KIRKWOOD, MO (KTVI - FOX2now.com) -
A Meacham Park community panel rejects an agreement designed to help improve race relations in Kirkwood. The panel wants the deal to be thrown out, calling it an atrocity of justice. The Meacham Park Neighborhood Improvement Association hosted a meeting at Turner School Monday night. They brought in the panel and handed out copies of the agreement.
The controversial agreement was mediated by the Justice Department and was recently announced after more than a year of meetings between city officials and community members. Supporters say the agreement is a step forward in race relations in Kirkwood. But the Association was critical of it. They pointed out many complaints from Meacham Park residents reported to the Justice Department never mentioned in the report.
Charles Rummels, a longtime Meacham Park resident, had dinner with Charles "Cookie" Thornton just hours before Thornton went on the shooting rampage at city hall in February of 2008. The tragedy ultimately left seven people dead including Thornton. Rummels says Thornton made no mention of what he was about to do.
Rummels is heading up the community panel and was very critical of the agreement.
"What I read in this mediation agreement has absolutely no relevance for repairing racism in this community of Meacham park- no chance for healing, it just has nothing to do with this community," explained Rummels.
Kirkwood mayor Art McDonnell says that while the agreement might not be perfect, it is a starting point to improving race relations in the city. He points to several aspects including one where the police department will do more thorough evaluations to make sure officers are not discriminating against anyone.
"I think we produced something that's a good document and a good working initiative for the community and for improving a situation that might be perceived as a bad one in the community. But we really found that we have a wonderful community," said McDonnell.
The coalition in Meacham Park says it is going to take its concerns to city hall. A city wide town hall meeting on the agreement is set to take place on February 10th where residents will be able to ask questions about the agreement to the city officials and community members who helped to craft it.
The controversial agreement was mediated by the Justice Department and was recently announced after more than a year of meetings between city officials and community members. Supporters say the agreement is a step forward in race relations in Kirkwood. But the Association was critical of it. They pointed out many complaints from Meacham Park residents reported to the Justice Department never mentioned in the report.
Charles Rummels, a longtime Meacham Park resident, had dinner with Charles "Cookie" Thornton just hours before Thornton went on the shooting rampage at city hall in February of 2008. The tragedy ultimately left seven people dead including Thornton. Rummels says Thornton made no mention of what he was about to do.
Rummels is heading up the community panel and was very critical of the agreement.
"What I read in this mediation agreement has absolutely no relevance for repairing racism in this community of Meacham park- no chance for healing, it just has nothing to do with this community," explained Rummels.
Kirkwood mayor Art McDonnell says that while the agreement might not be perfect, it is a starting point to improving race relations in the city. He points to several aspects including one where the police department will do more thorough evaluations to make sure officers are not discriminating against anyone.
"I think we produced something that's a good document and a good working initiative for the community and for improving a situation that might be perceived as a bad one in the community. But we really found that we have a wonderful community," said McDonnell.
The coalition in Meacham Park says it is going to take its concerns to city hall. A city wide town hall meeting on the agreement is set to take place on February 10th where residents will be able to ask questions about the agreement to the city officials and community members who helped to craft it.
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