A physical confrontation at the Black Lives Matter Resource Center in Waukegan, Illinois, unfolded on January 12, 2026, involving Clyde J. McLemore, the founder of Black Lives Matter Lake County, and a staff member, Nyesha A. Hill. The incident, rooted in a financial dispute, escalated from a workplace argument into a physical altercation that prompted police intervention.
According to reports from the Lake & McHenry County Scanner, officers received a call around 12:30 p.m. regarding a disturbance and possible battery at the center located at 668 Lenox Avenue. Upon arrival, law enforcement spoke with both McLemore and Hill, who reported that their disagreement began over unpaid wages.
McLemore described the situation to officers, stating that Hill had entered his office while he was working and requested money and cigarettes. He asserted that the organization “ain’t got no money,” and referenced funds from a grant that had already been expended, saying, “That money is gone.” Hill claimed she sought payment for work she had completed, expressing frustration over what she perceived as misuse of organizational funds. She stated, “I told him, ‘it’s not fair that I come here and I work and you running around taking care of other things that don’t got nothing to do with Black Lives Matter with Black Lives Matter money.’ I’m the one that make this joint work.”
The conflict intensified when Hill refused to leave his office until the payment issue was resolved. According to police accounts, McLemore asserted that Hill grabbed him by the hood and struck him, while Hill contended that McLemore initiated the physical confrontation by shoving her first. Officers noted visible injuries on both individuals upon their arrival, including lip injuries and scratches. Neither party sought to press charges; Hill indicated she “does not want to see a black man in jail,” but wanted the incident documented.
Investigators later uncovered that this was not the first physical altercation between the two. Surveillance footage from October 24, 2025, revealed a separate incident in which McLemore and Hill engaged in a heated exchange that escalated into physical struggle. While Hill asserted the fight occurred on November 24, McLemore contended it took place on November 2. The footage depicts both individuals grappling and striking each other, resulting in objects falling to the floor as the confrontation unfolded.
Following the January incident, court records indicate that McLemore obtained an emergency stalking no-contact order against Hill, with a hearing regarding a longer-term order scheduled in Lake County court. When approached for comment, McLemore declined to speak with reporters, although the incidents have attracted attention due to his public role as a community leader.
At 67 years old, McLemore has held positions within the community, including his role on the Lake County Regional Board of School Trustees. His past legal troubles include serving 40 days in jail for photographing inside a courthouse in violation of rules, as well as previous arrests for trespassing during city council meetings. Hill, on the other hand, has a criminal history that includes a 2020 kidnapping case in which she and an accomplice were convicted after beating a victim and demanding ransom for release. She served over four years in prison for that offense.
The January confrontation has been documented in police reports, although it did not lead to any criminal charges. The earlier altercation captured on surveillance footage adds another layer to the ongoing conflict between McLemore and Hill, marking a troubling chapter within the organization.
