SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) listened as families relived the terrible days their loved ones were murdered during a Senate Public Health Law committee hearing this afternoon.

“Our voice is not being heard," said Kristena Hopkins, Director of Missing and Murdered Women and Girls, whose cousin, Shantieya Smith, was slain back in 2018. “I feel like they want us to just shake it off and keep moving, but I refuse to because she has a eight-year-old daughter who deserves to know what happened to her mom.”

Latonya Moore, Shantieya’s mother, was also in attendance. After nearly two years of painfully awaiting any updates on her daughter’s case, she expressed her frustration about the lack of justice. This was her third time testifying before this committee.

“…My daughter, to me, feel like a John Doe... She don’t even exist.” Moore cried. “If you was born in my same shoes, how would you feel? Because it feel like I’m reaching out and I’m not getting no help.”

Read more ...

SPRINGFIELD –Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) offered her congratulations as the Illinois Senate elected Senator Don Harmon (D-Chicago) the next Senate President today.

“Congratulations, Don! I am so excited to be working with someone with a strong history of advocating for voters’ rights,” Van Pelt said.

Read more ...

SPRINGFIELD – Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D – Chicago) is calling for further action regarding an apparent rape cover-up revealed earlier today by a WBEZ article.

“The cover-up of such an egregious act is simply inexcusable. Everyone involved in mishandling this injustice should be held accountable. If you know anything about this, it is your duty to report it,” Van Pelt said.

The email was from 2012. There is no statute of limitations for charges of sexual assault in Illinois.

“Too often women don’t come forward because the appropriate actions are never taken. We should fight to make sure that doesn’t happen here. I urge anyone with information to come forward,” Van Pelt said.

If you have information please contact:

Champaign County State’s Attorney, 217-384-3733

Illinois State Police, 217-786-7107

Illinois Executive Inspector General, 217-558-5600 or 312-814-5600.

##

“I want them to know that if they can dream it, they can do it.”

To inspire young people to follow their dreams, Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D- Chicago) will be touring several schools on Chicago’s West Side this winter to promote goal planning for elementary and high school students.

“It is important to teach our young people about the importance of having ambition, and instill in them the confidence needed to realize their dreams,” Van Pelt said. “My team and I have been researching this extensively, and we found that only 3 percent of people take steps to outline and articulate their long-term goals.”

This year’s tour kicked off last week at Daniel Webster Elementary. Van Pelt spoke with students about her own journey to becoming an elected official. Raised in the Cabrini-Green projects, she said she never dreamt of becoming the woman she is today.

Read more ...