SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Monday night, the Massey Commission held a listening session for advocates and community members to voice their thoughts on how the Massey Commission could improve. This came on the heels of the Sangamon County Board Democrats' request to the Massey commission to seek another investigation into Sangamon County.
Nearly a month ago, the DOJ released the findings of their investigation and the Memorandum of Agreement organized with Sangamon County. The agreement between the DOJ, the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, the Sangamon County Central Dispatch System, and Sangamon County requires the county entities to take certain steps regarding updating policies and providing training on topics like behavioral health and non-discriminatory policing.
Co-chair JoAnn Johnson shared correspondence between the commission and the county, in a letter authored by State's attorney John Milheiser. He had addressed concerns surrounding the efficacy and implementation of the Memorandum of Agreement set in place by the Department of Justice. Since the DOJ's investigation had been completed just days before President Trump's inauguration, community members questioned how the county would be held accountable for the actions required by the agreement.
"The parties assured us that regardless of what changes may happen in the Department of Justice or in the Civil Rights Division specifically, they will follow through on the agreement that was previously approved," explained Johnson.
Sangamon County resident Breonna Roberts said that local officials and leaders needed to collaborate more with the Massey Commission, including attending their meetings. "To Paula Crouch, to Van Meter, to Misty Buscher. I want to invite you to come and have conversations with us, to sit in the rooms of people who are calling you out and face your criticism, because that is what you signed up to do," Roberts said.
Community members expressed that they felt that the commission and the meeting attendees needed to better represent Sangamon County, by way of demographics. Multiple residents felt as though more people of color should be represented on the Commission, as their lived experience would prove beneficial to their mission of anti-racism.
Sontae Massey, commissioner and cousin to Sonya Massey, expressed that the Massey family wanted more involvement in leadership in the Massey Commission. "If this is going to be a true Massey Commission, then more Masseys and more people that live around the Masseys need to be a part of it need to have more of a say in it."
Multiple residents expressed a need for stronger change and more actionable steps, including Reggie Guyton. "We have to evolve our approach. We have to evolve our conversation, and we have to continually reinforce, reexamine, and regurgitate — or re-communicate — the standards of how we're going to move forward."
Sontae Massey agreed, saying that there was a need for more visible change, but that people needed to show up for their community. "I think it's time to take the gloves off. I think we all need to keep coming to these Massey Commission meetings. I think we all need to come to all of the meetings that we have to, to make change in this town."
On Friday, Sangamon County announced the settlement with the Massey estate for $10 million.
Tuesday, the Sangamon County Board will vote on a resolution approving the $10 million settlement to the Massey estate. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. in the Sangamon South Auditorium on 300 South 9th Street.
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