Earlier this year, Oak Park residents attended the Oak Park Township meeting to vote on whether to place a boycott referendum on the ballot. The majority voted No. Despite this outcome, the organization Oak Parkers for Free Speech (OPFS) forced this back onto the ballot. This is not what we call democracy where we citizens come out to voice an opinion only to find out that OPFS decided to suppress the will of citizens.
This was an action designed deliberately to divide the community of Oak Park. We in Oak Park need to unite against terror in our community. This includes ICE which has been terrorizing those of color in Oak Park.
Oak Parkers for Free Speech refuses to address and ameliorate issues related to safety and security from violence and discrimination due to our diversity, and continues to foment division and discord by forcing us to choose sides on an issue that is happening on a global scale rather than assisting us with issues happening inside of Oak Park in terms of hatred toward certain groups.
We in Oak Park, of all religions, colors, nationalities, are diverse and pride ourselves in being diverse. We in Oak Park refuse to allow OPFS to suppress us and turn us against each other by using this referendum that should have never been on the ballot in the first place. Neighborly care built this community and needs to stay that way. This community was built on people looking out for one another, not on people hating each other just for the way they look and think and feel.
Let’s keep that tradition going. Vote No on the referendum to show Oak Park that we are more interested in being a united, diverse community of care and kindness.
Laurel Miller
Oak Park