Very well said

Very well said.

Your white privilege is showing

Don't you know that your white privilege immunes your kids from arrest?

I wonder how many white bicyclists Evanston police arrested or ticketed. I doubt the number is zero but it doesn't matter because it goes against the narrative that there is racial inequity and institutional racism runs rampant in Evanston.


never seen

I've never seen 3 people on one bike.  It would be hard to steer and very hard to accelerate if you realized you'd miscalculated. Hard braking could put the handlebar rider in the street.

I've rarely if ever seen anyone riding through a red light with cross-traffic present.  

Put 'em both together and you've got a recipe for tragedy.  I would want my kids taken into custody too.

Even the adult bike packs

Have you not even seen the adult bike packs running all the lights and signs like on Orrington and Sherman ?

I see NU students on Foster and Noyes doing it every day and with traffic coming.

I grew up in the city.

I grew up in the city. We rode 2-3 plenty of times. One sitting on the handlebars or across the frame, one on pegs and the one pedaling.

I agree

People today are oblivious to signs, rules, safety measures, etc...and there usuallly are no consequences for that type of behavior.  A good scare by the EPD may be what is needed for some people...rather than see them get hit by cars, or worse.  Thanks EPD.....I doubt this had anything to do with race or age...just kids not paying attention to other people and safety measures.   Jeep up the good work.

They were detained not arrested...

Myself and many of my friends were "detained" as kids when we did something stupid.  It was to scare us so we did not do the behavior again (or at least that was the intent).  I know my parents welcomed it so what is different here.  Why does it always have to go right to race being the issue??  Maybe they want more parents informed of the overall behavior downtown at times and this is a way to do so.  I know this will be considered controversial but anyone that spends a lot of time downtown and wants to have a HONEST conversation can tell you these large groups of younger people are not uncommon.  And yes any group over 5-10 kids happen to be black about 99% of the time.  Now there is absolutely nothing wrong with that BUT I have personally witnessed NUMBEROUS times behavior that I would consider disruptive (i.e blocking walkways and not moving an inch when trying to walk through, Swearing and foul language being yelled LOUDLY, etc.)  One time when I slimply glanced the direction of a kid swearing at the top of his voice I immediately got the "what are you looking at?  Do you have a problem?"  I of course just walked away.  Based on the behavior I see almost daily I would hope the police would try to get the parents of these kids (NO MATTER WHAT RACE) involved a bit and aware of what was going on downtown.  By no means is every group of kids unruly, rude, and disruptive but again from personal daily experience I can say it happen quite a bit.  The police are put in between a rock and a hard place in these situations and I'm sure they wish they could be spending their time better than following around a bunch of disruptive teens which is why they probably try to get as many parents involved as possible.  I for one thank them for their continual hard work in all aspects of their job! 

Ms. Courtright finds the EPD

Ms. Courtright finds the EPD to be bullies and sees racial inequity in everything Evanston. Reasonable behavior rarely results in negative interaction with coppers Madam. 

thank you

Thank you, emm vincent.  That is the honest truth.   BTW to Ms. Courtright...all cars are metal boxes.....she is trying to give negative imagery to those reading the full article.  And Ms. Ester claims she was never arrested..that is an immaterial comment.   Again...a lot of people try to incite EPD negativity, and make everything racial.   They are paid to do a job, and to keep things A-ok downtown and other areas, so us citizens can shop, eat, and just enjoy ourselves without hassles from kids and adults of any age.......some of these people need to get a hobby.   Positivity rules, and wins out in the end.   They are trying to put a bad spin on adults doing their jobs...no matter who the perps are. 

There is an arrest report. I

There is an arrest report. I have seen it. The boy at least was arrested. Bill Smith, you have yet again provided a service to let biased and only thinly veiled racist comments stay on your site.

The race card yet again.

The race card yet again.  How many are left in the deck?

Karen would you be so kind to

Karen would you be so kind to list the thinly veiled racist comments you see on this board.  Please be specific and just copy and past them below.  I am just curious.... Thanks!

