School Board candidate General Parker summoned to the State's Attorney Office

UPDATED: See Lyon's Complaint and General's Response

I must admit, I was disappointed to hear that the State's Attorney has summoned General Parker to his office. Some of the problem in the black community is that after folks do their time, they are often the first to be "pulled over and/or in" when they are just walking down the street. This thing with General and Kevin Lyons reminds me of that exact same type of relationship - only General is not committing crimes or being pulled over by the police - he is being pulled in by the State's Attorney for attempting to having a voice in his community. I don't know, but somehow this does not seem to be fair.

The Press Release below is from General Parker, a candidate for the second district BOE seat that is currently held by Debbie Wolfmeyer. Parker, frustrated by the prospect that he has turned his life around, but feels that the powers that be, won't let him move forward and he questions their motives...

Peoria County States Attorney Playing Plantation Politics

PEORIA, Ill. – With the April 5 election just six weeks away, voters are being left in the dark about the political backdoor dealings that are manipulating County Board races to help the status quo remain in power.

2nd District candidate, General Parker, a previous mayoral candidate, has been summoned by the Peoria County State’s Attorney office to appear in courtroom 203 of the Peoria County Courthouse to answer a complaint seeking and injunction to bar him from not only holding office for school board but to keep him from being on the ballot also.

Why? Because rumor has it the Democratic Leadership wants to teach Parker a lesson that no one runs, especially a black man, without their approval. “You know, I can understand if they choose not to support me like they didn’t for mayor, but to actually do things to harm me is beyond comprehension” Parker said. I am really hurt if Dave (Senator Koehler) has any part in this. He’s like a father to me even calls me his Godson and vice-versa.

Kevin Lyons seems to have different rules for different people in this town. He seemed to want to give Mayor Ardis a pass for something he was quoted in the paper as saying was a “felony if committed by an elected official. “Me, I guess I’m not light enough for his liking” quips Parker.

What’s hard to understand is are the organizations that supposedly stand up for a person’s rights? Do we just stand back and allow Lyons to misuse this office and the taxpayer’s money. Shouldn’t Parker be allowed face the will of the people and not Kevin Lyons? Shouldn’t the office of the State’s Attorney use its resources as a shield for the people by prosecuting active crimes and criminals and not be allowed to be used a weapon for personal vendettas against minorities or those who don’t support you politically? That’s the question that will be answered today in Courtroom 203 of the Peoria County Courthouse, located at 323 main St., Peoria, IL 61602.

Dan Fishel, mayor of Brimfield, IL had a felony conviction and held that office for eight years until a complaint was made and he gave it up and sought a pardon by Blagojevich and was able to run again for mayor of Brimfield again uncontested in 2009. Kevin Lyons office allowed him to hold office for eight years without saying a word even though there was a statute that prevents him from holding municipal office. There seems to be no such requirement for school board.

Parker is an activist and was recently leading a rally in the State Capitol on February 10, 2011 in support of the Steven Watkins’ Bill. This bill increases the penalty for visitation interference for custodial parents attempting alienate their children from the non-custodial parents. Being an activist, Parker has called out Lyons on unfair practices in prosecutions of cases and his disparities in applying the death penalty and charging minority youth as adults.

Related article: Parker — a convicted felon — has week to withdraw from mayoral race

Lyons' Complaint (click thumbnails to view document)














General's Response (click thumbnail to view document)

Two file petitions for 2011 BOE vacancies

Pjstar first in print is reporting that General Parker, former candidate for Mayor, has filed his petition to be placed on the April 2011 ballot for BOE. Apparently, Parker has an outstanding civil fine, which was imposed by the State Board of Elections after he failed to file documents related to his run for Mayor. The $1,200 fine can be nullified after two years if not paid. But during that time, it could prevent Parker from appearing on the ballot.

The pjstar also took advantage of the opportunity to raise again the fact that Parker has some criminal infractions from his youth on his record. The pjstar writer speculates about the Illinois Election Code noting that any person convicted of an "infamous crime" shall be "prohibited from holding any office of honor, trust, or profit, unless such person is again restored to such rights by the terms of a pardon for the offense or otherwise according to the law."

The deadline to file petitions is December 20th. There are two vacancies coming open and so far only Parker and Mike Mitchell have filed petitions. Debbie Wolfmeyer, the current BOE President is still gathering signatures; and Jim Stowell has said that he does not plan on running.

Urban legend - the #150 Marauders

It’s interesting how getting information on District 150 school fights is almost like running down an urban legend.

