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00000179-e1ff-d2b2-a3fb-ffffd77b0000It's time to talk about racism.WNIJ and the Rockford Register Star have committed to a year-long occasional project "Race in the Rock River Valley." We'll take a look at a wide variety of issues regarding race in our region, dig out and analyze statistics, talk to people who are affected, and most importantly, listen.

Race In The Rock River Valley: Black And Blue

Rockford Register Star

Assembling a police force that “looks like the community” is an important goal for many American cities. But it can be a slow process. 11% of Rockford’s police force is black, compared to 21% of the overall population.

Today, we continue our series “Race in the Rock River Valley” by looking at how diversity affects police operations. It’s part of a year-long collaboration with the Rockford Register Star. WNIJ’s Susan Stephens spoke with reporter Chris Green about his story “Being Black and Blue,”where he interviewed African American officers about their experiences with law enforcement.

Saturday, Nov. 19, the Race in the Rock River Valley seriesgoes live during a community forum at Midway Village and Museum Center in Rockford. It’s free, but attendees have to reserve tickets in advance.

Susan is an award-winning reporter/writer at her favorite radio station. She's also WNIJ's Perspectives editor, Under Rocks contributor, and local host of All Things Considered.
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