Protests Against Alleged Police Misconduct at Oak Lawn

Nearly 100 individuals gathered outside the Oak Lawn Village Hall on Tuesday before the Village Board meeting. They alleged that police mistreated a 14-year-old at a previous Police and Fire Commission meeting. In a news release, Oak Lawn police stated that the teen used obscene language during the public comment period at the August 5 meeting. A woman interfered when officers tried to escort the teen away from the podium.

Activist and middle school teacher Kobi Guillory addressed the rally, protesting the police’s treatment of the teen. The rally preceded the Oak Lawn Village Board meeting on August 25, 2026. Guillory’s participation highlighted the community’s concern over the incident.

The Arab American Action Network reported that multiple officers grabbed the boy, lifted him, and slammed him into a counter. They claimed he was placed in a chokehold and forced out of the room. The woman charged with obstruction of justice, disorderly conduct, and assault was identified as the boy’s mother. Activists say she was also violently removed.

Members of the Arab American Action Network have consistently attended Police and Fire Commission meetings since 2022. They protested alleged officer misconduct and raised concerns over recent claims of disruptive behavior. Police accused activists of shouting obscenities, engaging in physical confrontations, and causing disturbances during meetings.

On Tuesday, activists addressed the Village Board, blaming officers for the tensions. They pointed to previous incidents of alleged racism within the Oak Lawn Police Department. Muhammad Sankari, organizing director of the Arab American Action Network, recalled a settled lawsuit involving a police officer’s beating of a 17-year-old for $825,000.

Sankari criticized the police conduct in the recent incident, citing the use of a chokehold on the young boy. He asserted that the continued presence of activists at these meetings is a response to a perceived lack of justice and accountability from the department and village officials.