I read your recent article on the “Hands Across Chicagoland” protest with both interest and unease. Civic expression is a cornerstone of our democracy, and I applaud those who engage in it. But the tone and framing of the article felt more like an endorsement than a report. That gives me pause.
I grew up in Riverside. I walked its streets as a boy, attended its schools, and carry its values with me to this day. Riverside helped shape who I am, including my belief that truth, especially when it’s complex, deserves clarity, balance, and integrity in how it’s presented.
The article makes sweeping claims: suggesting the U.S. is moving toward authoritarianism and referencing “mass deportations without due process” without exploring nuance, legal context, or opposing viewpoints. That kind of narrative, particularly when echoed uncritically, doesn’t serve our community’s need for understanding. It stokes division instead of fostering dialogue.
I recognize the author is early in his career … a recent college graduate, full of passion and purpose. That energy is welcome. But wisdom grows through listening, through complexity, through understanding that every story has more than one side.
We need our hometown press to be a place where thoughtful reporting can help us connect across differences, not retreat into tribes. Because the real danger isn’t disagreement … it’s the inability to engage each other with grace.
Marc Bulandr
Crystal Lake
Riverside-Brookfield High School, Class of 1985