Apologies for the confusion on the dates for the rallies. I received several e-mails with update information and got the information crossed...
There was a community Speak Out rally scheduled for Saturday August 13th at Wisconsin & Frye Streets in Peoria. That location has been changed to the Behrends Street location of the most recent murder of our fellow 8 year old citizen. The time will remain the same at 4:30 PM. We will combine the prayer vigil with the community rally at this particular location.
All other rally locations and times will remain the same.
2- Saturday August 13th ~ Behrends Street 4:30 PM - TODAY!
2- Saturday August 13th ~ Behrends Street 4:30 PM - TODAY!
3- Friday August 19th ~ Village Green 5:30 PM
4- Saturday August 20th ~ Harrison Homes 4:30 PM
We will also be generating support for another Peoria Gun Exchange in effort to support efforts in addressing the gun violence that has taken a hold of our community. Thank you for your help in spreading the word as we are moving as swiftly as possible to address many issues.
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4- Saturday August 20th ~ Harrison Homes 4:30 PM
We will also be generating support for another Peoria Gun Exchange in effort to support efforts in addressing the gun violence that has taken a hold of our community. Thank you for your help in spreading the word as we are moving as swiftly as possible to address many issues.
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Description We are rallying against crime and violence promoting neighborhood awareness, and citizen involvement in making our community a safer and better place to live and reside.
Goal The goal of the initial and subsequent rallies, is for Peoria citizens to speak openly and clearly regarding crime and violence within Peoria in general and more specifically within their neighborhoods or residence.
These public forums will be designed to foster citizen participation in forging, building and creating relationships at a grass roots level in an effort to build a sustained resistance against crime, violence and other social ills from which our community has suffered and continues to suffer.
Who is Responsible For This & Future Events? Pastor Harvey Burnett, the New Bethel COGIC, The Peoria Association of Pastors, The Peoria Study Group Nation of Islam & other Peoria citizens and community groups.
Goal The goal of the initial and subsequent rallies, is for Peoria citizens to speak openly and clearly regarding crime and violence within Peoria in general and more specifically within their neighborhoods or residence.
These public forums will be designed to foster citizen participation in forging, building and creating relationships at a grass roots level in an effort to build a sustained resistance against crime, violence and other social ills from which our community has suffered and continues to suffer.
Who is Responsible For This & Future Events? Pastor Harvey Burnett, the New Bethel COGIC, The Peoria Association of Pastors, The Peoria Study Group Nation of Islam & other Peoria citizens and community groups.
19 comments:
Great! Looking forward to it. They have my support. Lets hope everyone comes out to at lease one of the rallies.
So there is one tonight and then again tomorrow--both at the Behrends address? Thanks for clarifying.
Gee. Another rally. It's too late for that 8 year old child.
Randy...What else should we be doing? We are all frustrated and are doing the best we can. I just wonder what your vision of society would be. Police on every corner?
A couple of policemen assigned to a district only has 2 sets of eyes. A neighborhood area that is has 15 homes full of residents has at least 15 sets of eyes.
Those eyes can be a gangbanger or drug dealer's worst enemy, even in wee hours of the morning.
Just found out about the rally at 4:30 pm; at 3 pm, I tried getting video shots of the memorial, chalk marks on ground, but family happened to pull up, asked me to leave. Neighbor said this was 1st time they had been back home since it happened, and had been hounded by other media, so I understood and left. I'll get those video shots later. Deep sympathies to the family.
How about holding the rally's outside the homes of each city council person's residence, who voted to cut the police department. Demand change.
Mahkno, that's a pretty good idea!
I think one of the hardest things about this for me is the feeling of complete helplessness.
Great idea, Mahkno. I'd go...and take my kids. This isn't a 'Peoria' issue. This is a community issue.
Great idea, Mahkno. I'd go...and take my kids. This isn't a 'Peoria' issue. This is a community issue.
