253 Comments
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Sarah Jones Tim Quast's avatar

Thank you, Governor Pritzker. We will be marching on Daley Plaza on October 18.

Lisa Jean Walker's avatar

I’ll be there too.

And to support us in being loud for America, this is the kind of reporting from main stream media I want to see more of—Illinois professors face threats after landing on Charlie Kirk group watch list: https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2025/09/19/illinois-professors-watchlist-charlie-kirk-turning-point-usa

I’m proud of WBEZ & Chicago Suntimes for this. Public media at its best.

jody@onexone.com's avatar

Band together with EVERY Democratic governor...EVERY...going this alone is not workable. Maura Healy is fabulous. Reach out to all of them.

Linda Shindler's avatar

Wish our Kansas Democrat governor would speak up!

jody@onexone.com's avatar

CALL them. We all have to get in action...it's so much better than feeling helpless.

Linda Skinner's avatar

I wish our Arizona Governor would speak up!

W. Michael Johnson's avatar

To be fair, her record number of vetoes in the state legislature speaks loudly.

Linda Skinner's avatar

It does within the state. But Illinois is under attack from the fascist president of the United States and I would like to see her stand up and defend Illinois.

Steve 218's avatar

We either stand together or perish, also together at this rate.

Linda Shindler's avatar

I watched a zoom with Senator Duckworth. She is coming over to MO to meet with people and it's sorely needed. It's the state of my birth and it's horrible politically.

Susan Leonard's avatar

We stand up in Guilford CT every Saturday on the town Green. Stand up, Gov Lamont!

Linda Shindler's avatar

Till I began chemo, etc, treatment this week, I've sat at the Tesla Takedown on State Line 3 to 5 3 days a week. We get after work traffic from Kansans and Missourians and lots of honks. They will be there today at noon and 3 others here on the Kansas side today. And some on the Missouri side today, also.

Dr. Judith Schlesinger's avatar

Best of everything to you, Linda.

Linda Shindler's avatar

Thank you 😊 💓 ☺ 💗 💛

Bonnie Boyce's avatar

The governor has to pick her battles. She has a tRumpikan legislature to deal with & a purple state

Linda Skinner's avatar

I totally get that. Should we wait until it really is too late and then say, “Oops! We should have done something”, ?

William Wood's avatar

At the very least, COMMUNICATE with all the Democratic Governors, and then communicate to the public in a coordinated fashion, using every possible means and medium, and as often and noisily as possible. Who read this article by Pritzker? The choir. Preaching to the choir gets us nowhere. Make the megaphone bigger and louder.

And surely to God there are Republican Governors with whom you have good working relationships, and who are not Trump toadies. Convince them to start speaking up for America.

Gloriann O'Brien's avatar

I wish Georgia would realize what is happening.

Thomas Moore's avatar

Governor Pritzker showed that it is possible to stand up against the tyrant and make him TACO out. It was phenomenal to watch. More corporations and institutions (like universities and newspapers) need to follow his lead.

I was thrilled to see the people of Chicago turn out in support, and the police did not get in their way -- to the contrary, they stood between the people and ICE and moved ICE out of the way of the marchers! Even the bikers got in on the action. Buses were used to block the roads that ICE needed to use to enter the city. No one who supports American democracy should capitulate without a fight.

Elizabeth Horton's avatar

Show us how it's done, Chicago.

Judith Hofeditz's avatar

I was so happy to see Gov Pritzker show the rest of the country how it’s done! Sending my respect and admiration from WA state.

Tom M's avatar

This is a man to rally behind.

Kevin Cowan's avatar

What is crystal clear is that the MAGA criminal cabal is anathema to a constitutional republic under the rule of law.

Edit to add: And I must say that it annoys the hell out of me that I can't post a simple truth like this without having to worry about retribution from the cult. That is the crux of the problem.

Steve 218's avatar

At my age (77) I am far less worried about revenge and retribution against me than I am about what Trump, Congess, and the supine court (no caps intentional) are doing to our country, our welfare, and our rights as granted us under the Constitution. People who fear "what might happen" are complicit in their silence. John Lewis advocated for 'good trouble': I and my friends are in favor of that and will protest and participate.

Swbv's avatar

Roberts, Thomas, Alito are genuine threats to the American Way (or what that used to be).

Carol's avatar

I agree! However, I would include Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Coney Barrett.

Kevin Cowan's avatar

I'm in my 60's, wondering how I'm going to manage to retire -- if ever -- and would really rather be focused on that goal. I've never been good at staying quiet in the face of injustice, though, so here we are.

Sheri Drisac's avatar

We must All Stand Up & Speak Out!!! Fight For Democracy and Our Constitution!!! ❤🤍💙🇺🇸🗽UNITED. WE. THE. PEOPLE. STAND!!!🗽 🇺🇲💙🤍❤

G Kathie Kellogg's avatar

At 72 I have lived through difficult times in our country, but I have never been more frightened by what Trump and his followers in his Cabinet, Congress, and his appointed judges are doing to this country. I’m fortunate to live in a very Blue CA but his attacks on us has been devastating.

Steve 218's avatar

I passed fear long ago. Now I'm just angry and out protesting, writing letters, sending emails, and making phone calls.

Erica Bersin, BCPA's avatar

I'm with you...try being Jewish on top of that...IN NYC.

G Kathie Kellogg's avatar

Is it kind of like being Ukrainian in LA County with numerous Hispanic friends?

Dr. Judith Schlesinger's avatar

Don't you think I have noticed how many Jews are involved in the public protests? It actually makes me nervous! I used to kid that I was waiting for my yellow armband in the mail, but it's not so funny anymore. Oy!

Dr. Judith Schlesinger's avatar

Put stickers on the prices that he's gone crazy with. Supermarkets, gas pumps, etc.

