Today, we had a fantastic turnout for our Labor Day demonstration with two news crews joining us and extensive coverage on the 5:00 news. About sixty passionate community members showed up to stand against the unnecessary fencing and new fees at Gillson Park. We gathered with picket signs and beach chairs, marching from Elmwood Dunes to Gillson’s South Beach, where several supporters with disabilities joined us. The energy was palpable as we exercised our rights under the Public Trust Doctrine and sent a clear message to the Park District!
We’re thrilled to announce that our demonstration garnered excellent media coverage. ABC 7 News featured our event prominently on their 5:00 PM broadcast today, bringing widespread attention to our cause! You can watch the full story here.
During the coverage, beachgoer Serena Chen highlighted the frustrating reality for many: what used to be a free, public beach is now fenced off with fees that exclude families from enjoying their local lakefront. Unfence Gillson organizer Jeff Axelrod emphasized our commitment to keep fighting until the Park District reverses its decision to fence off this cherished community space.
The press coverage emphasized that our protest is about more than just the fence and fees—it’s about preserving the tradition of open, public access to this stretch of lakefront that has been free for over 100 years. We will continue to amplify our voices until the Park District recognizes and respects the public’s right to this treasured space.
Thank you to everyone who showed up, spoke out, and made this demonstration a success. And thank you to ABC 7 for highlighting our cause and spreading the word! Let’s keep the momentum going and continue our fight to Unfence Gillson!
Stay tuned for more updates and actions!
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