Saturday, July 11, 11:00am
information provided by the NAACP Chicago Far-South Suburban Branch
LANSING, Ill. (July 7, 2020) – In support of Thornton Fractional District 215 Board of Education’s June 12, 2020, Statement of Solidarity, the NAACP Chicago Far-South Suburban Branch has organized a prayer vigil calling for racial equity in School District 215.
The vigil will begin at 11:00am on Saturday, July 11, in the District 215 Administrative Center Parking Lot, 18601 Torrence Avenue, Lansing, Illinois. Attendees are welcome to participate from inside or outside their vehicles. Social distancing and face coverings are encouraged.
A statement provided by the organizers includes the following background:
“The unprovoked murders of George Floyd and countless others has reminded the world that devaluing the lives of people of color in America continues today. Research shows that 66 years after Brown vs The Board of Education, schools in this country are again segregated. We applaud the many students, teachers, staff, administrators, and community members whose actions have shown their commitment to eliminating racial inequity in District 215. We understand that eliminating racial inequity must begin with education.
“School District 215 serves the communities of Burnham, Calumet City, Lansing, and Lynwood where
approximately 90% of the students served are people of color. We recognize the school board has the authority to remove the knees off the necks of the students, teachers, staff, administrators, and community members of color beginning with adopting a resolution that aligns with the Illinois State Board of Education’s resolution affirming its commitment to eliminate racial injustice adopted June 17, 2020. The State Resolution: ‘Encourages all Illinois public school boards to join with us in a commitment to critically examine and address policies and practices with a racial equity lens, eliminate racial injustice, and, as an important message to their communities, adopt and publicly post resolutions affirming that commitment to action.’”
About the NAACP-CFSSB
NAACP Chicago Far-South Suburban Branch (NAACP-CFSSB) is a unit of the NAACP, the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization. Receiving its charter in May of 1979, the NAACP-CFSSB has focused on fighting for civil rights and social justice in the areas of economics, education, environment, government, health, and justice in the South Suburban communities.