Go online to places like etsy and get 'em, cheap. I have to believe there are good people who are wondering whether to stay MAGA, and who just need that little push to remind them how they were suckered!

It's Come To This's avatar

You’ve hit the nail on the head.

Sue Kamm's avatar

You tell him, Governor Pritzker! 📣It's leaders like you, and my governor, Newsom, who will protect us from Dreckmeister's attempt to be the reincarnation of the Nazi dictator of the 1930s and 1940s. And in case any readers don't know, that dictator ended up a suicide in a bunker in Berlin in 1945.

Lissa Thomson's avatar

100%. Stand with the redistricting in California. It's our response to Texas.

Steve 218's avatar

The White House also has a bunker.

Kathleen Scheinberg's avatar

Dictators never come to no good end

Steve 218's avatar

True, though they manage to do a helluva lot of damage before their departure (by whatever means they leave).

Dr. Judith Schlesinger's avatar

That is absolutely true, but what makes you think we will be safe when Rump finally kicks? It's not all about him. He just does what the Heritage Foundation tells him to do/sign and flashes his famous Sharpee signature at the cameras. I agree with everything you can say about him. But I also shudder at the thought of Vance, who likes to raise rivers for his family kayaking, and actually has something of a brain. And he's young, comparatively.

Can someone please reassure me?? Please??

Kathleen Scheinberg's avatar

Heather cox Richardson, you tube, Politics Chat, sept 18, about min 16-27 on how Americans don’t like to be told what to do…..whole chat is outstanding,

Dr. Judith Schlesinger's avatar

I used to subscribe to Heather, who is brilliant, until she changed things to talk to us rather than letting us read her stuff. It may be easier for her to do it that way, but I don't like being "read to," you know?

Judith Hofeditz's avatar

I still read her daily emails, and watch her podcasts when i have time - i view them as a bonus from her!

Donna Riley's avatar

Maybe check your settings? I've been a subscriber for years (since the beginning) and I get her emails daily, which I read. The audio versions are for those who prefer to listen (helpful for many), but they have definitely not replaced the daily written emails.

Marilyn's avatar

Dreckmeister---I love it!

Benzadine's avatar

Thank you Governor Pritzker, I needed this! The right, in its frothing, agressive, hatefulness has been overwhelming. Time to link arms, speak up, and above all, get out the vote! Thank you, Contrarian for publishing this.

Bill Lynch's avatar

Well said!!! Governor Pritzker, EVERY governor should be taking a position similar to yours. Trump's actions are indeed an invasion of a state, and other states should recognize it as such.

Howard Mandel's avatar

Yes! So admirable of Pritzker to defend our state against a dictatorial wannabe.

Yodagirl's avatar

With leaders like the Governor, and our country under assault, we should be getting turnouts like the late 60's/early 70's. What's it going to take to wake "we the people" the hell up?

Judith Hofeditz's avatar

I think the difference now to back then is that the 60s and 70s didn’t have the distractions of social media, which has been dividing us into separate online tribes. And a lot of people live online now.

Yodagirl's avatar

Great point Judith. As a teen in the 60's, I hated TV-between the ads and the canned laughter, I felt insulted, and blamed TV for the dumbing down of society. Then came computers-'nuff said!

L B Rose's avatar

And Agent Orange hates the "woke"....people who actually know what he's up to

Karen Clausen's avatar

Thank you for what you have said and done and thank you for standing up for the trans-gender group. I have never paid attention to this group until my nephew became my niece and I realize what a tough road they have ahead of them.

If you run for president, you have my vote! Karen

patricia's avatar

Karen, I will vote for ANYONE the dems run !

Judith Hofeditz's avatar

I have a trans family member. Thank you for publicly recognizing the tough road they go through as they transition. There is a ton of fear in that community due to their use as political scapegoats and punching bags. I live in WA state which is a safe one for the trans community (maybe not so much in rural areas) and am so grateful my Governor and the rest of State leadership is very supportive.

Michelle Jordan's avatar

I live in a red state but support your efforts in discouraging the government from unlawfully sending in troops where they are not needed or wanted. Thanks for sticking up for the immigrant communities in Illinois whether they are here legally or not. We are America and we are better than that. I will stand for democracy. Always and forever 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

IllinoisImYourBoy's avatar

“An intended consequence of what this administration’s doing is to scare people into being silent when we need them to be the loudest right now.” — Harry Dunn, Capitol officer/now activist on Jan 6

patricia's avatar

yeah, the repubes have blocked the tribute plaque in the capital to the officers who saved THEIR asses from THEIR MAGA CRAZIES..but are full on praising the charlie...a very bad american.

Steve 218's avatar

Yes. It's time for us to be loud and, as John Lewis said, invoke in "good trouble".

RSR's avatar

Excellent. Tell us what we can do to help.

Pam Birkenfeld's avatar

Re-stack this column on sub stack

Casey's avatar

Get everyone you know to vote in 2026. If Democrats can take the House and the Senate we can rid ourselves of this chaos and stupidity. It's so embarrassing to see Drumpf's cabinet. Perhaps only one of them, Doug Burgum, who is Secretary of the Interior, knows anything about their job or is qualified to fill their position.

patricia's avatar

isn't burgum an oil guy ?

Casey's avatar

yes, but he actually knows something about the environment. Most of the others have no clue about the content of their responsibilities.

patricia's avatar

don't you think he would favor drilling in the national parks ?

Casey's avatar

Yes. He might. I'm not saying we like him or agree with him. All I'm saying is that of all Drumpf's appointees, he appears to be the only one with any knowledge about his job. The others aren't very smart or else they are nutcases.

C Horton's avatar

True, and well said.

Nancy's avatar

“No president should talk about Chicago like it’s a place to be conquered.” Right, Governor, and thank you.