Please explain, Ms. Courtright

Tell us Ms. Courtright, how do you know Evanston police would not have taken into custody the youths if they'd been white? What evidence do you have?  

Would they have been taken into custody if they were Asian, hispanic, Jewish or perhaps female? Please answer that one since you are commenting on this board and you seem to know what races police arrest.

The identity politics going on in Evanston is downright disgusting and demeaning. It is a cancer in our community, dividing us. As you can see on this board many Evanstonians disagree with your comments. And yet the irony is rather than listen to us you claim that this site provides a service "to let biased and only thinly veiled racist comments." 

Something needs to be done about all of the overblown race-based politics and those who promote it.

I am disturbed by many of the

I am disturbed by many of the comments on this article. However Bill does a good service by keeping us infromed of what is going on in this city.

Reasonable behavior

I wonder what news sources you follow, as the ones I read report almost daily on reasonable behavior that results in negative interactions with police officers, including news from right here in Evanston. Perhaps you heard about the reasonable behavior of graduate student Lawrence Crosby that resulted in his being assaulted by Evanston Police, or about the reasonable behavior of political candidate Devon Reid that resulted in his being arrested.

Alyce could you answer me a

Alyce could you answer me a question in regards to your statement about providing statistics to determine biases. For this hypothetical scenario let's keep it simple. Lets say there is a small town that has 10 teenagers in it.  5 are black and 5 are white. 9 of teenagers are well behaved and stay out of trouble.  But 1 causes trouble and is constantly in trouble with the police. That particular teen has been arrested  a few times making his/her race 100% of all arrests. The question now is should police stop arresting that teen until they find stuff on the remaining 9 teens to even up the statistics??  Police need to police behavior not race or statistics. Is this saying there is not cases of injustice in this world, no. But when you try to make EVERYTHING about race you dillute your position/cause. 

Not a sensible scenario

Neil, if you'll give me a last name I'll be glad to respond, I haven't responded to those on this page who didn't supply a full name, as I'm concerned it tends to validate the secrecy and anonymity that seems to be excused by this website under the guise of privacy. As you may know, secrecy and anonymity are well-known tools of white supremacy as shown by the robes and hoods of the Klan.

Let's try it again

Hi Alyce,

Your comment violates Evanston Now's comment policy because it criticizes Neil for his decision to post anonymously. But I'm going to make an exception and post it anyway, just so I can:

1. Point out that secrecy and anonymity have also been tools of protest movements from slave revolts to the American revolution ... not to mention the early Christian church under the Roman Empire ... liberation struggles in Latin America and elsewhere around the world ... and on and on. It's hardly characteristic only of white supremacists.

2. Without requiring Neil to identify himself to you, take up Neil's question myself and ask you to respond to the question -- which I'm now posing to you, as someone who signs his real name,


-- Bill

Thanks, Bill

This solidifies your stature as an excellent journalist and steadfast advocate of public discourse. In the next few days I'll send a donation, anonymously, of course. 

Answers for Bill and Neil

Bill, I don't believe I said secrecy or anonymity were tools only of white supremacy. I believe the secrecy used in the other settings you mention was for safety's sake. I wonder why so many of the commenters at your site believe it's so unsafe to state their names. I wonder what they are imagining will happen.

Neil, thanks for your scenario, unfortunately it isn't a useful place to start, because Evanston isn't a small town with 10 teenagers in it. Scale matters. Evanston isn't split 50-50 between black and white either; if it were, I imagine life in Evanston would be very different. 

We could try discussing the US's current tensions with North Korea by imagining an angry neighbor on the other side of town who threatens to send a drone across town to burn down our houses, but the comparison wouldn't be helpful because scale matters and it wouldn't take into account important factors like fallout, radiation sickness and lasting radioactivity at ground zero. 

When we're talking about arrests, I think statistics are helpful if they show that arrests don't reflect the community, which means that something is going on to explain the difference. Does that make sense?

