I believe communities and their leaders must speak up to condemn white supremacists and their acts of hatred and violence in Charlottesville this past weekend.

I sponsored Senate Resolution 794 to condemn the actions of white nationalists and neo-Nazis on August 12, 2017, in Charlottesville, Virginia. The resolution passed the Illinois State Senate on Sunday, August 13.

SR 794 calls on law enforcement agencies to protect the nation from hate-based groups in the United States as they would from other foreign or domestic terror organizations.

Neo-Nazis, the Klan and related groups like those responsible for violence last weekend in Virginia cannot perpetrate domestic terrorism in our country and not be pursued and punished for their actions. My colleagues - and my family - will not accept hate and terror in Illinois or our nation.

SPRINGFIELD – In 2005, the murders of a U.S. District Court Judge and her husband and mother spurred the creation of the Judicial Privacy Act. On Friday, the governor signed legislation sponsored by Senator Ira I. Silverstein to expand the safety and security for judges to include former or deceased judicial officers.

“The legitimate fear of reprisal from people affected by decisions of judges should not influence their ability to administer justice fairly,” Silverstein said. “Keeping their personal information private, including phone numbers, addresses and family details, is a valid concern.”

The Judicial Privacy Act prohibits parties from posting the information publicly if the judicial officer has made a written request to block such action. The business, organization or individual has 72 hours to remove posted information about a judicial officer from the internet after receiving the written request.

Senate Bill 1647 expands coverage of these provisions from active judges only to former or deceased judicial officers.

“There is no reason to put the security of a judicial officer’s survivors at risk after they are gone,” Silverstein said.

Read more ...

Are you looking for a new job? Are you an employer needing new staff? Join us for our annual Hiring Fair, set for Thursday, July 20.

This is our third annual event, at a bigger location this year as we draw more employers and job seekers each year.

Doors open for veterans only starting at 10:00 AM. The general public is invited from 10:30 AM until 2:00 PM.

This year's event will be at the Croatian Cultural Center, 2845 W. Devon Ave., in Chicago. There is plenty of parking available.

The hiring fair will help provide employers the chance to meet prospective employees, and help those prospective employees find work and other new opportunities.

Employers may register here.
Job seekers may register here.

Please share this if you know someone looking for a new job or or someone who needs to hire new employees.

I encourage you to join me at one of my upcoming Town Hall meetings in July.

I know you're interested in what is happening at the Capitol and how it affects our community, particularly now that we finally have a complete, balanced budget. I look forward to giving you an update on this year's legislative session and answering your questions at my annual town hall meetings in four locations throughout the district.

Please mark your calendar and join your neighbors and me at one of these events.