Davis holds reparations/anti-drug rally

Saying he is campaigning by issues, Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-7th) Wednesday announced he is holding a reparations meeting Saturday and a separate event supporting drug treatment on demand, in an effort to help make people whole and to return them to society as taxpayers, rather than tax burdens.

Davis, who appeared on WVON's Cliff Kelley Show, later told the Chicago Defender he is holding a reparations meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday at Quinn Chapel A.M.E Church, 2401 S. Wabash Ave. He will also be introducing a resolution to make August 17 "National Reparations Day" in the U.S. and, at 2 p.m. the same day, Davis is holding a "Treatment, not Jails" rally at Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Van Buren, that's sponsored by the Citizens Activate to Change Health Care (C.A.T.C.H.).

Davis, is trying to get a referendum on the ballot to "help people get treatment on demand" for substance abuse.

"We decided to put the notion before the Illinois voters that there ought to be treatment on demand for individuals who are ready and seeking treatment," he said. He's hoping to gather 300,000 signatures to put the initiative on the November ballot.

"We've had people going out all winter," said Davis, explaining when he began the initiative.

"We've got people who go out no matter how cold...how difficult it is. We've planned a massive effort on March 16, because we're going to have people at polling places who will be collecting signatures as people leave their voting place," Davis said.

"This way, we know that those people are also registered to vote," he said, referring to the 300,000 signatures that must be submitted in May. We've developed a network of facilities, churches, institutions...all over the state of Illinois, and we've collected 25,000 signatures," he said, asking those who want to volunteer to call James Shannon at: 773-638-1998.

Article copyright Sengstacke Enterprises, Inc.

Photograph (Rep. Danny K. Davis)