Berwyn Residents’ Advocacy Leads to Firing of City of Employee Over Racist Comments But Some Say Further Action Needed
Alderman Joe Carmichael and Philipp Robbin, a contractor, hold a press conference outside of Berwyn City Hall on Thursday, July 21st, 2022. They demanded that the Cityof Berwyn fire employee, Sarah Lopez, following news that in May, Lopez used a racial slur against Robbin. Photo courtesy of Paul Goyette.
By Chelsea Zhao
Last week, a crowd of Berwyn residents packed the City Council meeting to express their frustration and outrage over the handling of a city employee’s racist comments against a contractor.
Their advocacy led to the quiet firing of a city employee but many say more is needed.
Philipp Robin speaks during the press conference outside of Berwyn City Hall on July 21st, 2022. Photo courtesy of Paul Goyette.
Back in May, Sarah Lopez, a city official, yelled a racial slur at Philipp Robbin, a city contractor, to get him to move his truck from the alley while Lopez was on patrol duty, the story was first reported by CBS News. Robbin showed Lopez a city permit and turned back to work when Lopez shouted a racial slur at him.
Mayor Lovero gave a verbal reprimand to Lopez after the incident in May but it wasn’t until CBS News broke the story on July 20 that Lopez resigned from her position as a Berwyn South School District board member. That same day Joe Carmichael, 8th Ward Alderman, and Rob Pabon, 5th Ward Alderman, called on the mayor to terminate Lopez’s employment on Facebook. Many residents have called Lovero’s handling of the situation a “cover-up” and also demand an independent investigation.
“I urge the City of Berwyn to take additional meaningful action—call for an open and independent investigation and ensure others you employ understand the damage and pain racist remarks cause not only to the individual, but the community at large,” said State Senator Celina Villanueve in a public statement echoing demands from residents.
At the Berwyn City Hall Council meeting held on July 26, Mayor Lovero stated that he only became aware of the report surrounding the incident on July 24 after returning from a trip in Canada.
“I was out of the country and obviously had no internet or mobile service,” Lovero said. “So at this time I cannot provide any comment regarding the situation.”
His remark set off sarcastic laughter from the crowd of a packed room.
A total of 24 people spoke to condemn the injustice of the situation in an open session that lasted an hour and a half.
“We know that by their inaction, city leaders are endorsing and welcoming her [Sarah Lopez’s] views,” Greg Patterson, resident of Berwyn, said. “My view as a Black owner in Berwyn is that, if this is where you city leaders act, then I don’t want to be here.”
Other residents called for the firing of Lopez because of the severity of her misconduct.
“A verbal warning is something used when an employee makes a mistake,” Kathy Shaevel, a union member and resident of 1st Ward, said. “There’s not a white person on planet earth who makes some mistake when they use the n-word. That is an intentional word.”
Several residents pointed out the hypocrisy and the lack of collective responsibility of the city council.
“There’s many Aldermen to my right, and on my left side who haven't said a single word publicly,” Esteban Rodriguez, a resident of 7th Ward, said. “You may have done it personally, individually, one person at a time, in a direct message, that is not enough. We need you all to speak up as well.”
“What I see, it seems like a facade,” Paul Simmy, a resident of Berwyn for seven years, said. “If you are going to come to all these block parties, talk with us, have these [Black Lives Matter] signs up, and turn your backs on the situation.”
The City of Berwyn announced the firing of Sarah Lopez the morning of August 1 on their blog. Berwyn residents and allies have organized a rally at Lesak Park, 6600 W 26th St in Berwyn, on August 9 at 6:30 pm before the City Council meeting which will begin at 8 pm at the Berwyn City Hall. You can view a full recording of the July 26 meeting here.
*This article has been updated with the correct spelling of Kathy Shaevel.
Chelsea Zhao is a graduate journalism student at Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism and is a recent Berwyn resident. You can read more of Chelsea's work at https://chelseazhao7.wixsite.com/journalism .
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