Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The leader of Black Lives Matter Springfield says there is some progress … but still a long way to go for race relations in Springfield. Sunshine Clemons told the city council this week she was glad to see a “transparency portal” on the Springfield police web site – but something’s wrong. Clemons said a space to indicate one’s race is in the “gunshots” tab but no other, particularly “traffic stops,” a major concern in the Black community. Clemons asked that the page be updated, preferably for the race question to be for all categories, or for none.
Clemons also pointed to how the city has treated Tierra Lee, a woman whose family’s home has been uninhabitable for more than a year because of a sewer backup caused by a city contractor. “For a constituent to be out of their home for almost a year and a half and be spoken to and treated the way she was by the very people who should be taking responsibility for the situation, I find disgusting,” said Clemons. “The attitude, demeanor, and attempts to end her public comment I see as an indication of your lack of care and concern for the community that you serve. While not surprising, it is appalling, and I ask that you please make more of an effort to lead with empathy.”
Lee first addressed the council at its committee of the whole meeting Aug. 11. The presiding alderman, Brad Carlson, attempted to enforce the council’s five-minute limit on public commenters.
