Activists plan two South Side marches against Chicago violence

Void Ipoko of Revolution Club Chicago was among those speaking at a press conference in South Shore on Thursday. The group announced two marches it plans on July 11 and July 12, and also criticized Chicago Police Supt. David Brown’s stated strategy of doing sweeps of drug corners to reduce holiday weekend violence. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

Standing on a corner in South Shore, a group of activists on Thursday announced plans for two marches next weekend, there and in Englewood, to call attention to violence in those two communities.

The marches, organized by Revolution Club Chicago, also are intended to recruit new members to the communist organization. The first will be July 11, starting at 3 p.m. at 55th Street and Racine Street. The second starts at 4 p.m, on July 12, outside the Revolution Club’s organizing center, 1857 71st St.

Void Ipoko, one of nine group members attending the announcement, stood In front of a banner declaring “REVOLUTION — NOTHING LESS” and spoke out against Chicago Police Department tactics, focusing on announced plans by CPD Supt. David Brown to sweep drug corners in the city as a way of tamping down the expected holiday weekend violence.

Members picked 71st Street and Jeffery Avenue for the press conference because member Dee Williams said it is where police often harass people. Other members read aloud from a book by Bob Avakian, leader of the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA.

Revolution Club Chicago also will join a protest 2 p.m. Saturday at the Logan Square Monument being organized by Refuse Fascism, said Dave Ciba, who belongs to both groups.

Niko Eastwind pulls out a copy of Bob Avakian’s “Basics” to read an excerpt during a press conference Thursday at 71st Street and Jeffrey Avenue in South Shore.