Danville Mayor Rickey Williams is expressing disappointment that a group has cancelled a show at Lincoln Park this summer over concerns about violence. The Lincoln Park Theater Company announced Thursday night that it had cancelled its planned performance of ‘Seussical’ in August ‘due to the rise in crime in the Lincoln Park area’.
Mayor Williams told VermilionCountyFirst.com News the announcement disappointed him…
‘’It’s incredibly disappointing to me, especially since it’s not true,’’ said Mayor Williams. ‘’Unfortunately the only people that have been injured in those areas were folks who were already caught up in the gang. It hasn’t been random citizens that have been attacked or approached in the Lincoln Park Area,’’ added the Mayor. ‘’So to me it’s disappointing because it’s a false narrative,’’ he added.
And the Mayor noted there is another major event coming there later this year when Lincoln Park hosts Arts in the Park….
‘’I think the thing disappoints me perhaps the most, is it creates a false narrative and unfortunately people here in Danville are sometimes our own worst critics. How can we get other people (and) surrounding communities and visitors to believe and realize that Danville is a good safe place when we have our own citizens saying things like this which just factually aren’t true,’’ added Mayor Williams.
The Lincoln Park Theater Company says it will ‘’reevaluate the situation next year and will hopefully be able to return to our beloved home at Lincoln Park.” The group added it wants to thank everyone for their understanding and support. And the Lincoln Park Theater Company added it is planning a fundraiser this fall at a different location.
