Dupage Policy Journal

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker criticized Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in advance of his visit to Illinois over what Pritzker sees as the cruelty DeSantis espouses and his hateful agenda.

"DeSantis swears that he is fighting to protect people's 'freedoms', but he has no problem taking away their reproductive rights, attacking schools and libraries to limit what parents and teachers want for their students, disregarding the humanity of LGBTQ people and failing to protect people of color seeking to live free from discrimination," Pritzker tweeted.

DeSantis has "made a career punching down and othering anyone who doesn't subscribe to his petty tyranny," Pritzker continued.

A possible Republican candidate for the White House in 2024, DeSantis is scheduled to soon be in Peoria to speak at the Peoria-Tazewell County Republican Party's Lincoln Day Dinner at the Civic Center, with an official listing for the event on the Tazewell County GOP's website promoting his appearance as a speech on his "successful Florida blueprint" for the Republican Party in Illinois to fight against Illinois Democrats' "Marxist agenda."

Pritzker said DeSantis is running "a distant second" in the GOP presidential race. "Too bad, they could only get a would-be candidate," Pritzker wrote.

Protestors are expected to convene outside the venue, with Peoria Pride president Cassie Lucchesi estimating a crowd outside the Civic Center and City Hall of around 100 people to protest legislation DeSantis has passed in Florida they believe unduly targets the LGBTQ community, minorities and abortion rights.

Pritzker, whose name has also been floated a White House candidate, added, "His brand of politics flies in the face of everything the 16th president taught us about leadership. In Illinois we reject the cruelty he espouses and stand firmly against his hateful agenda."

Some Twitter users defended DeSantis from Pritzker's criticism.

"He protected freedoms while you stripped them away," one person replied to the Illinois governor. "I’d pay to see a debate between you and him."