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Urban League President attributes peace in our local streets to Corey Jones' family

Posted at 4:47 PM, Jul 08, 2016
and last updated 2019-03-07 09:47:50-05

After several police-involved shootings in the country, the president of the Urban League of Palm Beach County says Corey Jones' family should be a model for seeking justice in a positive way.

Corey Jones' supporters echo the the familiar 'no justice no peace chant.' No peace of mind until there is justice, but in the streets the demonstrators are civil. 

"I look at the family of Corey Jones and what they've done as a model that other communities should look at and use," said Patrick Franklin, President and CEO of the Urban League of Palm Beach County. 

Riots broke out in Ferguson in August of 2014 when Michael Brown was killed by a police officer. Then, last year more national protests spread after Freddie Gray died in police custody in Baltimore. 

Law enforcement and others feared violent protests might happen in Palm Beach County when a former Palm Beach Gardens Police Officer killed Corey Jones last October after his vehicle broke down off I-95.

"We keep getting these firefights and these firestorms cropping up throughout this country, we haven't done enough," said Franklin. 

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Franklin admits there is a lo of pain and anger in our community over Jones' death. His family though, has redirected those emotions towards change. Franklin attributes peace in the streets to their example. 

"They have conduct themselves very well and they've even changed policies and try to get laws changed," he added.

The family has worked with the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department to get body cameras. They are pushing for national legislation.