Jelani Day’s fraternity brothers say they want justice for Jelani, just like everyone else in the caravan that went through Peru and LaSalle Tuesday. Jeremiah Rick is in the Omega Psi Phi chapter at Northern Illinois University.
Like Jelani Day’s mother, they believe Day was murdered. Carmen Bolden Day says her son had no mental health issues and he could swim, so she doesn’t buy suicide or drowning.
Kayla Taylor, president of the NIU Black Student Union, was also there.
Eileen Fesco of Ottawa drove in the caravan. Fesco says she looks up to Jesse Jackson as a hero and was delighted to meet him. But she says she’s also concerned about the flow of information in the case.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson also spoke during the event Tuesday. It’s been a month-and-a-half since Jelani Day’s body was found in the Illinois River in LaSalle County. Coroner Rich Ploch says he drowned. Ploch says there were no signs that Day had been attacked, was hurt, or had any illness.
Northern Illinois University students, participants in the Justice for Jelani caravan, head to their bus as the caravan drive is about to start.
People in a car wait for their turn to drive in the caravan procession at the Justice for Jelani rally.