Residents tape mouths shut in another silent protest at City Hall

Harvey residents placed black duct tape over their mouths and held up signs reading, “We Say No to Dictatorship!,” “Chris or Clarence?” and “Stop Police Intimidation,” before walking out of last week’s City Council meeting.

This move marks another demonstration by residents against the Clark administration and their suppression of free speech and expression during council meetings. Last month, attendees used clothing to protest Mayor Chris Clark’s ban on clapping, laughing, and other conduct deemed unsuitable.

They were joined by residents in nearby Dolton and allies from across the region. Dolton residents began attending meetings in Harvey last summer in solidarity with locals. Together, they began urging residents across Thornton Township to withhold support of Clark in the upcoming township race. But Clark, who filed to run for supervisor, abruptly dropped out earlier this month.

Still, residents of the two towns, embattled with political corruption under their respective mayoral administrations, have now teamed up to address government wrongdoing in the region. During Clark’s mayoral comment, demonstrators turned away to face media personnel and lifted their signs in front of cameras. Clark made it clear he received the message.

“The next time somebody want to come up making allegations and accusations of this administration, please bring some evidence with you…because we moving forward,” Clark said as demonstrators exited the chambers. “All this little show and everything, it means absolutely nothing.”

Under Clark, he has cancelled public comment, ordered police to retaliate against critics by issuing hundreds to thousands of dollars in municipal infractions, and given campaign donors like TK Construction for city contracts. He is also being sued for allegedly extorting local businesses under the pretext of collecting tax revenue.

He has also been accused of using a false identity, specifically, changing his name from Clarence. A year after the Harvey library secretary publicly made the allegation, Clark’s finally responded. He explained that his birth name was Clarence Christopher Clark but chose to go by Chris with his mother’s permission. He also shared a personal story about his estranged father, his namesake, and how his stepfather, Joseph, influenced his leadership.

“[My mother] didn’t go to any of the haters in the crowd and ask them if it was okay for me to change my name. She asked me what I was going to name myself, and I said I was going to name myself Christopher Joseph Clark,” he said.

Kristen Clark, the mayor’s daughter, defended her father during public comment. “His name is Christopher J. Clark. Let’s put that to rest,” she said. “He has never changed his birthday or his social [security number]. He is also a resident of the city — born and raised.”

She has been seen arguing on Facebook with Harvey residents about her father’s leadership. Kristen Clark said she initially discouraged her father from running for office due to challenges left by previous administrations. However, she believes the city has improved under Clark’s leadership, noting street rebuilds, new businesses, and the elimination of “ghost employees” from the city’s payroll at the beginning of Clark’s term. 

The mayor’s daughter also acknowledged faults with Clark and the city, asking both residents and her father’s administration to “move with grace. “The city cannot move forward if everyone pits one another against each other,” she said.

Departmental updates

Police Chief Cameron Biddings announced plans to strengthen community-police relations by relaunching the Citizens Academy and Community Policing programs, enhancing officer training on ethics and decision-making, and ensuring all officers have access to counseling services. The department is also looking into upgrading digital communication by creating an online transparency hub and increasing social media presence.

Biddings said the department is aiming to reduce response time for emergency calls through a priority system in partnership with the Cook County Sheriff’s Department. According to Biddings, the average police officer answers an estimated 70 to 80 percent of calls that are not criminal nor directly related to law enforcement.

The Harvey Fire Department is looking to host certified Illinois State Fire Marshal classes in their stations and secure grants for upgraded air packs. The department is also introducing a kids’ academy this summer to introduce youth to firefighting careers. Fire Chief Howard Fisher said they will continue promoting their CPR program and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. 

The public works department will reduce response times for resident complaints to three to five business days with the help of two GOVPilot employees. Superintendent Richard Seput said they will also complete an inventory of lead water lines and redevelop their training program by incorporating training from external sources and introducing video training opportunities. 

Economic Development Director Cesar Suarez shared plans to attract businesses and improve housing by developing new single family houses and demolishing buildings. Initiatives also include facilitating new business investments and working with community stakeholders.

Communications Director Alexia Hall announced strategies to improve transparency, such as hosting quarterly town hall meetings, increasing online promotion of the city newsletter, and launching a resident survey by the end of March. 

The water department has secured a $1.5 million grant to replace outdated meters. However, that will only cover the fourth of the meters in the city, said Water Department Manager Maria Gandarilla. The department will also digitalize the system so that residents can get updated readings and pay their bills online.