And Neil, I once thought that race was a kind of unique issue that didn't touch on many other issues in life, and I found out I was wrong. Almost everything is actually about race, because America would be unrecognizably different if the social construct of race had never been. Some white landowners in Virginia and Maryland got together in the 1670s following a rebellion of unhappy servants and devised the concepts of "white" and "race" to justify their enslavement of Africans and drive a wedge in among the servants in hopes of preventing another rebellion. The word "white" would never have been encoded in law to mean non-black, and I wouldn't be calling myself a white woman today, I would think of myself differently and I might not have been raised to believe that black people are inferior. The US might never have existed as the US because we might never have had a Revolutionary War, much less a Civil War. My best guess is that the US would be a lot like Canada, only warmer.

Also in answer to Neil who I think asked where the thinly veiled racist comments are on this page:

1. "Finally, someone who does not support the negative behavior of their children." There's a misconception shared by many white people that black parents are indifferent to their children's behavior.

2. "Reasonable behavior rarely results in negative interaction with coppers Madam." There's a misconception shared by many white people that if only black people behaved appropriately they'd never get targeted by police, despite the evidence of literally thousands of black people who did everything they were asked to do and were still targeted for brutality. One good argument against this misconception is the instances of very young children and babies who have died at the hands of police, some of them while sleeping. 

3. "The race card yet again.  How many are left in the deck?" There's a misconception shared by many white people who weren't raised to see themselves as white that race often isn't relevant; see discussion above. To learn more, read "Birth of a White Nation" by Evanston legal scholar and former police officer Jacqueline Battalora.

Bill, I visited this site yesterday for the first time in months imagining it might be useful if I spoke up to the racist comments that appear so often on this site rather than letting them go unchallenged. Racism is based on falsehoods, and as long as people can comment here anonymously and thereby resist accountability for their falsehoods, I believe this website will perpetuate racism.

I continue to hope for a daily news source about Evanston that isn't as racist as this one. 


-- Alyce 

Scale does not matter in

Scale does not matter in logical thinking. I was just breaking it down to what I thought was the simplest terms. You can take my scenario and increase the.numbers as high as you want and can still come to the same conclusion. As for all your other "points" I will just say WOW and leave it at that. Clearly you see thinks differently and run on emotion rather than common sense and logic. We will agree to disagree.  

Thanks again, Neil

There is really something wrong, when people like Ms. Barry and Ms. Courtright make mountains out of molehills, and use racism and emotional commentary to get people riled.

The police are hired to do their jobs!  Period, end.

When people always have their "racism radar" on it just brings a totally negative spin into the situation, which was SIMPLY kids misbehaving...breaking rules....causing possible harm to others.

These ladies' comments are bringing a bad side to a simple issue...no matter what age, color, sex you are....please follow the rules of the city..any city.  And parents...please teach your kids before they go out into the world that taunting teachers, police, etc. will get you nowhere in life.

Their overblown commentaries are inane. Thanks to you and Bill for pointing that out. These ladies DO need to focus their emotions somewhere else.

"When we're talking about


Actually, no.  Not in the least.

I can only hope/wish that we all could pour as much energy into the textbook institutional racism of Democrat Joseph Berios' Cook County property assessment scheme as we are in trying to incite race debates where, if we are truly honest with ourselves, they don't exist.  I have simply heard no outcry from Ms. Preckwinkle on Berios' instituational racism (as defined by the University of Chicago scholar in the gripping Tribune expose) -- although Preckwinkle IS very adept at regressive taxes impacting the poor.

Now, regarding the subject article:  racism tied to EPD's response to 12 year-olds riding dangerously on bikes??  Really???  Irrespective of the race or sex of these youth, the EPD very likely saved their lives.  If there was hatred from the EPD, the easy answer would have been to let whomever was doing this go their merry way and suffer the consequences at some point (hopefully with no innocent bystander impacted).

