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USE THE OPPORTUNITY
Black Lives Matter-Springfield is heartbroken to learn about the senseless killing of Earl Moore, a 35-year-old resident of Springfield.
We were contacted by the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office and Springfield Police Department and learned that Earl Moore was killed at the hands of two Springfield emergency medical technicians. Three of our board members reviewed footage of the incident and were deeply troubled by what we viewed.
While we know that our justice system is broken and this will not bring true justice to Earl Moore and his family, we support the legal actions currently being taken to hold Peter Cadigan and Peggy Finley accountable for Earl Moore’s death. The Black community faces constant bias and racism in a variety of contexts, including while seeking medical treatment. This is exacerbated for those with co-occurring mental and substance use disorders. Unfortunately, this incident shines a light on how dangerous it can be for the Black community to seek treatment and receive medical care.
We recognize it should not be the responsibility of the local police to provide medical guidance once EMTs have arrived. Still, we are questioning the protocols and approach currently in place that influences police officers to stand by while a member of the Springfield community is treated with such careless and aggressive actions.
Springfield Police Department and law enforcement agencies must use this as an opportunity to critically examine what happened and to implement policies and procedures that enable life-saving actions and behaviors. It is incumbent upon all of us to take action when we can, but those entrusted with community safety have a pivotal role to play in intervening to stop violence. How we treat someone when they are at their most vulnerable says so much about the health of our community. So many things could have been done which could have led to a different outcome.
Black Lives Matter-SPI
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DISMAY AND OUTRAGE
The Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation shares dismay and outrage at the tragic death of Earl L. Moore Jr. resulting from the mistreatment by two emergency medical technicians on Dec. 18. As a faith community that affirms the inherent worth of every person and that Black Lives Matter, we pray that justice will be served in this case, and we extend our most sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Moore.
Gwen Childs, ALUUC president
Rev. Martin Woulfe, minister
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NO EXCUSE
Peggy Finley and Peter Cadigan made no attempt to assess the patient, nor, for that matter, did they bring any equipment into the home with which they could do so (“Emergency workers face murder charges,” Jan. 12). Then, they violated basic protocol by doing exactly as we are trained not to do by positioning a patient face-down. I hope these two abominations get exactly what they deserve.
Patrick Creeden
Via Facebook.com/illinositimes.com
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TOP DOWN
Many do not or choose not to understand the domino effect leadership can have that promotes and condones contempt for those of a different race. We saw it in Springfield on Dec. 14 when yet again, a Black man lost his life. Contempt and disrespect for minorities and women is not just a joke, a passing thought; it becomes weaponized, showing up in neglect, assault and murder. When we support leadership that encourages this contempt, we are party to those crimes.
America took an ugly turn in 2016 when we embraced bigoted rhetoric from our national leadership. Is it depraved indifference or just unwillingness to look at how serious opening that door to hate speech can go? If anyone should be ashamed, it is the ones who invited this wolf into our home and failed to speak out against him. That is where the shame belongs.
Anne Logue
Springfield
This article appears in Healthy, wealthy and wise 2023.
