OUR WINS
We Want Options and Answers COVID Safety Campaign
-Won Development of School District 189 Covid 19 Safety Task Force
-Gathered parents and bus drivers for forum development
-Partnered with school district for a transportation oversight committee
-Negotiated the school to re-evaluate their liability form
The Pretrial Fairness Act was signed into law on February 22, 2021 as part of the omnibus Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today (SAFE-T) Act, Public Act 101-0652.
The Pretrial Fairness Act ended the use of money bond and transformed Illinois’ pretrial decision-making process when it took full effect in September 2023.
We have compiled the below resources to help attorneys navigate these changes to the legal system. If you have questions about the materials or have ideas for other resources we could provide, please email us for further info. larita@meoc618.org
Illinois House Passes BIO Bill
SPRINGFIELD – Today, the Illinois House of Representatives passed the Block Illegal Ownership and Fix The FOID (BIO) Bill, a victory for gun safety advocates across Illinois. The legislation passed 60-50 picking up more momentum as it heads to the Senate. Gun Violence Prevention PAC (G-PAC) Illinois released the following statement:
“Today’s overwhelming victory shows the momentum behind our coalition of gun violence survivors, advocates, faith leaders, health care professionals, and law enforcement is picking up at a critical time,” said Kathleen Sances, President of Gun Violence Prevention PAC Illinois. “Legislators in the House sent a clear message to their colleagues in the Senate today: gun violence is an equity issue that cannot be set aside any longer — we must do our most important job and keep our kids safe by passing the BIO bill now.”
Today’s passage follows the release of more evidence that gun violence is an equity issue, as new data compiled by the National Violence Center revealed Illinois ranks fifth in the nation in black homicides. It also follows an editorial from the Chicago Sun Times urging the legislature to pass the BIO bill this session, as well as the deadliest weekend in Chicago so far this year — 54 people shot, 42 wounded, and 12 dead, including a 15-year-old boy. Firearms are the number one cause of death for children and teens in Illinois, with an average of 183 kids killed by guns per year.
G-PAC Illinois is a gun safety advocacy organization founded by survivors in 2013 to counter the influence of the gun lobby in Springfield. G-PAC recently launched the “Our One Job” campaign, a digital advertising and grassroots advocacy effort to pass the BIO bill and curb the flow of illegal guns that cause too many preventable gun violence tragedies. The ads are part of our legislative push to pass the BIO bill..
Wear Orange
Establishing Wear Orange day in E St Louis as an official day first Friday of every June - Mayoral Proclamation acknowledging Wear Orange Day
Parents and Guardians United, District 189
Established Parents and Guardians United, a group of parents, guardians, bus drivers, clergy, practitioners who collaborated to conduct research meetings, public actions, a series of meetings with the Superintendent of Schools, Chief of Staff and other District 189 Administrative staff, East Side Health District, Illinois Central Bus Company advocating for virtual options for students following a series of COVID outbreaks. Advocated for Transportation safety for students and parents, advocated for streamlined disciplinary actions and protocols around student, staff and bus driver safety. Developed a COVID and Public Safety Task Force.