Chapter 45
Standing in the church’s basement was like being in a cultural museum—it was holy ground.
The church had a long, rich history. For over a century, it had been part of the Underground Railroad, offering a sanctuary for enslaved Africans fleeing bondage and persecution.
They hid in the basement and slept on oak floors and in the pews before traveling farther north.
During the Great Migration, Black families escaping the Jim Crow South poured into the church’s halls and built a thriving community around hope and resistance.
Decades later, the church would become a hub for civil rights leaders who strategized and laid the groundwork for boycotts and marches against red-lining, police brutality, and a litany of racist policies that forced many Black Chicagoans into poverty.
And tonight, the room was filled beyond capacity; voices wove together, taut with urgency and frustration.
Folding chairs scraped against the floor as more people squeezed in and stood along the walls.
Church bulletins fluttered in restless hands.
At the back, elders exchanged knowing glances, their faces weighed down by the notion of having fought similar battles over the decades.
Near the front of the room, Rocky sat with her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
Her posture was stiff, as if she were bracing for the unknown.
At the podium, Reverend Cleaver raised his right hand.
The attendees immediately quieted.
He bowed his head, drawing in a slow, steady breath, then lifted his voice, deep and steady, and prayed: “Heavenly Father, we come before You tonight as a people who know struggle, as a people who have fought for every inch of freedom we’ve ever had.
Our brother Hollis Montrose was left for dead by the same system he served.
But Lord, we know you are a God of justice.
And we will not wait idly. Tonight, we rally for Hollis.
We stand for truth. We stand for justice.
And we will not be moved or deterred. We have complete faith in you, God, that you will free Hollis Montrose from bondage.
But as you teach us in your word, faith without works is dead.
This great legal crusader has been putting in the work, and we stand with him. I give you Attorney Beau Lee Cooper.”
The prayer was followed by a deep, resounding “Amen.”
Reverend Cleaver turned to Beau Lee, who was standing in the wings, and gestured for him to come to the podium.
Beau Lee adjusted his suit jacket and stood behind the microphone.
He cleared his throat as he angled the mic.
“They tell us Hollis Montrose is guilty because they need him to be guilty. Because if he’s innocent, that means someone else is responsible.
And they don’t want to ask those questions, because they fear the answers.
See, those answers would be an indictment of the policies and culture that exist in the Chicago Police Department, and within the city.
” A murmur of agreement spread through the room.
“We didn’t get to this place overnight,” he added.
“What happened to Hollis Montrose is a culmination of decades of poor, racially insensitive, and downright hateful policies, which is why Hollis Montrose was left bleeding in the street, then thrown in a cage. Now they’re holding him for ransom.
Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. That’s the cost of an innocent man’s freedom. ”
People began to clap loudly, but Beau Lee wasn’t finished. He raised his hand and silenced the crowd. “But we’re not waiting for them to grow a conscience and do what’s just and right. We intend to bring Hollis home ourselves.”
Reverend Cleaver joined Beau Lee at the podium.
“Church family, I know times are tough,” he said.
“We’re facing a terrible recession, but if we can’t depend on our community, who can we depend on?
We’ll be passing out envelopes so you may donate and collect donations for the Free Hollis Montrose bail campaign. ”
Beau Lee added, “We ask that you give whatever you can to help us fund Hollis’s bail and share his story with everyone you can.”
A deacon began passing out manila envelopes to the crowd. Many people were reaching into their billfolds and purses, pulling out five- and ten-dollar bills, giving what they could. It was a beautiful sight. The community was galvanized around one noble cause: Hollis Montrose’s freedom.