by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
“Talking to her grandmother tore me to pieces. It made me angry and sad that senseless violence had stolen the life of another innocent child.”
That’s how Mayor John Peyton described the way he felt following the shooting of DreShawna Davis, who was struck by a bullet and died in her home in 2006 while protecting her cousins.
Peyton made the remarks as part of his keynote address at the 24th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast. More than 1,500 people attended the event at the Osborn Center to celebrate the slain civil rights leader’s legacy and the 82nd anniversary of his birth.
Characterizing Davis’ killing as “the lowest point” in his time as mayor, Peyton said in addition to putting more police on the streets, the tragedy led him to call together 140 community leaders to take part in The Jacksonville Journey, a citywide initiative focused on reducing violent crime through prevention and intervention.
“The Jacksonville Journey forced every part of the city to wake up about violence,” said Peyton.
Through the $55 million so far allocated to Journey programs, Peyton said, the rate of violent crime is down by 23 percent and last year there were fewer than 100 homicides in Jacksonville. But “even one murder is too many. Clearly, our journey is far from over,” he said.
Peyton cited efforts to promote literacy among Jacksonville’s youngest citizens. Since 2004, he said, 148 child care centers have been transitioned from custodial care to learning centers and more than 50,000 books have been given to children through the “Rally Jacksonville!” program.
“We have to improve educational outcomes for our children. Every child, no matter where they lay their head down at night, deserves the best education we can give them,” said Peyton.
“Martin Luther King’s message of equality applies to Jacksonville’s journey. We have a lot more work to do to achieve Martin Luther King’s dream, but I have to believe we’re on the right path,” he said.
“We can be better. We can do better. It’s up to each and every one of us. We have to connect with our children.”
Essential Capital Finance President and CEO Cleve Warren chaired the review committee that released Jacksonville Community Council Inc.’s latest “Race Relations Progress Report” last week.
Warren presented the findings at the breakfast, detailing the state of race-based disparities in Duval County.
The report addresses several factors, including education, employment, income, housing, health, justice and the legal system and civic engagement and politics.
Warren said one of the study’s determinations is that Jacksonville’s ethnic diversity has gone beyond black and white and that change is reflected in one of the community’s greatest disparities.
Despite Hispanic citizens representing 8 percent of the population and Asians representing 4 percent, no elected officials are members of either ethnic group.
“Very few communities in the nation have the courage to address their disparities the way we do. This report contains the facts,” he said of the sixth annual study.
“The compelling questions are ‘what do we do?’ and ‘what do I do with this information?’”
Willye Dennis, former librarian and state legislator and one of the founders of the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast in Jacksonville, was recognized for her contribution to civil rights and equality in the community. She shared Peyton’s belief about Jacksonville’s future in terms of race relations and progress.
“Our job is not complete, so get busy,” she told attendees.
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