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there’s this lack of trust going on,” Mar- kovich continued. “You could almost see a look of like a revelation in their eyes, saying, ‘Wow, that actually makes sense.’”
The biggest advocate of how the clean- up and presence of Lodge 7 members could help the community seemed to be South Shore Community Church Pastor Tony Brown. Even a pipe bursting in the bathroom on the morning of the cleanup couldn’t faze Pastor Brown.
As people passed by the church, they saw the FOP tent out front and Pastor Brown’s smiling face. And that facilitated the connection the FOP came for.
“Now, we’re meeting the flock, and by going out there and showing we want to help, we are erasing the narrative, eras- ing any kind of hate or distrust among them,” Markovich submitted. “I’m not going to paint a picture that’s glossy and nice, but it’s a start. And if you don’t start, there’s no finish line.”
Markovich also shared how the work- ing members of the Lodge can look at an event like this as an investment in their future. When it comes to future contract negotiations, he imagined a conversa- tion like this going down:
“In these neighborhoods, ministers
The presence of Lodge 7 proved to make a big impact on the community.
and aldermen will be able to say, ‘Hey Madam Mayor – or whoever is mayor at the time – these guys are helping us. They’re coming on their own time and saving our streets and saving our chil- dren and helping us and making friends. So loosen up a bit and give them the con- tract they deserve.’”
If the day’s activities changed the per- spective of three people in the commu- nity, then that’s three people who might be allies to the police when they are try-
ing to keep the neighborhood safe and clean. How penetrating the actions will be remains to be seen.
“But it absolutely makes a good state- ment,” Merck confirmed. “It’s a state- ment and it’s religious in nature: Jesus washing the feet of others, giving service. Yes, it’s a positive that the FOP is doing it. Will it reap the rewards we’re hoping for? Maybe not to the extent we would like, but at least we’re trying. We can’t say we’re not trying.”
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40 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ JULY 2021