During the Peoria Park District Board meeting on Oct. 2, a blatantly false equivalency was made between the NAACP use of park district facilities and the Trump Train Patriot Rally held on Sept. 29 beginning in Detweiller Park.

While it’s true the NAACP is political, we are nonpartisan, and we are certainly not a political party. We don’t fundraise or endorse any candidates for any office at any time.

The Peoria Park District claims to be a community partner, but Executive Director Cahill and President Johnson implied that providing the stage for the NAACP during our inaugural Ernestine Jackson Freedom Day parade was a political event. It wasn’t a political event. It was a community event with many other community partners including the Peoria Park District coming together.

Juneteenth has been declared a federal holiday, as you know we were celebrating Juneteenth before it became one. It is a celebration of Black Culture and a remembrance of our ancestors who were told — 2 1/2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed — that they were free.

Former Trustee Jackie Petty, Ms. Sherry Carter-Allen, the late Mr. Al Hooks, and us have worked with the Peoria Park District on several issues regarding minority procurement. Ms. Carter-Allen and I serve voluntarily on its DEIA committee. You can only imagine our disgust with those comments. This false equivalency could damage not only our local branch but also our national association.

We demand a signed letter of apology from Executive Director Cahill, President Johnson, and the Board of trustees. We demand it be read publicly during your next Board meeting since the equivocation was made publicly at this past meeting.
The NAACP Peoria Branch, YANI Collective Juneteenth Committee demands the Peoria Park District place both our letter and your signed letter of apology in your permanent files.
At the end of the day, when
it comes to politics, there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies, only permanent interests.
— Pastor Marvin D. Allen, president NAACP Peoria;
Dr. Gregory Wilson,
YANI Collective
Juneteenth Committee