About one week ago, I was exiting off of 74 at lower Knoxville Avenue. As we approached Glen Oak we heard and saw an un-marked Police car with siren blaring and lights flashing, zoom by. As it was just around the time school was letting out, we assumed they were headed to Peoria High School.

We saw the car turn off Knoxville onto Richmond, we drove slowly across Richmond, rubber necked down the street and didn’t see anything. We proceeded up Knoxville past the old Cub Foods, and we didn’t see anything there either. What is odd, is that I have been hearing people say that large fights took place that afternoon on Richmond and at the Old Cub Foods and pepper balls were dispersed.

I am having a hard time believing that with a Chief of Security as capable as Officer Collins that District 150 is letting their students maraud entire neighborhoods and Officer Collins wouldn’t have anything to say. If pepper balls were dispersed in the area of the school, with students present, he would have given a report on this – right?

I spoke earlier of Officer Collins neither confirming nor denying the reports of violence at last night's meeting. However, I am thinking that perhaps Officer Collins was at the meeting last night for the same reason I was, to see if parents would come forward with more information about the violence.

If children are being beat up and/or hassled on their way to and from school, why didn’t the parents of those children come to the BOE with their complaints? If neighborhoods around Peoria High School are being marauded, why didn’t the neighborhood come to the BOE with their complaints?

General Parker is the President of the Heart of Peoria Neighborhood Association. He and his wife, BOE Member, Rachael Parker live in the area of Peoria High School and are very active in the neighborhood. They both were at the BOE meeting and neither one of them spoke of receiving complaints from neighbors. As a matter of fact, if you go to the Heart of Peoria Neighborhood Association webpage, you will see the photo to the left, along with contact information.

I am bothered to hear people speaking of children with such disdain and I can’t help but wonder if some of the complaints of large groups of scary children are racially motivated. I also don’t like the component of people who didn't want Woodruff to close, implying that people from Peoria High are the problem. As I recall, Woodruff High School had fights and discipline issues just like Peoria High School, Manual and Richwoods. The propensity to fight appears to be District wide.

It was also very troubling for me to view Carl Cannon’s fashion police video. The uneasiness was heightened, when I saw my nephew in Mr. Cannon’s video being pulled to the side. My nephew is a good kid and he does not need the ELITE team to tell him how to behave or dress. He is a kid who is well taken care of; with a father who is gainfully employed and he does not wear baggy clothing to school. He was stopped by Mr. Cannon, at Manual, for wearing Birkenstocks. He was held up for .25 minutes, while Mr. Cannon continued to pull other children over and then he looked at him and said “oh yeah, you can go”. He was humiliated and it made me sad to hear that in his voice. He won't be happy about the fact that he is in a District 150 video, appearing to be disciplined.

Many clapped at the video presentation Mr. Cannon put on. I couldn’t, because it bothered me to see groups of children rounded up that way. It’s all just a little to close to racial profiling for me to cheer on the process. Oh well, I guess if it’s working, that’s more important than the humility of our young people.

One Million Fathers Asked to Lead the Nation Back to School this Fall

An estimated 650 cities could participate in the largest, organized back-to-school effort in U.S. history.

On Sunday, August 29, 2010, Illinois Fathers along with affiliate Black Star Project USA are sponsoring the Million Father March 2010 for the first-day-of-school in nearly 500 cities across America.

Peoria will hold their march at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 29, 2010 and leave from three different launch sites. Marchers will leave from Woodruff High School’s parking lot, Central High School's Parking lot and City of Refuge. They will march to Liberty Park where a short rally will be held and a call out will be made to fathers to accompany their children on the first day of school. We are asking that at least 1,000 fathers participate from Peoria.

Past. Spencer Gibson and Carl Cannon will speak on the importance of fathers involvement in their children’s education and the integrity singers will perform. Light refreshments will be served.

Participants in the event include fathers, grandfathers, foster fathers, stepfathers, uncles, cousins, big brothers, significant male caregivers and friends of the family. Although this event is created by Black men, women and men of all ethnicities are also encouraged to take their children to school on their first day.

Businesses are asked to give fathers and men two hours off that morning (with pay) to take their children to school. Participating men will also be encouraged to volunteer at schools throughout the year.

The 2010 Million Father March is sponsored in part by Peoria School District #150, The Black Star Project, Heart of Peoria Neighborhood Association and Illinois Fathers. You may also email general.parker@illinoisfathers.org or call (309) 696-7930 for more information.

Information submitted by General Parker