Springfield, IL — Across the state, Democratic elected officials, volunteers and candidates will be celebrating Juneteenth, which officially became a state holiday in 2021 thanks to Illinois Democrats. Today, Democratic Party of Illinois Chair Lisa Hernandez and Democratic State Central Committeeman Maurice West (IL-17) released the following:
“I’m wishing folks across our state a happy Juneteenth,” said DPI Chair Lisa Hernandez. “This past year and a half, we’ve seen MAGA Republicans dedicate themselves to taking us backwards. Illinois Democrats across the delegation—from Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Governor Pritzker to county chairs and grassroots volunteers—are committed to ensuring bigotry is not tolerated and our progress is not lost.”
“As part of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, I’m proud to have helped make today a state holiday five years ago,” said Committeeman West. “Juneteenth is a day that recognizes the scars of the past while asking us to find joy in the present. Every year, I see how communities in my district embody that spirit of hope and resilience, while recognizing that we have a long way to go for economic empowerment, health care access and much more. That’s what Illinois Democrats are fighting for. While Republicans trip over themselves to attack diversity, equity and inclusion, we’re busy building better, stronger, more equitable futures across Illinois.”
As families across Illinois celebrate Juneteenth, the ILGOP not only remains mum about the Trump administration’s racist culture war but adds to it. The Illinois Republican Party, as well as gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey have remained silent about the recent cross burning—a decades-old act of racial terror—in Chicago’s Grant Park. They’ve not spoken out about the continued dismantling of the Voting Rights Act. Just this week, the ILGOP Chair gleefully praised Nick Shirley––a bigoted vlogger–-as their gala guest, calling him a “phenom”.