I am all for changing these tragedys, but, the rallies have been done before, many times with the same results. Nothing. "if you keep doing what you have been doing, and expect a different result....". I think it is pretty safe to say, our local officals can't or won't do anything. Seems like the police can't or won't do anything. So what is the answer? I have often said, and usually get "flack" for saying it. But, the problem starts with the fact that the people doing the shootings, have guns, and are willing to use them. So how do we fix this? Well, that my friends is the problem, and the "devil is in the details". The people who are doing the shootings obviously have no adult's teaching them right from wrong. Notice, I did not say parents, because there may not be any parent(s). Having worked at 150 for years, I know that a lot of times when a child got into trouble and the office tried to call the parent/guardian there was no current phone or address. These young people idolize the "gangsta" lifestyle. Why wouldn't they. It can be a quick way to money and power. Unfortunately, "those who live by the sword, die by the sword". It would take the whole community to come together to make a difference. Sadly I know too many people who look at this as a "black problem" and say "let them kill each other". I wonder if thy could look the 8yr old's family in the eyes and say that. We need to help this community see a better way. I have seen a former gang banger get strait and talk to a group of High schooler's and captivate them. He told them, what he did, where it led, and where he was going now. I actually cried. I knew this young man before the conversion. So, there is no easy answers, no quick fix. A good place to start is by knowing what doesn't work. Ignoring it doesn't work, complaining about it doesn't work. Rallies, are a feel good temporary fix. But, we have to find some way to reach the ones doing the shootings.
Well said Anonymous. Thank you.
I, also, agree. Most of all, if we all keep speaking out with a positive message, maybe those who speak only with hate will find themselves in the minority--one can only hope.
As I've said over and over, appropriate consequences can be meted out to kids at school and on the street while, at the same time, letting the kids know that those at school and those in the city do care about them and do want them to turn their lives around.
Kids and/or adults, however, who kill 8-year-olds have gone over the line and need to be dealt with appropriately by the court system. We should never lose our compassion but our compassion does not mean that there should be no consequences for wrongdoing.
My rule of thumb--I just don't need to hate or use hate speech in order to disagree.
Somewhere in Peoria, Peoria's own poor man's Jesse Jackson, Don Jackson continues to do NOTHING.
Yes, it does take a community to make changes. Since the majority of these shootings are in the black community, why aren't more of your connected black community members out there rallying them? I see on the news that the Black Chamber of Commerce had a lovely luncheon to discuss jobs for the black community. Why don't they first start with education and parenting skills?
Come off of it, Anonymous--in the meantime, lots of white folks and even the Peoriaarea Chamber had lots of nice lunches and meetings, etc. Peoria Chamber probably talked about jobs, too. Have you ever known any bad white parents--gosh, I have. Bad or good parenting skills have nothing to do with skin color. I don't always agree with Don Jackson, but he and Earnestine did exactly what you are suggesting--he practiced good parenting skills. You have never read the names of the Jackson children connected to crime, gangs, etc. Same goes for his grandchildren.
Can you name any Peoria young people who have been "saved" from the justice system by Don Jackson? Yes, he warns about injustice but I don't know that we can supply any specifics about his preventing justice from occurring.
Remember that white lawyers defend white people accused of crimes--that doesn't mean they condone crime. It just means that all people are allowed a fair defense. Don Jackson is no different.
When meth labs are found in white homes with children...when white men are found guilty of sex offenses...when white women kill their children because of a medical or mental condition...
Where is the outcry then? Where are the white leaders on these crimes?
It is easier to be proactive to prevent youth from making bad choices. Asking leaders to be reactive will not reverse the crime. You expect Don Jackson to the suspect (once we know the identity) and ask him why he fired the gun?
There are many programs out there there to help young people and parents make good choices. Head Start's Fatherhood Initiative; NAACP's Youth & Education programs;
Carl Cannon's ELITE; ICC's Harvesting Dreams, among others.
For every person out there that makes bad choices, there are 5-6 making good choices in life. You don't always hear about it because bad news always lead the TV news or the front page, because bad news sells.
If more people gravitated toward good news, without ignoring the bad, maybe that will help motivate more to make good choices.
Wow Sharon. You preached that better than some of the Sunday sermons I have been to. Amen sister, Amen.
Thanks, Plain4Keeps, that's where I do get my marching orders about how to treat others--from the Bible, from whence comes all good sermons and the Good News! (PS, I fail often).
If anyone wants to read a really good book on the subject, I highly recommend "God Behaving Badly" by David Lamb. Don't let the title deceive you--that opposite is the premise of the book.
I will take you up on that thank you. It is always great to have a fresh alternatives to get away from the daily chaos.
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