“Accountability, without systemic transformation, is not justice,” the Massey Commission writes in its elegant “Response to the Grayson Verdict,” posted on the commission’s page on Sangamon County’s website (sangamonil.gov). The Oct. 29 verdict brings a “breath of hope” and a “whisper of justice,” the statement reads. “We are called now to listen to the pain that persists beyond the courtroom. … And to act with courage, determination and imagination so that every person who calls for help is met with dignity, humanity, and respect. …” For the past year, the Commission has painstakingly gathered information about needed reforms, and much of that background has already been posted. The Commission’s final report is to be published on the webpage by Dec. 1. The recommendations regarding the dangerous intersection of mental illness, race and law enforcement will be critical to the project’s credibility. “The work of justice is long,” the Commission writes, and it will take Sangamon citizens working together to implement reforms, “building a community worthy of Sonya’s memory.” – Fletcher Farrar, editor
This article appears in November 27-December 3, 2025.
