As a community we have been shaken by witnessing violence committed against children for more than 16 months in the ongoing genocide of Palestinians. We were once again shaken by the murder of yet another child due to senseless violence in Urbana.
CU Muslim Action Committee (CU MAC) firmly believes children should never be a target of violence and should be protected at all costs. CU MAC also recognizes that our communities are in need of so much more than police protection. It is time to invest in our communities’ health, in our communities’ wellness, in our communities’ infrastructure and economic opportunities.
We found great comfort in Dr. Stephanie Cockrell’s message to the community:
“What we have called for, time and time again, is not a dismissal of the problem but a demand for holistic solutions that address the root causes of crime and violence. We have urged investment in healing, mental health services, economic empowerment, housing security and support systems that restore families rather than over-policing and criminalizing those already suffering under systemic oppression. […]Yes, we must act. But real action requires investment in healing, prevention and community-led solutions. Public safety is not about surveillance and punishment — it is about restoring our people, our families and our communities.”
We hope this tragedy is an opportunity for us to come together as a community and encourage all CU MAC members and CU MAC friends to attend the march in honor of Darnell “DJ” Wicks this Saturday, February 13 at 12 noon in Douglass Park.