Ms. Schenk,

It was overheard by courtroom observers that you do not plan to attend the majority of the upcoming third trial of Patrick Thompson. It was understood that you plan to only attend the opening arguments and closing arguments in the Thompson case.

It is very surprising to hear that The News-Gazette would not want to hear witness testimony in the third jury trial of a prominent civil rights activist in our community. Since 2004, Mr. Thompson has appeared in over a dozen news articles in your paper regarding crucial issues of concern to Champaign-Urbana. Mr. Thompson has spoken openly about the public education of minority students, the Champaign Police acquiring tasers, the right of citizens and the media to videotape uniformed police officers in the public way without prosecution, the mentoring of at-risk youth, and the improvements needed in the criminal justice system.

In addition, The News-Gazette has been very vigorous in reporting the state’s criminal prosecution of Patrick Thompson. There are over 12 News-Gazette articles containing the state’s accusations against Mr. Thompson. You attended all three days of the first trial. You attended all three days of the second trial. It is mystifying, now that Mr. Thompson has acquired competent legal counsel and may finally be allowed to present defense witnesses, you would choose to ignore a story that will likely have new information not previously reported. If you are not there to see this testimony, we do not understand how you will be able to report it.

Mike Howie and John Beck shared the concerns of local black leadership at the meeting held at the Urban League in February of 2007 that The News-Gazette should be striving to cover stories of interest to the local minority community, and do so without prejudice or insult. Your decision, if this is the case, to not attend a third trial of a well-known black leader is a step backwards toward The News-Gazette’s goal of fair and balanced news coverage for all.

We hope you reconsider your absence and please attend the entire trial. Thank you for your consideration.

Champaign Urbana Citizens for Peace and Justice