Black Lives Matter South Bend puts Reparatory Justice petition online in hopes to reach more people

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — A new petition being circulated is pushing for action on the recent South Bend Reparatory Justice Commission's recommendations.

Neighbors in LaSalle Park and Black Lives Matter are trying to keep the pressure on the city in order to implement specific environmental studies and cleanup if needed.

Black Lives Matter South Bend says adding the petition online allows them to reach more people. It also helps keep the momentum in addressing the environmental issues in the LaSalle Park neighborhood.

After the reparatory justice report was formally presented to the South Bend Common Council in June, Black Lives Matter South Bend went door to door talking to neighbors and trying to get their petition signed. Co-founder Jorden Giger says they canvassed one weekend and received 94 signatures.

"In the past, we’ve used petitions to press the city on issues, and they have been successful when we wanted to pass policies and also when we wanted to stop policies from going forward," said Giger.

Stacey Odom was born and raised in South Bend and believes the petition is a step in the right direction.

"I think it’ll help us move forward. You don’t need a report to tell you if you haven’t done your job. You don’t need a report to tell you you’ve done something wrong. You don’t need a report to tell you you’ve done a lot that's not right, so yeah, I think anything that we can do to help move the City forward is a good thing," Odom said.

The petition focuses on two of the reparatory justice commission's recommendations, environmental testing throughout the LaSalle Park neighborhood including Beck's Lake and affordable housing. 

"We want to ensure that the residential areas beyond the park, which is a superfund site, that those areas are being tested so we're calling on the City to pass a resolution that calls for the funding of chemical and biological testing in the neighborhood for the residential properties which are not part of the EPA superfund site," Giger said.

Odom Says she remains hopeful but realistic at this time.

"It's sad that we don’t have people that are willing to step up and do the right thing and that’s for everyone, including politicians. You can start with them first."

Black Lives Matter South Bend will hold a public virtual discussion next Thursday, July 30 and is encouraging residents and elected officials to join and give feedback. This is one of their last meetings before they file two pieces of legislation for the South Bend Common Council to consider next month.