June 20, 2007
Mr. Warren Millsaps
Chief of Police, South Holland
16220 Wausau Ave.
South Holland, Illinois 60473
Mr. Millsaps:
On June 19, 2007 my neighbor, Celeste, was harassing and intimidating people I contracted to do Tuckpointing on my home. I asked my wife to call the South Holland Police Department (SHPD). She called and Officer DeYoung arrived at the scene. Officer DeYoung attempted to talk to Celeste, but she refused to answer her door. Officer DeYoung gave my wife CFS # 07-13418, which may be an incident report. Officer DeYoung informed my wife he could not do anything else because she has not committed a crime. I guess we have to wait until she hurts someone in my home. I guess she can do whatever she wants to my family because she is “white.”
Sir, I have other contractors coming to put new windows all around my home, gutters, soffets and fascia. I do not want my neighbor harassing and intimidating the people who come to my home. This neighbor still harasses and intimidates my daughter when she is playing with her friends. I have complained many times to SHPD, but to no avail. Celeste is white. My family is black. It appears has if you protect the “white” residents while leaving the “black” residents to deal with this racism and prejudice.
There should be equal justice for all. I will post this as usual on my website, hoping someone hears the cries of those caught up in the wilderness of racism and prejudice in the Village of South Holland, Illinois. I am attaching the other letters I have written about this woman who you allow to harass and intimidate my family. We are hoping you stop this injustice. This neighbor is not going to drive me out of this community. This neighbor is harassing and intimidating anyone who is “black” who comes around her property. I will send this letter and attachments to Mr. Millsaps and Mayor DeGraff by fax. I can assume she does know someone in the SHPD because she gets away with her harassment and intimidation.
Respectfully submitted,
Fred Nance Jr.
cc: Mr. DeGraff, Mayor Village of South Holland
June 4, 2006
Illinois Department of Human Rights
Mr. Stan Moen, Investigator
Ms. Marian Honel, Manager, Fair Housing Division
100 West Randolph Street, Suite 10-100
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Re: Control #06M0321.08
Nance v. Village of South Holland
Mr. Moen:
On Saturday, June 3, 2006, my neighbor Celeste threatened me with bodily harm because I requested she restrain from putting water on my car. I informed Celeste last Sunday, May 28, 2006, she put water on my car while watering her grass. I parked my car in my driveway after washing it. My car was parked approximately 20 feet from my property line in my driveway. My car was parked in the same position Saturday while Celeste was watering her grass again. Celeste, who is White (Caucasian), informed me, Fred who is Black (African- American), she could do whatever she wants to do meaning she can put water on my car if that’s what she wants to do.
Celeste informed me she was not afraid of me. Celeste informed me she personally knew a police officer who would take care of me. Celeste informed me she had two sons, and when they came home she was going to call them telling them to come over to her house and to take care of me. Our neighbor, who lives in the house south of Celeste, heard the whole conversation.
I did not go to the South Holland Police Department (SHPD) because when I complained of another incident with this “white” woman SHPD ignored my complaint. I wrote a letter on October 10, 2005 addressing it to the Mayor of South Holland, the Chief of Police and the Deputy Chief of Police explaining the incident between Celeste and I. (letter attached)
These individuals did not respond to the letter of October 10, 2005. The message they send to an individual like Celeste is “she can do whatever she wants to do to a Black family.” In our social world this is called, “white privilege”, which is a form of discrimination if no action is taken to deter the proposed “privilege.”
The letter of October 10, 2005 talked about my daughter retrieving her basketball from Celeste’s yard. Celeste has a basketball apparatus attached to her property. I am sure her “boys” played basketball and retrieved their balls many times while they were growing up. It is only when my “black” family retrieves their balls we are accused of trespassing. This is what SHPD informed me my daughter could be accused of while retrieving her basketball from Celeste’s yard.
Therefore, I request to supplement my issues against South Holland with this complaint. Celeste does a lot of things which are offensive to her neighbors. Her neighbors choose to ignore her. Her neighbors are “black.” My “black” neighbor, who lives just south of Celeste, witnessed the encounter I had on Saturday with Celeste.
This is part and partial of the disparate treatment of blacks in South Holland. This is not an isolated incident.
Respectfully submitted,
Fred L Nance Jr., ABD, MA, CADC, NCRS
cc: South Holland – Mayor Don DeGraff, Chief of Police Warren Millsaps, Deputy Chief of Police Hollis Dorrough (fax copies only including Ms. Honel and Mr. Moen
http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/ C.L.I.C.K. for Justice and Equality
October 10, 2005
Mr. Don DeGraff, Mayor of South Holland
16226 Wausau Ave.
South Holland, Illinois 60473
Mr. Warren Millsaps
Chief of Police, South Holland
16220 Wausau Ave.
South Holland, Illinois 60473
Mr. Hollis Dorrough, Deputy Chief
South Holland Police Department
16220 Wausau Avenue
South Holland, Illinois 60473
On October 10, 2005 at approximately 11:05 am I, Fred L Nance Jr., went to the South Holland Police Department (SHPD) to file a complaint against my neighbor, who lives at 17245 South Evans, South Holland, Illinois, 60473. The complaint I requested was for harassment and intimidation of my daughter, Kristina Gaston age 11. After waiting in their foyer for about 30 minutes (approximately 11:35 pm), Officer Staples came out to discuss this matter. Officer Staples had entered the police station about 15 minutes before speaking with me, approximately 11:20 am.
I explained to Officer Staples my daughter plays basketball for her school and an outside team. I explained my daughter practices on her basketball hoop in our driveway. I informed Officer Staples my daughter’s basketball sometimes bounces off the rim of her hoop rolling into my neighbor’s grass. I informed Officer Staples my neighbor has consistently harassed and intimidated my daughter about the ball rolling on her grass. Officer Staples never asked me what did your neighbor say to your daughter or how did she harass and intimidate her.
Officer Staples informed me my neighbor could file charges against me and my daughter for “criminal trespass” to property. Officer Staples stated my neighbor would have more validity to her complaint. Officer Staples informed me I had no validity to my claim of harassment or intimidation because my daughter is wrong for letting her basketball roll in the neighbor’s grass. This is ludicrous. I informed Officer Staples this issue can escalate into a bad situation. He just shrugged his shoulders.
I believe the service and information I received from SHPD is retaliatory in nature due to the reports I have made against SHPD. It is my belief SHPD is purposely negating any allegations I bring to this department. Therefore, I request a written statement or intervention by a senior officer, such as a Lieutenant or Sergeant, as to how an issue like this can be resolved before it escalates into something else.
Thank you.
Fred Nance Jr.
cc: http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/
