Demonstrators Call for Dropped Murder Charges Against Chicago Woman

Protesters say Keshia Golden acted in self-defense when she killed her abusive boyfriend.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 10:07pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a broken kitchen knife against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the physical evidence in a case of alleged domestic violence.A broken kitchen knife, the sole physical evidence in a case that exposes the complexities of domestic violence and the need for justice reform.Chicago Today

A group of demonstrators gathered at Daley Plaza in Chicago to call for the murder charges against Keshia Golden to be dropped. Golden is accused of killing her boyfriend, Calvin Sidney, in 2022 after he allegedly slammed her head into a counter while she was pregnant. Protesters, including representatives from the Women's Justice Institute, argue that Golden was acting in self-defense against an abusive partner and should not be prosecuted.

Why it matters

This case highlights the complex issues surrounding domestic violence and the challenges victims face when trying to protect themselves. Advocates argue that Golden should not be punished for defending herself and her unborn child against an abusive partner, raising questions about how the justice system handles cases of intimate partner violence.

The details

Keshia Golden is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday for the 2022 killing of her boyfriend, Calvin Sidney. Protesters gathered at Daley Plaza on Monday to call for the murder charges against Golden to be dropped, arguing that she acted in self-defense. Dyanna Winchester of the Women's Justice Institute said Golden "sought help" and "followed every step that society tells victims to take and was still left unprotected." Golden's attorney, Julie Koehler, said "prosecuting a woman who is protecting herself and her unborn child from a man who is abusing her is a complete waste of County time and resources." The Cook County State's Attorney's Office previously offered Golden a plea deal to a reduced charge of second-degree murder with no additional time served, but she rejected the offer.

  • Keshia Golden is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.
  • Keshia Golden allegedly killed her boyfriend, Calvin Sidney, in 2022.

The players

Keshia Golden

A Chicago woman charged with murdering her boyfriend, Calvin Sidney, in 2022. Advocates argue she acted in self-defense against an abusive partner.

Calvin Sidney

Keshia Golden's boyfriend, whom she is accused of killing in 2022 after he allegedly slammed her head into a counter while she was pregnant.

Dyanna Winchester

A representative from the Women's Justice Institute who spoke at the Daley Plaza demonstration in support of Keshia Golden.

Julie Koehler

Keshia Golden's attorney, who argued that prosecuting her is a "waste of County time and resources."

Cook County State's Attorney's Office

The prosecutor's office that previously offered Keshia Golden a plea deal to a reduced charge, which she rejected.

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What they’re saying

“You could not protect her then, but you can choose to punish her now. What is justice if it is ignored? What is accountability if only applied to the moment of crisis and not the pattern that led to it? Keshia Golden is not just a defendant, she is a woman who lived in fear, who sought help, who followed every step that society tells victims to take and was still left unprotected.”

— Dyanna Winchester, Women's Justice Institute

“Prosecuting a woman who is protecting herself and her unborn child from a man who is abusing her is a complete waste of County time and resources.”

— Julie Koehler, Keshia Golden's attorney

What’s next

The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the murder charges against Keshia Golden to proceed or to drop them.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges victims of domestic violence face when trying to protect themselves, and the need for the justice system to better account for the patterns of abuse that lead to such tragic situations. Advocates argue that prosecuting Golden will only further victimize her and fail to address the root causes of intimate partner violence.