If one really wants to go thru life with their 'racism' radar constantly on, then one will surely find it.  I'm happy for these folks, and only hope they donate generously to their church or other not-for-profit dealing with the perceived inequity in Evanston.

When we're talking about


It does make sense.  Where we differ is in our analysis of what is causing the difference.  You suggest arrests differentials are driven primarily by police attitudes.  I would suggest that arrest differentials are driven primarily by behavior.

I'm not sure what my last

I'm not sure what my last name has anything to do with the question?  I assume it is a diversionary tactic as you don't really have a good answer?  Name calling with no real logic or common sense is a tactic of many.  Are you assuming I'm white based on this post/question?  Can a black person not have this same mentality and common sense approach?  Who is displaying "racist" behavior now? I'm really not trying to attack you in anyway but I'm just trying to create dialogue and have a true honest conversation.  Please answer if you have a good response, maybe you will change my mind which is the point of debate.

Also I have to ammend my scenario as technically the police would have to wait for only 5 of the 9 well behaved teenagers to make a mistake and to make an arrest.  As if one of the 4 well behaved of the race with the one unruly person made a mistake and did something stupid, police could not arrest them either as it woudl still be 100% racial arrests when the studies are done.

Reid and another man were

Reid and another man were both gathering signatures.  The other man showed ID and was promptly let go.  Reid refused, and was detained.  Doesn't seem like race was the significant factor here.  It was basic cooperation with police.

This morning at 8:30am while

This morning at 8:30am while driving south on Sherman at Davis, I was behind a driver who was wearing a set of full over-the-ear headphones.   I hope the Evanston PD would not hesitate to pull him over because of racial considerations.   People must be held accountable for reckless behavior, period. 

Ticketing of bicyclists

The Evanston Police Department has stepped up ticketing of bicyclists, although the Department will not acknowledge it--which is curious. If you want to send a warning to bicyclists, why not acknowledge the increased enforcement?

I commute to work from Glencoe to Evanston on my bike nearly every day and have been doing this for many years. I received a $166 ticket yesterday (August 8, 2017) for slowing down and rolling through a stop sign (Orrington and Foster), rather than coming to a complete stop. There was no traffic, neither auto, bike, or pedestrian. Officer Willams, chief of the Traffic Division, left his motorcycle in the middle of Orrington while writing me the ticket. During the process, two other bikers rolled through the intersection and a skate boarder rolled down the middle of the street. Officer Williams's motorcycle blocked the vehicle traffic on southbound Orrington so that cars had to go around it. Overall, did his action increase safety?

Part of a trend

The same type of thing seems to be happening in other towns on the north shore.  I think police deppartments are responding to citizen complaints about bad behavior on by cyclists, but then give out tickets for "rolling stops" when there is no cross-traffic. 

To tie this back to the theme of this discussion thread, do you think the traffic stop was racially motivated?  I would presume that it is not, but then  some may say I do not have an enlightened perspective because I am white.

Maybe we should have a poll on this.  How many readers will think the ticket was racially motivated if 1) You do not identify as white?,


2) You do identify as white?

Since you have not yet identified your race, we can answer the question under either assumptions.

My vote is that is was not racially motivated either way.  Cops have been doing this to cyclists increasingly in the past couple of years.  I do suspect you were ticked because you are a cyclist, since cars almost always roll through stop signs when there is no traffic.

Ticketing bicyclists

Jim Nyeste:  I am not sure I follow your logic.  Are you saying bicyclists should NEVER be ticketed when they "roll" through stop signs?    Or are you saying  bicyclists SHOULD be ticketed (only) when traffic is present at the intersections?  What about motorists?  Should they be ticketed or non-ticketed when they "roll" through stop signs?  Should each rider and driver simply be able to make up his/her mind about the safety of "rolling" through a stop sign?

