Editing Waukegan, Illinois (section)

===21st century===
On Sunday, May 31, 2020, a peaceful protest in reaction to the [[George Floyd protests|George Floyd]] police shooting in Minneapolis turned violent when a portion of the protesters looted and damaged local businesses along Lewis Avenue from Glen Flora Street north into the Village of [[Beach Park, Illinois|Beach Park]]. According to local activist Ralph Peterson, who organized the earlier peaceful march moving east along Grand Avenue into the downtown area, two intoxicated locals and about five "professional provocateurs" not recognized by attendees attempted to incite to violence 50-75 protesters gathered at the corner of Glen Flora and North Lewis Avenue. Following the arrival of police, Peterson and Clyde McLemore, founder of the Lake County chapter of [[Black Lives Matter]], attempted to disperse the crowd and diffuse police confrontations. Many in the dispersed and agitated crowd then began damaging and looting local businesses near Waukegan Plaza, as well as confronting arriving police with displays of violence and damage to police vehicles. The crowd size was then estimated to have grown to several hundred.<ref name="Coleman">{{Cite web |last=Coleman |first=Emily K. |date=June 1, 2020 |title=Waukegan mayor imposes curfew amid unrest; protesters return after looters take over weekend demonstration |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2020/06/01/waukegan-mayor-imposes-curfew-amid-unrest-protesters-return-after-looters-take-over-weekend-demonstration/?clearUserState=true |access-date=November 14, 2024 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref>

Businesses from Glen Flora Avenue north to Yorkhouse Road in Beach Park suffered looting of merchandise, property damage, and vandalism. In addition to the Waukegan Police Department, about 100 officers from neighboring departments and several dozen sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the area. Mayor [[Sam Cunningham (mayor)|Sam Cunningham]] issued a city-wide curfew. Five county squad cars were damaged during the confrontations, and over twenty people were arrested<ref name="Coleman"/> with no injuries reported.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coleman |first=Emily K. |date=June 2, 2020 |title=Waukegan mayor defends city's response to unrest, says police were prepared |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2020/06/02/waukegan-mayor-defends-citys-response-to-unrest-says-police-were-prepared/ |access-date=November 14, 2024 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> Upon finding that the vast majority of rioters were Waukegan residents, Cunningham stated, "That really hurts, that you would hurt your own block, your own store, your own business, your own neighborhood, city." The next day, local business owners and volunteers gathered to clean up the damage. Later on Monday, another protest was held at Waukegan Plaza, which was peaceful and caused no damage.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=Chicago |date=June 2, 2020 |title=George Floyd fallout: Here's what happened June 1 in the Chicago area |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2020/06/02/george-floyd-fallout-heres-what-happened-june-1-in-the-chicago-area/ |access-date=November 14, 2024 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> On Tuesday, local faith leaders organized a vigil to denounce looting as counterproductive while demanding justice for the shooting of George Floyd. At least one attendee and long-time resident was also present at the [[Waukegan riot of 1966|1966 Waukegan Riot]] and expressed regret that it had occurred again.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Olson |first=Yadira Sanchez |date=June 2, 2020 |title=Lake County faith leaders lead vigil to call for end to 'systemic racism' |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2020/06/02/lake-county-faith-leaders-lead-vigil-to-call-for-end-to-systemic-racism/ |access-date=November 14, 2024 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref>