IL state Sen. slams Evanston reparations; city will defend policy
‘vehemently’
[June 27, 2025]
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor
(The Center Square) – Illinois state Sen. Andrew Chesney is voicing
sharp criticism of the city of Evanston’s reparations program, calling
it “outrageous” and “offensive to everyone.”
Chesney’s remarks come on the heels of a new federal civil rights
lawsuit filed by Judicial Watch to shut down the race-based initiative,
which gives $25,000 in taxpayer money exclusively to Black residents.
"We're going to carve out a little thing for you, give you a few bucks
to keep you quiet. Oh, by the way, we're going to pack a bunch of
illegal immigrants into your communities, but here's a little money to
shut up,” said Chesney, R-Freeport. “It should be offensive, one, to the
people they're targeting—they're trying to give this money to—but it
should offend everybody.”
A spokesman for the city of Evanston said the city does not comment on
the specifics of pending litigation, but said they will vehemently
defend any lawsuit brought against the city’s reparations program.
On social media, Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton announced the civil
rights class action lawsuit.
“If you identify as white, you can't apply. If you identify as Asian,
you can't apply. If you identify as Hispanic, you can't apply,” said
Fitton. “This is a brazen violation of the 14th Amendment federal civil
rights law.”
A new survey from National Opinion Research Center at the University of
Chicago shows strong support for Evanston’s reparations program, with
majorities across racial groups—including 70% of white residents—calling
it “good public policy.”
Fitton said the constitution is supposed to be colorblind.
[to top of second column]
|
Evanston, Illinois - CityofEvanston.org
“But the left in Evanston and those who want to play the racial
division card, they don't believe that and Judicial Watch is hoping
and praying a federal court will remind them of the rule of law,”
said Fitton.
Chesney said he fully supports Judicial Watch’s efforts to stop the
Evanston reparations law and predicted the lawsuit will succeed.
“This is the northwestern part of the state where Gov. J.B. Pritzker
has his name on the law school,” said Chesney. “These people are
proudly woke. They think they’re being compassionate, but what
they’re really doing is carving up the population into voting blocks
and handing out taxpayer money to stay in power.”
In 2019, Evanston officials launched a $10 million reparations
program funded by cannabis taxes, calling it a “first step” to
address systemic racism. According to reports, Alderman Robin Rue
Simmons said the $25,000 grants were meant to “build wealth
instantly for a family” by helping Black residents harmed by
redlining and housing discrimination.
The program aimed to revitalize, preserve, and stabilize Black
owner-occupied homes and promote intergenerational equity through
increased homeownership.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
