Rockford Sun

The editorial board at the Rockford Register Star recently penned an opinion piece calling for cooperation and communication among community members in discussing issues surrounding policing and the treatment of people of all ethnicities.

According to the editorial board, a four-step plan from Mayor Tom McNamara is a good starting point.

While systemic racism and police violence are not issues that will be dealt with quickly, the board stated that things need to begin somewhere. They also noted that McNamara stating that his action items were “initial steps” showed a willingness to continue the discussion.

McNamara’s items included signing a pledge, seeking information on body cameras and seeking input from the Rockford Community Relations Commission, as well as scheduling “listening sessions.”

While the editorial board acknowledged some could see listening sessions as trite, they said that while people have talked a lot, there actually hasn’t been much listening going on.

Additionally, while the discussion has centered on police violence, the board said that there needs to be a broader discussion touching on problems such as education, lack of job opportunities and lack of adequate housing.