PEORIA, Ill. – Peoria Mayor Rita Ali says the city is continuing to do what it can in order to keep Doctor Martin Luther King, Junior’s legacy — and dream — alive.
“I think the city is on the right path in making equity a priority in terms of addressing barriers to individuals, making sure we’re a more just community,” said Ali.
Ali says that also means making sure the city is removing what she calls injustices within practices, policies, and procedures. She says that’s just what hew new Racial Justice and Equity Commission will also do.
Some, including the mother of Trayvon Martin, are continuing the call for fixing what they say are injustices at the hands of police as a way of keeping Doctor Martin Luther King’s dream alive.
Peoria Police Chief Eric Echevarria says, he hears them.
“We need to have a balance, obviously, of enforcement and restorative measures,” Echevarria. “If we go one way completely, it’s not going to work. If we go completely another way, it may not work as well. But, we need to have to find that proper balance. We need to have those restorative measures in place.”
Echevarria says reaching juveniles and helping them learn from their mistakes is key, but also key is taking adult re-offenders and making sure the penalties they face are as stiff as can be.
He also says he, like others, thinks of “service” when he thinks of Doctor King.
