72 Comments - Former Downstater - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:05 am: Now lets hear from the candidates who spoke at the rally. Curran? Bailey? - efudd - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:06 am: Morons. The fact that you can publicly protest without getting your heads thumped, or worse, is pretty much proof you don’t live in a dictatorship. - Candy Dogood - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:07 am: I do wonder what it’s like to be drawing a swastika on a poster and thinking to oneself “this is a good idea” and then spend all day carrying a swastika laden poster around thinking to oneself “this is a good idea.” Perhaps we should do the right wing/alt-right/anti-vaxx/anti-science/pro-Qanon/pro 3% militia activists a favor and produce a list of dictators that weren’t also anti-Semitic so that they can make comparisons to dictators from history without wading into Nazi filled waters. After all, it wasn’t very long ago when tens of thousands of Republicans voted for a Nazi to represent them in congress. - efudd - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:08 am: Why is Hitler always in the forefront of these peoples’ minds? - Grandson of Man - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:09 am: “We have identified China as a foreign enemy. We have identified our domestic enemies in Nancy Pelosi and JB Pritzker.” This is disgusting and opening the door to some whack job taking these words to heart and causing harm. Trump does the same thing, so it’s follow the leader. Where are you, ILGOP leadership, to condemn this? Are you completely overrun by extremists? Is the old GOP officially dead now? - Rachel - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:09 am: Well, if Pelosi and Pritzker are their enemies then I guess the protesters are mine. It is hard to complain about enemies that are actually killing themselves. I’m so tired of stupid. - Fighter of Foo - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:09 am: Be mad. Be whatever you want. But, there was one Hitler. No politician in our great country is anywhere in the same atmosphere. It is infuriating and breaks my heart that so many people are ignorant to history. - Anon E Moose - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:10 am: Provocateurs gonna provoke. These jerks just want attention. - LizPhairTax - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:14 am: Hey PapRocks, exorcism-worthy or just twitter mad? - Norseman - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:17 am: === It’s high time that the politicians who are speaking and hosting these rallies denounce these cretins …. But don’t hold your breath… === So correct. Sadly, the GOP has decided that fighting pandemic response measures is the key for their election prospects. Ginning up the hatred for and lying about the proponents of public health measures is critical to this effort. What little GOP condemnation there may be is purposely faint to avoid political infighting. They must not interfere with the strategy. - tinsel town - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:17 am: I don’t agree with the tactics, but in America, their speech is as protected as mine. If it’s not protected, we all have a problem. - Amalia - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:19 am: I just look at them and see disease carriers because of their irresponsible behavior. hope not many came from my neighborhood cause we don’t need more disease here. - Ron Burgundy - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:21 am: -their speech is as protected as mine.- They can say it, and we can denounce them for it. In Germany, however, they could face charges. - efudd - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:21 am: tinsel town- Couldn’t agree more. Wonder how these protesters feel about kneeling during the anthem? - Grandson of Man - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:21 am: If anybody has a right to complain about government oppression it’s POC who are victims of police brutality and disproportionate arrests. The white anti-government protesters need to get to the back of the line. - Paddyrollingstone - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:22 am: I think the legislature should censure Representative Miller. His comments are disgusting and offensive and bring the legislature into disrepute. - @misterjayem - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:23 am: “in America, their speech is as protected as mine.” No one has suggested otherwise. – MrJM - DuPage Saint - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:24 am: I really do not get it. Maybe they are just really really dumb I think they know no history and probably little history of the Third Reich. Just some guy called Hitler and he was bad so let’s call him Hitler. Disgusting. And even more disgusting done in Land of Lincoln a real Republican - Oswego Willy - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:25 am: Where’s Leader Durkin? If Leader Durkin thinks it’s fine TWO of his members spoke in front of anti-Semitic signs, national socialist symbols… then ok? See, Leader Durkin, I’d give ya the benefit of the doubt, like “it’s the weekend, so”… but y’all tweeted about the dangers of misdemeanors for businesses… and ZERO tweets or “stuff” about TWO of your members speaking in front of those signs Your press office is open to ding the Governor on policy, good or bad as it is… but nothing about the racism? Huh. If I missed it, boy, that’s on me, but I didn’t miss the tweet about the misdemeanor