The below statement can be attributed to Karen Sheley, Director, Police Practices Project, ACLU of Illinois: 

“Superintendent Brown’s announced plan to address gun violence during the long holiday weekend is more of the same. The plan to sweep up Black and Brown young men in their neighborhoods across the City could have been uttered by a number of his predecessors in leadership of the CPD. We have heard this all before—paternalistic claims that young men should be in jail for their own safety. 
 
This approaches only further drive a wedge between the CPD and communities of color. The Superintendent again offers the dangerous suggestion that time in Cook County Jail is for these young people’s own good. This is a terrible idea in the best of times – in the midst of a pandemic, it could be a death sentence for these young men or members of their family on release.”

This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana law requiring abortion providers to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, finding that it imposed an unconstitutional restriction on access to the procedure.

The below statement can be attributed to Ameri Klafeta, Director of the Women’s and Reproductive Rights Project, ACLU of Illinois: 

“In today’s decision, the Supreme Court justly rejected abortion opponents’ political maneuverings meant to test the Court’s willingness to reverse its own recent holding preserving abortion access. There should be no confusion – the hospital admitting privileges at issue in the Louisiana, just like those in the Texas law that the Court considered just a few years ago, do nothing to advance safety or quality for those seeking reproductive health care, including abortion care. The goal simply was to end access to abortion care in Louisiana, and push the Supreme Court to allow more draconian restrictions in other states. 

It is comforting to know that in the face of these dangerous political gambits our Illinois legislators ensured that access to all reproductive health care, including abortion care, is a fundamental right. Illinois will not allow our residents to fall victim to some politicians’ cruel attempts to control their medical decisions. Abortion care is basic health care that is available in this state. That remains unchanged by today’s decision.”
 

Today, the Pritzker administration announced it had released legal guidance that affirms Illinois nondiscrimination protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
 
The below statement can be attributed to John Knight, LGBTQ & HIV Advocacy Director, ACLU of Illinois:
 
“We congratulate Governor Pritzker and his Administration for reinforcing their commitment to assuring that all Illinois residents have access to the health care they need, including LGBTQ residents. The specific inclusion of gender-affirming surgery for those insured through Illinois’ Medicaid program is especially welcome.
 
As the Trump Administration continues in its efforts to deny health care and basic dignity to people who are transgender, Illinois is embracing and respecting the dignity of all Illinoisans. No one should be turned away by health care providers or denied the care they need because they are LGBTQ.”