Dupage Policy Journal

On April 15, a group of pro-Palestine protesters brought Interstate 190, an expressway leading to O’Hare International Airport, to a standstill. The protest blocked all traffic for over an hour, causing significant disruption for commuters and potentially impeding emergency services. This incident is one of many instances where far-left groups have employed disruptive tactics in Chicago to exert pressure on Springfield lawmakers.

Despite these forceful attempts at instigating legislative change, the protesters appear to be losing traction within the Illinois General Assembly. Just two days after the I-190 blockade, Illinois State Representative Dan Ugaste (R – Geneva) introduced HB 5819. This bill amends the Public Demonstrations Law and elevates blocking a major roadway for more than five minutes to a Class 4 felony. Notably, several House Democrats quickly co-sponsored the legislation, including Deputy Majority Leader Natalie Manley.

The Democratic sponsorship of HB5819 marks another instance of bipartisan cooperation against progressive protest tactics. In April, HB 303 was amended following pressure from the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU). This bill prohibits the Chicago Board of Education from approving school closures or policy changes until a fully elected school board is established. However, after advocating for amendments that broadened the bill's scope to include all schools rather than only selective admissions institutions, CTU reversed its stance and began opposing the legislation.

This opposition included labelling the bill as "cynical and racist," a strategy shared by other influential groups such as Raise the Floor Alliance. These divisive tactics were met with resistance from prominent Democrats like Governor J.B. Pritzker who called this criticism "uncalled for" and Representative Curtis Tarver who described CTU's characterization of the bill as "absolutely disrespectful."

It appears that aggressive strategies effective in Chicago's City Hall do not necessarily translate to success at the State Capitol. Despite continued attempts by groups like CTU and RTF to exert political pressure, elected officials from both parties have consistently condemned such tactics. The State Board of Education found no racial impact in the proposed legislation, and the bill eventually passed the House of Representatives with support from 70 out of 78 House Democrats.

The progress of House Bill 5819 and House Bill 303 can be tracked at ilga.gov.