Ofc. Williams was simply complying with the Illinois Vehicle Code when he ticketed you.   If you believe the law should be changed, I'm sure there are bicycle advocacy groups with which you can work to amend the law.

rolling stop

A car or bike rolling though a stop sign at a slow enough speed where they could quickly stop if they saw a car on the cross street isn't very dangerous. I think the laws should be re-written to reflect the way most people use the roads, legalizing the "Idaho Stop".

Thanks for helping to cover

Thanks for helping to cover the deficit in this city. If the city actually warned cyclists about the crack down then there would less revenue from tickets.

Enjoy the truely dangerous behaviors going on like the guy causing an accident yesterday by running a red light, the guy going really fast down the sidestreet in front of my house yesterday, or the delivery trucks stopping in the church street bike lanes.

YES It increased safety

Perhaps some who rike bike will realize that the rules of road apply to them and come to a complete stop at the sign.


I don't think anyone disputes that rolling through a stop sign is a violation.  The issue relates to the norms of what is enforced.  When we see motorists rolling through stop signs the majority of the time when there is no cross-traffic, and then a ticket is given to a cyclist, it is reasonable to ask if there is uneven and biased enforcement. 

If a car rolls through a stop

If a car rolls through a stop in front of the police they get a ticket too. The ones you see not getting a ticket are the ones where there was no police watching.

Car not just rolling but not stopping

I see cars roll and run stop signs on many streets but going west to Orrington is esp. bad---and traffic coming from north and south..With the Sheridan Rd. consturction and streets blocked off, no one can say it is people turning off of Sheridan---it is clearly from NU staff on west side of Sheridan.  Look around at 5PM. They don't stop, roll or give signals and clearly don't see/care about bikers, cars or pedestrians.

Stopping means stopping completely

I may be wrong, but i do not think police typically give tickets to cars that slow way down, but do not come to a complete stop at stop signs.  IMO, this is reasonable when there is no cross-traffic as there are higher priorities.  On a bike I have been able to slow way down without stopping and let three cars take their turn going through a 4-way stop before i went.  Technically, i was in violation of the traffic law, but traffic flowed safely and everyone's turn was respected.

I would have no problem with cyclists getting tickets for rolling through stops if I thought the same standard was applied to cars, and if speed limits were enforced more strictly.

Something not right here

People I talk to can't see how he got $166 ticket. Bikers, esp.NU, daily ride through the intersections [Noyes and Foster esp.]and don't even slow down. Cars at best slow down but not stop before making right turns---the police have to see this all the time, I see some parked on Orrington by Lincoln, another heavy 'roll' street. Fine for bikes on downtown side walks are only $25---and anyone downtown sees bikers on Clark sidewalks all the time---yesterday five in five minutes by Burger-King. I'd think the court would set the fine, not the officer esp. such an odd amount and on the same day ?

Unless the biker was black and discrimination is charged, people's reaction was "he must have 'mouthed off' to the officer."

What do the parents have to say about all of this?

Are they among the complainants? Do they believe their children were subject to bias or discrimination? And how did this incident "come to light?" Did those who spoke out at the meeting do so upon the request of the families affected by the incident? Did any legitimate Black advocacy group (and by "legitimate" I mean one with an established history of advocating for social justice for Blacks---BLM, NAACP, OPAL all come to mind) take issue with this or is the outcry the work of independent advocates? I keep reading this article trying to come to an opinion about this but those are pressing questions that I just can't overlook.

parents, etc......

It seems to me, that these women taking this encounter to task, are those who are the types who like to speak out for themselves, and stir things up.  I highly doubt they were contacted by any parents.  As someone noted, they need to get another "hobby". If the kids were white, Asian or Hispanic, would they be speaking up?   I highly doubt it.   Too many things are infused with the racism card in Evanston.  This was just kids doing wrong things, potentially hurting themselves and/or others, and the police did the right thing.   these women may be seeking publicity for further reasons other than "concern" for only African-American youths.   They are was too transparent in their "speeches"....looking for support from others?  Quite possibly so.   Some people have hidden agendas....but they are not all that hidden.