thingy. Nope. Oh, and let’s be real frank; I’ve yet to see anti-Semitic signs that read “we back nurses” I’ve yet to see national socialist symbols with the words “We support doctors” Not one… not ONE person at these rallies confronted this hate, as protesters… and asked them to leave the group. How do I know? You don’t think the press would discuss protestors arguing amongst themselves about these posters? Yeah, me neither. I guess the “Hateful Eight”, in this case two, will get the “silent” response. Who is running the caucus? At some point, ignoring member management gives you things like members speaking in front of national socialist symbols, racist words, and anti-Semitic symbols If I missed these rebukes, whole rebukes, then that’s on me. - SAP - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:27 am: Can’t believe I’m saying this, but Bishop Paprocki got one right. - Practical Politics - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:28 am: The organizers of the “Open Illinois” events asked that such hate symbols not be displayed at the protests and put these statements in writing. Nonetheless, there appear to have been a few in Springfield and Chicago. The presence of a few objectionable signs among hundreds does not make the purposes of both assemblies entirely illegitimate. - charles in charge - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:29 am: ==I don’t agree with the tactics, but in America, their speech is as protected as mine. If it’s not protected, we all have a problem.== “Protected” from what or whom? Nobody’s depriving these very stupid people of the right to speak their very stupid thoughts. This is about elected officials who not only condone these hateful messages but actually provide these idiots with a megaphone. Bailey, Miller and their ilk deserve all of our scorn and derision. - Huh? - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:30 am: Time to start taking names and contacting employers to ask if they really want thses knuckleheads representing their company. - Joe Bidenopolous - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:30 am: = but in America, their speech is as protected as mine= Which should be all the proof they need that they don’t live under a Hitler-style dictatorship. If they did, they’d be dead. I mean, they might be anyway, but that’ll be due to their own actions, not the actions of the chief executive - Yiddishcowboy - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:31 am: It’s hard for me to see this drek coming from the trashiest segments of society. I can have a pretty “uncivil” side at times, especially when it comes to antiemitism. I always pray that my civil side wins out seeing as I really enjoy and love my kids, my spouse and my freedom. So far, so good. - The Way I See It - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:41 am: it would be sweet irony if after carrying these signs around to promote the the back to work cause, these folks found themselves without jobs to go back to because of their conduct while promoting the cause ….. - Froganon - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:44 am: When people tell you who/what they are, believe them. Maya Angelo nailed it. No more press time for these folks. They’re irrevelent and they know it. - Nagidam - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:45 am: Thank you Bishop Paprocki. Now…about marriage equality. Can we have a honest discussion. - DailyGrind - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:53 am: These people aren’t representing their employer when they go to these rallies, so doxing them makes you just as bad as them. - Lincoln Lad - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 10:59 am: In November, we need an overwhelming majority to speak on what this country is about, and who we are as a people. The Republican Party needs to be soundly beaten through voters across the country. It’s a subset of that party that carries the insane messaging, but the majority of that party accepts that without speaking out. They are ensuring their own demise. November will dwarf 2018 results that clearly said that we as a nation do not support this ideology. - Oswego Willy - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 11:03 am: - Lincoln Lad - Where are you wrong? This idea of the GOP pre-Rauner, pre-Trump… to this party seemingly welcoming and “ok” with hate speech signs during rallies and no pushback towards that speech… … the United States needs to look at what it waves to be… abc what the Trumpkins and his party are… and the signs they gleefully hold. - Oswego Willy - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 11:10 am: === Where are you wrong?=== (Rhetorical, you’re not) If you think agreeing with David Duke on policy but calling *him* (David Duke) abhorrent is a ridiculous stance… Welp, that’s what Trumpkins try to say with these welcomed protesters amongst them. - Ducky LaMoore - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 11:10 am: I wonder what Hitler did to people protesting his orders… I don’t think they got in their car and went back to their home…. - Cheryl44 - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 11:11 am: Daily if I walked into a business and saw any of these people working there I would turn around and leave. I do not want to associate with them or with anyone who would hire them. And not just because they’re probably spreading the virus on top of being RWNJs. - Jibba - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 11:14 am: This is what happens when the only thing you know about Nazis is that there was a guy named Hitler and he was bad. - Candy Dogood - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 11:15 am: ===No politician in our great country is anywhere in the same atmosphere.