First listening session for Massey Commission co-chairs announced

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — The Massey Commission , created to respond to Sonya Massey’s killing by a former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy , has announced its first listening session.

The listening session will be at Union Baptist Church, 1405 East Monroe Street in Springfield, on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. The session will begin at 6 p.m. with doors opening 30 minutes earlier.

Organizers said the goal of the listening session is to hear the general public’s hopes and concerns before the commission finalizes its mission and goals. People can express interest in speaking during the listening session when they arrive, and they will be given an opportunity to do so for up to three minutes

The three co-chairs of the commission — Dr. Jerry Kruse, Dean and Provost of the SIU School of Medicine; Pastor T. Ray McJunkins, pastor of Union Baptist Church; and Nina Harris, chair of the Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion — will all be in attendance.

Around 200 local residents applied to be on the commission, and the co-chairs are reviewing the applications. Officials said the 12 members of the commission and more public hearing dates will be announced later in the month.

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