Illinois State Senator Patricia Van Pelt

Van Pelt calls for death penalty to be abolished nationwide

: Published: 16 July 2020

CHICAGO – The U.S. Supreme Court this week authorized the resumption of the death penalty, permitting the country’s first execution in 17 years, leading State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) to call for capital punishment to be abolished at the federal level.

“Is this the way we want to use the power of the state, in the middle of a global pandemic: to kill people?” Van Pelt said. “There can be no true exoneration after the death penalty. People like George Stinney can never be brought back.”

Van Pelt calls for all racist propaganda to come down, says Obama statue is long overdue

: Published: 15 July 2020

CHICAGO – State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) is calling on lawmakers to reevaluate the statues on Illinois state capitol grounds, starting with the replacement of the Stephen Douglas statue with the country’s first Black president and former Illinois senator.

“Former President Barack Obama has accomplished so much, and there is barely any celebration of him anywhere around our state capitol,” Van Pelt said. “Some of the most significant moments in his early career took place in Springfield. It is a statue that’s long overdue.”

Van Pelt: It’s time for Chicago Police to take accountability for the murders of Fred Hampton and Mark Clark

: Published: 15 July 2020

CHICAGO – State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) is calling for the Chicago Police Department to apologize for the murders of Fred Hampton and Mark Clark in 1969.

“The murders of Fred Hampton and Mark Clark were violent and brutal acts by the Chicago Police Department. Though it happened more than 50 years ago, Black Americans are still waiting for justice and accountability,” Van Pelt said. “How are Black and Brown Americans ever expected to trust the police when they got away with murder, and continue to do so?”

Join MPC for these upcoming virtual events!

: Published: 14 July 2020

Here are some upcoming summer events from the Metropolitan Planning Council:

Power and Privilege: How do we keep racial equity at the forefront as we make our way through COVID-19
Wednesday, July 29, 10 - 11:30 a.m. CDT

Have you been wondering how do we keep racial equity at the forefront as we make our way through COVID-19? This session is designed to elicit conversations about the implications of imbedding concepts of racial equity into practices, generate concrete ideas of what that could look like, and have participants make initial commitments to bringing ideas into their own practice.