Statement from Awake Illinois Condemning Governor J.B. Pritzker’s Dangerous Rhetoric in New Hampshire
- Awake IL
- May 1
- 2 min read
Awake Illinois, a social welfare advocacy organization committed to protecting liberty, parental rights, and ethical governance, unequivocally condemns the reckless and inflammatory remarks made by Governor J.B. Pritzker during his keynote address at the New Hampshire Democratic Party’s McIntyre-Shaheen 100 Club Dinner on April 27, 2025. Pritzker's claim that "Republicans cannot know a moment of peace" directly attacks the freedoms of speech and civic engagement, endangering the principles that uphold open participation in public life.
Governor Pritzker’s call for “mass protests, mobilization, and disruption,” coupled with his explicit demand that Republicans be denied peace, is an outrageous escalation of political rhetoric. These words endanger the right of millions of Americans to engage in public life without fear of intimidation or hostility. By targeting individuals for their political beliefs, Pritzker undermines the freedom to dissent—a cornerstone of a free society—and risks inciting unrest. His subsequent claim that he meant “peaceful protest” is a hollow defense, as his inflammatory language was crafted to provoke and carries dangerous implications. Such rhetoric is particularly alarming in Illinois, where our organization is actively defending civil rights and Title IX. We recently filed two federal civil rights complaints (Title VI and Title IX) against the IL State Board of Education (ISBE) to ensure fair and safe K-12 educational environments for students and staff.
The toxic atmosphere fostered by Pritzker’s speech was starkly evident when a speaker at Monday’s Valley View School District 365U board meeting likened Shannon Adcock, president of Awake Illinois, and members of Moms for Liberty to Julius Streicher, a notorious Nazi propagandist, as noted in our X post on April 28, 2025. This vile smear is a reprehensible attack on advocates who tirelessly defend civil rights of the citizenry. It also trivializes the atrocities of the Holocaust, chilling free expression and demonizing those who stand for the rights of others. That such an attack occurred under Pritzker’s leadership reflects his failure to uphold the values of freedom and respect, particularly for those advocating for fair policies like Title VI and Title IX compliance.
Awake Illinois remains steadfast in our mission to protect the freedoms that empower Illinois, safeguard families, and uphold the dignity of every citizen. Our recent federal complaints against the ISBE underscore our commitment to defending the rights of Illinoisans. Governor Pritzker’s remarks, and the venomous environment they enabled, directly threaten the ability of advocates like us to pursue this critical work without fear of slander or retribution.
We demand that Governor Pritzker immediately retract his “cannot know a moment of peace” comments and publicly apologize for the dangerous rhetoric he has unleashed. We also call on him as a member of the Jewish community to explicitly denounce the defamatory comparison of Shannon Adcock and Moms for Liberty to executed Nazi war criminals, which has no place in civil society. Public officials must champion freedom and respect—not ignite division that endangers advocates and citizens alike. Awake Illinois will continue to fight for a future where liberty, parental rights, and Title IX protections thrive, and we urge all Illinoisans to reject rhetoric that seeks to suppress these values.
For media inquiries, please contact info@awakeIL.com or (630) 349-6864.
Onward for Liberty,
Awake Illinois Board of Directors
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