Some changes for city to consider
Dear Naperville City Council members:
As I begin to write this, we are 22 minutes from a mandatory curfew ... a mandatory curfew in Naperville. It's almost unthinkable to write, but we have clearly arrived at a critical juncture in history. I implore you to use your offices to do good and make positive change possible. Please consider:
1. A formal statement making plain that you recognize the need to be better and will review policing policies to identify racist practices that you will then fix. Make plane that you hear the voices of suffering and are willing to do something about it.
2. Gather data and share it honestly and openly with the community. Be radically open to criticism and criticize ourselves radically.
3. Listen. Schedule events to hear what it means to be a black resident or visitor to Naperville ... then honestly listen.
4. Engage other civic leaders from institutions of faith and nonprofits to speak with one voice for a better tomorrow.
5. Plan events to make Naperville residents aware of the challenges of being black in America. A citywide reading of black authors for adults and kids. Guest speakers hosted by North Central and open to the public. Films. We can never truly understand, but show us how we can try and help facilitate those efforts.
Think about that mural of white faces downtown and figure out how you can help them be allies in the fight for a more just world.
Nine minutes to curfew. I hope you all are safe and well.
Robert M. Sargis
Naperville