Promise Zone

Becoming the Model for Change

I spoke to the Wall Street Journal about what is happening in Ferguson right now and what it means to our community’s healing process. I am grieved by the senseless act of violence and extend my thoughts and prayers to the two police officers who are recovering from being shot while protecting our community and upholding the first amendment rights of peaceful protesters.

I know I am joined by the St. Louis community when I say, we believe violence does not encourage healing in our city. It does not address issues of equality, justice and discrimination, but detracts from the opportunity for real change.

Click here to see my entire interview with WSJ.

Right now, St. Louis has an obligation to be a model of reform for the nation. And in spite of this violent setback, we are seeing progress.

We are seeing municipal court reform moving forward very quickly. We are seeing major companies make big jobs announcements in Ferguson. And we are seeing dialogue begin to take place about opportunity gaps, education, justice, and race.

It’s time to abandon the descending spiral of violence, and move forward in creating a new national standard of inclusion and meaningful reform.

“The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy, instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.