The Auburn-Gresham community was hit badly during the COVID-19 Pandemic as the Jewel-Osco was looted and destroyed in June 2020. But after some time and reconstruction, the community is thankful their local store reopened on July 29, 2021.
The George Floyd Incident
Back in late May of 2020, the well-known incident of George Floyd had happened as Officer Derek Chauvin of the Minnesota Police Department (MPD), apprehended Floyd resulting in murder. Chauvin had Geroge Floyd pinned down with his knee on his neck as Floyd cries and yells, “I can’t breathe,” and dies minutes later.
This incident sparked numerous protests across the nation as groups such as the Black Lives Matter Movement, NAACP, and various black activist groups gather together with the demand of bringing Chauvin to justice, receiving maximum punishment.
Ravaging The Communities
After the Incident of George Floyd, communities were outraged as they took to the streets and began to ransack certain businesses in communities such as Target, Walmart, and various fashion stores in the downtown Chicago area.
Revitalizing the Community
Residents of Gresham have been working diligently to restore the community to make it better than it was before, after the ransacking that happened in the community.
The upgraded Jewel-Osco is vital for the Gresham community. The store is located on 94th Street and Ashland Avenue. The store has not only been remodeled, but it includes a 2,200-square-foot community room for the South Shore Drill Team. The store also donated $2,000 to the drill team.
This kind gesture not only shows that Jewel-Osco is not just a grocery store, but it helps their community as well. This supermarket is vital to the community, and it shows how much of a difference it makes as it provides jobs, supplies, and various things everyone needs. As others would say, a renaissance is forming within the neighborhood.
Written by Darryl Johnson Jr.
Edited by Cathy Milne-Ware
Sources:
Block Club Chicago: More Than A Year After Looting, Auburn Gresham Jewel-Osco Reopens With Space For South Shore Drill Team – by Giovanni Velez
CNN: Derek Chauvin: What we know about the former officer convicted in George Floyd’s Death- by Scottie Andrew
Chicago-Suntimes: Ransacked last summer, Jewel at 94th and Ashland reopens — with a bonus- by Fran Spielman
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Michael Kappel’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
First Inset Image Courtesy of Chad Davis’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Second Inset Image Courtesy of Jenny Salita’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Third Inset Image Courtesy of Xavier Bosquet’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
