Independence Gazette

Community leaders in Lee’s Summit have made the decision to discontinue their beloved Downtown Days Street Fair. After incidents at, at least the last 2 events, the chaos from Saturday’s event has made national news and prompted the organizers to make the unfortunate call that this was their last Downtown Days.

It’s an embarrassing look for our region and one organizers of Independence’s SantaCaliGon and Independence city leaders have struggled with themselves.

After similar disturbances, and even worse, a 2021 shooting at SantaCaliGon, city leaders looked to find a way to help curb the issue. Part of the solution was to add a larger police presence. The bigger fix was to fence in the carnival area, have limited entrance/exit points, and only allow those who have paid for tickets to enter.

This seems to have largely helped. The subsequent festivities have gone on without major disturbances. I will say, I personally feel this is also in large part due to the dedication of IPD, who you see working the crowd every year. And from my experience they do so in a fun jovial manner. I think this energy helps set a tone and it spreads.

Even still, incidents are bound to happen with that many people packed into the streets. A current phenomenon is kids yelling “GUN” starting to run, and watching the crowd follow in the chaos. I believe this happened last year at SCG, and videos on social media show the prank that can often turn dangerous quickly.

“Kids being kids” is a saying as old as time. Often used to dismiss stupid adolescent actions, it becomes harder to use in the age of social media, when everyone has a camera and is doing these things for clicks. Yet it is used….sometimes.

Which brings me to what I feel is the most unfortunate aspect of this entire situation. The disgusting blatant RACISM that some spew online. Look at nearly any comment section regarding this, and full on, not trying to hide it, straight out racism… is everywhere.

Why it may be true that the majority of the kids in the videos from latest Lee’s Summit Downtown Day incident s were black, using racist tropes, and not looking to the bigger picture is damaging and only serves to compound the issue.

Recently there was a disturbance in neighboring Blue Springs. Kids took over the parking lot of the Target, and were allegedly setting fires, jumping on cars, and harassing patrons coming and going from the stores. Without missing a beat, in the comments, black kids were blamed. The heinous racist comment began to flow and the perpetrators had been assigned.

Then videos began to circulate through social media and we saw that it was not a bunch of black kids (being compared to animals and “without fathers”) causing it. It was white kids.

Almost as quickly, the tone changed. Then it was ….kids being stupid and doing dumb things. It was kids “not from here” descending upon Blue Springs to cause trouble. And excuses that…. we all did stupid stuff as kids.

One MUST ask themselves, what damage are we doing to what might be our most at-risk youth, if you immediately paint them as a lost cause because of the color of their skin? In 2026 that this still a conversation is mind-boggling.

When the white kid gets a pass because, they’re young and dumb, but the black kid is told their very being is worthless…. that inflicts a deep wound. One even if subconsciously, of which they might not realize at the moment. One that can perpetuate and enforce the very actions you’re speaking out against.

Black kids aren’t inherently violent, or bad, or less worthy of being loved and RESPECTED in our community. Yes their bad behavior should be called out, just as the bad behavior from anyone should. We shouldn’t have 2 standards for what is “kids being kids.” It only serves to reinforce that bad behavior, if you let them know you mistakenly think…. you’re simply born bad.

If instead of saying… why are they doing this and how can we help, you’ve flown past a racist dog whistle, to literally screaming into a bullhorn flat out racism>>> YOU are part of the problem.

There’s a long system of oppression here, there are reasons for the “stats”, and that’s a deeper and much more involved conversation. It’s a conversation that needs to be had if you’re interested in building community.

I also don’t feel canceling these events is the answer. It punishes everyone and gives kids less opportunities to be kids! It doesn’t fix the root issue.

We must build our youth up and we all can do so in small and large ways. Even if it’s just defending them from racism online. Please speak out against it if you see it. Let our youth know that they’re not inherently less than, because of the color of their skin.

If you want kids in our community to know they’re loved, and valued *you* must let them know that. If you tell them they’re born bad, don’t be shocked if you see them acting bad around you.

To any of our youth who might be reading this, I beg you to hold yourself accountable. Also know you are loved and respected, but that your actions do have consequences. A small group of kids, not indicative of all kids, ruined a nearly 40 year tradition in your community. Other events will follow. Other places will step up precautions to keep you from having a good time.

So please, have a good time, go have fun, interact with your community, and hold each other accountable. If your peers are causing trouble, don’t join in, and even better if you call them out. Be a good example, I know the vast majority of you are extremely capable of doing so.

JMO,

Gio