Editorial Page

Editorial | The War: Black Genocide in the Black Community

S.A. Shepler (c) 2019 Community Word

“Is genocide taking place in the Black community? Are African American males unconsciously committing genocide against themselves and their communities?” Those questions were posed by Agbara Bryson at a recent forum hosted by Bryson’s New Millennium Institute. The answers to…

OpEd | Support HR 2407: Stop Abuse of Palestinian Children

BY DR. JOHN NIXON Some of our politicians, especially some Democratic primary candidates, express horror and anger at our current policy of separation and detention of children along our southern border but seem to embrace similar policies of the Israeli…

Editorial | Terminate the flawed Hyde Amendment

S.A. Shepler (c) 2019 Community Word

Thankfully, most Democratic candidates for the presidency are calling for the abolition of the Hyde Amendment. The amendment was passed in 1976 shortly after Roe v. Wade established the legal right to abortion. Hyde restricts federal funds from being used…

Letter to the Editor | Abortion access problem-solving

The sudden closing of the Whole Woman’s Health clinic in Peoria is a loss for the community and a loss for Illinois. We know this is undoubtedly resulting in many women feeling they are without access to abortion services. My…

OpEd | Gaza: Don’t Blame the Victims

BY DR. JOHN NIXON Israeli narratives and talking points concerning multiple assaults on Gaza are designed to obscure the context of a brutal occupation and blockade and to marginalize the Palestinians as extremist and irrational. Typical explanations given by Israel…

Editorial | Vaccinations and the Anti-Vaxxers

S.A. Shepler (c) 2019 Community Word

“Vaccine refusal is like a big pile of tinder waiting for a lightning strike.” Dispute resolution is foundational to civil society. Whether that means speed limits on the roads, individual gun rights or mandatory vaccinations –– individual versus societal rights…

Letter to the Editor | My abortion story

Growing up in Peoria in the 1970s, nearly every Black girl I knew at Manual was pregnant. Somehow the White girls in my college track courses were not; well that is another story. My high school counselor offered to give…

OpEd | Clean energy can’t wait

BY JOYCE BLUMENSHINE The Clean Energy Jobs Act needs your support. This state legislation will likely come back to the Illinois House and Senate this fall and is essential for efforts to expand solar and wind energy and new jobs.…