Jacobs to help set up Adrianne Leigh Reynolds Foundation
Sen. Mike Jacobs met with the family of murder victim Adrianne Reynolds and emerged to announce the formation of a foundation designed to... well, here's the story from WQAD.
A two-hour meeting between the family of slain teenager Adrianne Reynolds and State Senator Mike Jacobs resulted in plans for the Adrianne Leigh Reynolds Foundation to try and target and curb teenaged violence and threats.Another foundation/committee/panel in response to a difficult problem. Let's hope this one accomplishes it's goals. It's an awfully tough goal to accomplish.
The 16-year-old from East Moline was murdered and dismembered last January. Two of her schoolmates, Cory Gregory and Sarah Kolb are charged with the crime and are awaiting trial.
Adrianne's father, step-mother and step-uncle asked for Thursday's meeting with Jacobs. After telling thier story, the lawmaker and Adrianne's family announced the proposed foundation, which is obviously still in the planning stages.
Her family says they learned after Adrianne's murder that Kolb had allegedly threatened Adrianne with a knife before, and had told other kids in thier alternative school that she was "going to kill Adrianne".
Adrianne's uncle Mike McCullom today says, "We need to create awarness, that when you hear somebody use the word kill, it should be taken as seriously as a threat against the President of the United States."
Tony Reynolds, Adrianne's father, said fellow students knew about the threats, but says had and his wife were in the dark. "[Kolb] basically blasted it over the loud speakers that she was going to kill Adrianne, but nobody did nothing."
The ALR foundation would be funded privately through donations. Jacobs says he will help and take an active role in its formation. "I would be remiss if I didn't do everything I can to help this family, they have touched my heart, Adrianne's life will mean nothing if we don't do something positive with this tragedy."
The foundation likely won't be launched until after the murder trials are over. Down the road, they may lobby to toughen up laws against threats.
Tony Reynolds says "I want to believe Adrianne's looking down on us knowing we're remembering her."
posted by The Inside Dope @ 7/23/2005
2 comments
2 Comments:
There's no way of knowing if Jacobs visit with the family was sincere or not, and with that being the case, I think it's only fair to give him the benefit of the doubt.
But it's an uncomfortable story on many levels.
First, I wonder why the family wanted to meet with Jacobs unless someone from Jacobs camp expressed an interest. And secondly, what did Jacobs expect to do, other than express his condolences and listen to them for a while? Maybe that's all he expected to do.
The story doesn't say who proposed this "foundation", but if it was the family, Jacobs could hardly say no, and if it was Jacobs, then perhaps the opportunistic label might begin to fit.
Either way, the establishment of this foundation is sad. First the reason it exists is that a beautiful young woman was murdered in such a brutal manner, and by such young assailants. The whole thing is intensely sad on many levels.
But the fact that a politician meets with the family and emerges to announce a "foundation" just leaves me feeling hollow.
I respect the thought behind it, and the goal is worthy to be sure.
I hate being cynical, but I can't help but think that this foundation will amount to nothing much more than a means to raise and spend money, with maybe part of it going to the family, which I suppose is ok.
But just how do you go about telling high schoolers that it's not right to threaten to kill other classmates and then actually murder them?
Do we need a foundation for that? If so, we're really in worse shape than I imagined. (And maybe we are. Witness Bullseye's blog linked in the martini thread. Sheesh!)
Bottom line is this sounds like a sop to the family and a publicity move for Jacobs in as much as he could have done it quietly with no press or left it to the family to report. Someone alerted the press. Was it the family? I wouldn't bet on it.
But I guess in politics, even if you're expressing sincere grief, you feel the need to do it publicly and gain any perceieved benefits it might get you.
Jesse Jackson shows up every time a black is harmed or murdered in a sensational way, and other political figures capitalize on tragedy as well, though it doesn't make it any more palatible.
I guess politicians feel it's fair game to inject themselves into a tragedy like this. But as I say, the whole thing leaves a bad taste.
What I don't understand is why is everyone putting down this idea? There is a lot more teen violence now a days than there ever was!?
who cares if it is for a political agenda right now. If it is a foundation then it will continue for many years and even if it stops 1 teen from being murdered is it a waste of time and money? No? If not could you please tell me how to put a price on a life..... because I can't think of one!!
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