Elmhurst University, Community Show Support for “A Walk Toward Healing”
Photo by Bridget O’Rourke
A demonstration against gun violence took place in suburban Elmhurst, Ill., on June 9, 2024.
The event, known as “A Walk Toward Healing,” began at 2 p.m. at the Frick Center on the campus of Elmhurst University, involved numerous Elmhurst residents as well as EU students, and was sponsored by multiple Elmhurst businesses.
Participants were encouraged to wear orange to show support for gun violence prevention during the approximately one-mile walk, which coincided with “Wear Orange Weekend,” an annual observance intended to honor survivors of gun violence.
The event also served as a fundraiser, with all proceeds directly benefiting Chicago Survivors, a nonprofit organization that provides support to family members of homicide victims in Chicago. The organization also holds a summer camp for dozens of children who have been affected by homicide.
According to Chicago Survivors’s website, the organization offers a variety of services, including a helpline, individual and family counseling, and criminal justice advocacy.
Notably, the event received recognition from the Chicago outlet of NBC News, which had most recently published an article centered on the university in April 2021, which incidentally addressed a report of an armed individual on campus.
Although Elmhurst University and its surrounding community are generally considered safe, and despite the efforts of organizations like Chicago Survivors, gun violence continues to plague Chicago. This summer, more than 100 people were shot, 19 fatally, in the city over the Fourth of July weekend alone.
Furthermore, potentially fatal gun violence is not exclusive to Chicago. In mid-July, former president Donald Trump was wounded during an assassination attempt in Butler, Pa., in which a 20-year-old man with an AR-15–style rifle killed a rallygoer and injured several others.
Nevertheless, Bridget O’Rourke, an English professor at EU and organizer of the event, reflected fondly on its success, including a high level of turnout.
O’Rourke, who reported that the walk had raised more than $20,000 to support Chicago Survivors’s summer camp, noted that the event was not the first of its kind, with a similar demonstration having occurred in October of the previous year.
The English professor was also pleased to see the event receive coverage from local media, expressing her belief that such outlets are interested in covering “positive, constructive responses” to the “tragic reality” of gun violence in Chicago.
Additionally, O’Rourke connected the event to EU’s extensive history of social justice involvement, indicating that gun violence can disproportionately affect residents based on factors like location and income.
O’Rourke believes EU’s participation in the demonstration, in addition to aligning with the university’s “institutional values of social responsibility and academic excellence,” helps cultivate “socially responsible professionals,” fosters a connection between a “leafy suburban community” like Elmhurst and the city of Chicago, and communicates a message of active involvement.
O’Rourke concluded by praising the “essential” work of Chicago Survivors — especially the organization’s executive director, JaShawn Hill — pointing out that their efforts extend beyond visual demonstrations like the one that took place in Elmhurst in early June. O’Rourke further stated that she feels both privileged and fortunate to support the organization and its endeavors.
Students can reach out to O’Rourke via email (orourkeb@elmhurst.edu) if they are interested in receiving information regarding similar events in the future, including a planned successor to “A Walk Toward Healing.”
Moreover, additional details about Chicago Survivors, including the organization’s goals and services, can be located on the organization’s website, chicagosurvivors.org.
