Protesters Gather Outside Mayor O'Dekirk's House

JOLIET, IL — Sydney Tomasko used to be neighbors with Mayor Bob O’Dekirk. On Friday evening, she was one of about 10 people who came out to Joliet's Catherdral Area to protest and request that O’Dekirk step down.

“I’m out here because I think that many people don’t think police brutality is real,” she said. “I believe that mayor should not have been out there acting like a police officer; he was acting like a vigilante.”

Tomasko was referring to the incident on May 31 when O'Dekirk is seen pulling a protestor down to the ground by his collar. The incident was caught on video. It is being investigated by the Illinois State Police.

The protesters came out at the invitation of Loretta Hobbs who organized the protest under her organization And JustUS 4 All. The organization was founded by Bernell Simmons and Hobbs.

The protest on Friday started at 6 p.m. and Hobbs said she was going to make sure to be out of the neighborhood before 8 p.m. in respect for O’Dekirk’s neighbors on Buell Avenue.

“The reason why I am doing the protest tonight is I believe we need to make (O’Dekirk) aware that we are not going anywhere,” she said.

Hobbs has been very vocal about wanting O’Dekirk to step down following his actions on May 31.

Ardrenna Dean and her daughter Kamia McDonald attended the protest and both also want to see O’Dekirk resign as well.

O'Dekirk has said he won't resign and that others can run for mayor in three more years when his position is back on the ballot.

Although the protest was small, Joliet Police Department had a presence on the street, including Joliet Police Chief Al Roechner.

“They have a right to be here,” he said of the protesters. “We’re just here making sure everyone is safe like we’ve done every protest so far.”

O’Dekirk remained on the porch of his home with friends and family and at least one police officer. When approached and asked if he would like to comment, he declined.

Hobbs said she plans to be out in front of O’Dekirk’s house once a week.

“You’re gonna see us once a week in front of your house. You don’t know what day it's gonna be, but you're gonna see us,” she said.

Hobbs would like to see O’Dekirk charged for his behavior on May 31 as well.

“He needs to take accountability for his actions,” she said. “He is not being paid by the city to be a Joliet police officer.

“If it was me or anyone else, I would have been in jail two to three days after.”