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WesternCourier.com
Wednesday, February 26, 2020 - Vol. 120 Issue 60
@WesternCourier
McDonough Co. NAACP president working to address racial issues
By Devin Brooks NEWS3 reporter
MCDONOUGH CO., Ill. (NEWS3) — As local leaders work to improve race relations in the area, the local NAACP branch is making efforts to be a main part of moving the community forward. The president of the McDonough County NAACP branch sat down with NEWS3 in an exclusive interview to explain how he’s working to build the divide. “We have some issues,” McDonough County NAACP President Byron Oden-Shabazz said. “I don’t expect it to change overnight, but what I do expect, is
how to bring about that change.” Oden-Shabazz said he is focused on changing how people experience being in the community. “We have no black police officers, no black firemen,” he said. “We have maybe one of two teachers in the school district. We don’t have any representation. Taxation without representation.” He said he’s working with local leaders to help turn around issues people care about. OdenShabazz said officials need to start by diversifying their force, so a number of people are at the table to sort out issues. “We have to start getting officers in there of color,” he said. “We have to get some ranking of-
ficers, so when these things happen, they can look at whoever the chief is and say, yes, but did you consider this.” He said the current climate, where groups are speaking out over allegations of misconduct and mistreatment by police with people of color, is a big concern to him. “As a black person and a proud black man, clearly, when I hear it… I’m like, okay, we need to know what’s happening here,” he said. Oden-Shabazz said the issues the community is facing right now needed to be addressed long ago. “Macomb hadn’t been very good about addressing or show-
ing themselves differently,” he said. He said he’s focused on bringing solutions by building relationships first. Such as having regular talks with Macomb Mayor Mike Inman, Macomb Police Chief Curt Barker and McDonough County Sheriff Nick Petitgout to keep their attention on being a part of the solution to help make people feel welcome and treated fairly. “There has not really been a place where the black community here has gotten together and said, here are the things we want to see changed..now what steps do we need to go about doing that,” he said. “And that’s what I’m looking at establishing with
the NAACP.” Oden-Shabazz said heading up the McDonough Co. NAACP branch is a starting point he’s hoping to build upon to bring people together. He said he’s planning events to help bring different groups together for discussion about race relations. “Out of love and responsibility, I would much rather resolve these issues,” he said. “These are fixable things.” Oden-Shabazz said he encourages anyone to reach out and sit down with him to talk about issues in the community.
NAACP
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Winter weather causes accidents, cancellations around Macomb By Devon Greene editor-in-chief
After a weekend where temperatures hit the low 50s, snow came back with a vengence on Sunday night and Monday morning. Illinois State Police responded to two seperate accidents on US 136 on Monday morning and shared photos on Facebook, warning drivers to take extra precautions when driving traveling anywhere. “Roads are beginning to get slick. Slow down and lights on! Be safe!” one post read. Another post warned drivers to slow down, keep their lights on, move over and turn cruise control off when driving in the slick,
snowy condiditons. As for events cancelled around Macomb, Western Illinois University's Student Government Assosiation was scheduled to meet on Tuesday at 7:15 p.m. and the meeting was called off due to forecasted snow. The Student Government Association was scheduled to vote on a student fee increase that will affect incoming students. The proposed student fees increase will include a $1.98 increase. The funds will go toward GoWest buses, technology fees and facilities fees. Students currently enrolled at WIU will not be impacted by the changes.
A vehicle drifted off of the road on US 136.
Sports on Page 6: Women's basketball fights for playoff seeding.
COURTESY OF ILLINOIS STATE POLICE
Opinions on Page 4: The impact of Mother Nature has on us.