Neighbors & Stakeholders;
Tonight is the Police board meeting at
3510 S. Michigan - 7:30pm in the multi purpose room. Citizens from Greater Grand
Crossing South Shore and Woodlawn (Even Chatham) will be present to voice
disapproval of the removal of Commander Glen Evans.
Without going into a dissertation I will say that Commander Evans was in
the midst of having great success, as Commander the 003rd District, in leading
it away from the violence and chaos it had drifted to in recent years. Most
importantly he was getting it's officers in line, which was a tremendous benefit
for the citizens who live here. I cannot express how deeply police service with
be damaged by Cmdr Evans leaving at this time. He was just solidifying the
relationships necessary for meaningful change in crime fighting. We should all
be fired up and ready to speak out on this.
Trusted leadership from the community tell me that the reason for the
commander's removal was due to a run in with one of these Pastors who wield
disproportionate political power because city hall doesn't know
how to establish proper connections with the African American community yet.
These types of pastors have large congregations, 90% or more of whom don't live
in the neighborhood. Inept politicians take these Pastors as legitimate
"community leaders" (they are not) and essentially give them power over the
geographic regions around their churches. The result is dreadful
miscalculation!
That appears to be what happened here - a long needed police commander
arrives on the scene in a neighborhood needing his leadership, he steps on the
toes of a minister who wields improper (Chicago styled) political power and the
community loses a hard fought, long sought opportunity to beat back crime &
violence. This is one of the major reasons for the separation of church and
state! This is what stinks about Chicago! It is why the Grassroots must rise and
take it's proper position in city affairs.
Tonight I call on all leaders in the community who support Cmdr
Evans and go to the Police board meeting and voice your displeasure with
this nonsense! The strategy proposed by other community leaders, is for each
group to have their own spokesman, less they lump everyone together and call on
one "spokesman" for the whole mass. They need to hear that we are suffering from
the chaos and need the strong leadership of Commander Evans. Also the revolving
door of 3rd district commanders must end! We need stability here!
It's time for local leadership. Make sure your elected folks are going.
Make sure YOU are there for critical mass. It's SHOWTIME!
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