‘Everybody Hates Chris’ : Clothing becomes a political protest of Clark administration

Glynis James-Watson approached the podium wearing a white sweatshirt emblazoned in black and red: “DENIED MY RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH.” “I’m going to wear [this sweatshirt] everywhere that I go,” she said.

Last spring, Clark banned clapping, laughing, and other forms of expression from council meetings in direct response to scathing and unrelenting criticism of him. That followed weeks of Clark dodging public comment altogether, instead spending it in his office.

Now, James-Watson and other residents are using fashion to make political statements, silent protests in face of what they call unconstitutional rules against the public.

In November 2024, Harvey Patrol Bureau Commander Antoine Anderson removed James-Watson from a city council meeting — the same meeting where the council cancelled public comment — and cited her for disorderly conduct. 

She recalled Anderson approaching her after she had “said something under [her] breath” while Mayor Chris Clark was presiding over the meeting. “You need to be ashamed of yourselves,” James-Watson said, calling out Anderson, Clark, Harvey Police Chief Cameron Biddings, and department heads. “You are complicit in denying a whole community the right to free speech.”

James-Watson appeared in Harvey’s municipal court before Judge James McGing on Dec. 20, 2024. She was found liable for disorderly conduct and fined $500. Clark, who residents charge is a misogynist, personally attended her hearing. Afterward, he, the judge, city attorney, and police officials were seen huddling together in council chambers.

Harvey library secretary Chapelle Hooks, ticketed for disorderly conduct in October 2024 after a meeting, wore a sweatshirt referencing the television show “Everybody Hates Chris” — a blunt jab at Clark. 

Hooks had a microphone replaced while at the podium, cutting into her three-minute speaking limit at the meeting on Jan. 13. Hooks requested a timer reset, but Clark refused, claiming the original microphone was already working. Hooks disagreed. 

“Your time is expiring,” snarked Clark, who ordered police to fine Hooks for code violations at her home.

“I know why. It’s because of my shirt,” Hooks responded,” but that’s okay.”

Public comment

One resident called out the lack of transparency from the Harvey Police Department in the wake of a fatal shooting on New Years’ Day. “A man was killed near 157th and Paulina, but you’d never know if you didn’t hear it from a neighbor,” Ryan Sinwelski said. Clark ordered city employees to fine Sinwelski at his Harvey rental properties last month.

Mauzkie Evrin pointed out Clark’s and the police’s hypocrisy around clapping, recalling a council meeting where attendees clapped for retired city employee Robert Brown. “I thought we weren’t supposed to clap?” Evrin said.

“Free speech is that thing that everyone has…but it doesn’t give you the right to speak without consequence,” Clark said during his mayoral comments, placed before the meeting’s end.

Ward updates

Alds. Colby Chapman (2nd) and Telanee Smith (3rd) raised concerns about the prevalence of abandoned homes in their wards. According to Chapman, there are 100 abandoned properties “left open” in the 2nd Ward. 

Ald. Shirley Drewenski (1st) echoed their sentiments, calling the operation “a work in progress.” She went on: “The ironic behavior, though, is once the item gets boarded up and secured, the next night, it’s pulled down again. If you see something, please say something,” Drewenski said.

Chapman questioned why her ward’s $19,000 automatic reimbursement — which was approved June 2024 — has not been sent by the city. According to Chapman, the 1st and 6th Wards were given reimbursements while the 4th Ward received a partial one. She said she emailed Clark five times but has not received a response.

“This is asphyxiating the 2nd Ward,” Chapman said. “Everything that’s going on…is being financed strictly out of my pocket and out of my budget.”
Chapman also announced that all charges from her October arrest for allegedly filing a false police report against City Administrator Corean Davis for an assault that never occurred were dropped as of Dec. 23, 2024.

Departmental updates

City departments such as police, fire, finance, water, building, communications, economic development, human resources, public works, and senior services provided year-end updates. But with public comment ahead of departmental reports in Jan. 13’s agenda, the decision limited both the public and council’s ability to immediately respond.

Police have secured substantial grants, hired more officers, made strides toward combating retail crime, and enhanced traffic safety in the city, according to Police Chief Cameron Biddings. While he provided grant figures, Biddings did not provide personnel or detailed incident data.

Police also strengthened its partnership with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, collaborating on task forces to address mental health call response strategies, he said, and partnered with the Illinois State Police for a review of the department’s policies and procedures. 

“These improvements were instrumental in enhancing our closure rate of various cases and improving the effectiveness and efficiency of our patrol and investigation division,” Biddings said. 

The Harvey Fire Department hired five new firefighters and secured federal funds to install generators in two stations, according to fire chief Howard Fisher. Following pandemic-related manufacturing delays, the department is also expecting a new fire engine to arrive in late February or March. The department applied for funds in 2023, he said.