Dupage Policy Journal

Former Republican state Rep. Jeanne Ives lashed out at funding in the state budget provided to Black Lives Matter Lake County, in light of its leader facing felony battery and stalking charges.

“All of 2021, he's out on bond for battery to a police officer,” Ives, now serving as Breakthrough Ideas CEO, told Greg Bishop on Bishop On Air. “And yet Governor Pritzker gives them $300,000 in COVID relief money. Nobody checks his background. Nobody checks out the organization.”

Ives added that BLM Lake County is an extremist political organization.

“Black Lives Matter Lake County, a Marxist organization," Ives said. "They don't deserve taxpayer money. What do they do? And I'll tell you what. There's millions of dollars spent on violence prevention programs that need to be investigated as well.”

The $50.4 billion budget passed in Illinois includes $300,000 in funding for Black Lives Matter Lake County, leading to questions and concerns about the allocation. Illinois received around $5.5 billion in federal financial relief during the Covid pandemic in 2020 and 2021, of which BLM Lake County was a beneficiary.

Breakthrough Ideas reported on the lack of operational presence and activity from the organization, raising doubts about how the previously allocated funds were utilized. A physical inspection of the chapter's headquarters revealed it to be closed and facing eviction, Lake County Gazette reported. 

The Illinois Freedom Caucus also criticized the expenditure, highlighting the criminal history of Clyde McLemore, who runs the organization. McLemore has faced multiple criminal charges, including felony battery and stalking.

McLemore was arrested in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in February 2021 on charges of felony battery to a police officer and disorderly conduct, according to Kenosha News. The arrest was made after he allegedly kicked a door at the Kenosha Courthouse and threatened a police officer by saying he would "break their fingers." McLemore has a history of legal troubles, including multiple guilty pleas for criminal felony battery and criminal misdemeanor battery, the report stated. He has also faced orders of protection related to stalking, with the most recent incidents occurring in 2020 and 2019.

Black Lives Matter has garnered attention for its controversial views, advocating for the disruption of the traditional nuclear family structure and the elimination of police departments, according to Lake County Gazette. Critics argue that the allocation of public funds to an organization with such views is questionable.