=== While I understand this sentiment, Hitler didn’t appear on the spot instantaneously as the Hitler we see looking back on history. It was a slow crescendo of abuses, absurdities, growing insult, and growing support until one day someone made a Faustian bargain that gave him a little power, a little legitimacy and so it grew until it became a crushing loudness followed by the sudden silence of millions of murdered innocents and a horror that was only stopped by tens of millions of lives traded on the battle field for a defeated nation. No, there isn’t an American Hitler — but there sure seem to be some symptoms of the same kind of infection that caused so much death at the hands of the hateful ignorant empowering leaders without scruple supported by those that would use the opportunity to grab all they could take. Heck, we even mock the D-bags that show up to the armed rallies and take over capitol buildings instead of seeking to give them actual consequences. Compare our responses now to the response we see to left wing protests of the WTO of the past. (Though I imagine there’s a weird intersection of left and right at current WTO protests) - Ducky LaMoore - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 11:17 am: “These people aren’t representing their employer when they go to these rallies, so doxing them makes you just as bad as them.” Actions have consequences. That’s freedom baby. - Lincoln Lad - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 11:18 am: -OW- Silence = Acceptance Within the party…Within the voting booth. Americans need to speak loudly in November - there will not be silence. - dbk - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 11:18 am: Having puzzled about this way too long for my own mental health, I’ve concluded that the ADL should get even more involved. The protestors’ arguments make no sense to me, and they’re divisive and potentially dangerous to the public health and welfare. - Joe Bidenopolous - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 11:20 am: What Ducky said - Oswego Willy - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 11:22 am: - Lincoln Lad - :) Elections say so much. Stay well. OW - XonXoff - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 11:39 am: We’ll see what Bailey, ILGOP and Law Enforcement are made of if Illinois becomes the Midwest epicenter of these protests, attracting like-minded individuals from neighboring states, eager to co-opt their efforts. Don’t drop the reigns, Mr. Bailey. - Oswego Willy - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 11:43 am: Still looking… No rebuke from Leader Durkin? Did I miss it? Leader Brady has tweeted (retweeted archbishop Paprocki) his feelings… If I missed it, lemme know. - Oswego Willy - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 12:22 pm: Hmm… === “When someone asserts that the Holocaust never took place, then I don’t believe that person ever deserves one iota of public trust. And when someone has so recently endorsed [N]azism, it is inconceivable that such a person can legitimately aspire to leadership — in a leadership role in a free society. And when someone has a long record, an ugly record, of racism and of bigotry, that record simply cannot be erased by the glib rhetoric of a political campaign. So, I believe that David Duke is an insincere charlatan. I believe he is attempting to hoodwink the voters of Louisiana, and I believe that he should be rejected for what he is and what he stands for.”=== That was George Herbert Walker Bush President of the United States. November, 1991 “Questions”? - wondering wendy - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 12:36 pm: Talked to several down state legislators over the weekend who refused to go to the protests. Please don’t lump all down state legislators in one group. The Eastern Bloc does not represent all of southern Illinois, and definitely doesn’t represent the ideals and thoughts of the majority. - Mama - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 12:39 pm: ==We have identified our domestic enemies in Nancy Pelosi and JB Pritzker.” == Why? - Oswego Willy - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 12:39 pm: === Talked to several down state legislators over the weekend who refused to go to the protests. Please don’t lump all down state legislators in one group.=== Have they “all” publicly rebuked the two HGOP legislators who did speak? Have they condemned these protesters with the signs, publicly? Where o where is Leader Durkin? - Mana - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 12:48 pm: - wondering wendy - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 12:36 pm: I’m glad to hear that. - Oswego Willy - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 12:56 pm: === I’m glad to hear that.=== Hear what? Cowards won’t publicly rebuke what they won’t politically participate in? If anything… I’m disheartened that privately these legislators will passively not attend, and still not publicly condone. Oh. @ilhousegop - “This is a vast government overreach in a time when business owners are doing everything they can to stay afloat. Filing these emergency rules to extend criminal penalties to businesses & individuals all over IL is an abuse of emergency rulemaking” #twill 12:30 PM 5/18/20 No rebuke of the signs, the protesters, the two members who spoke in front of those signs, the protesters. But… time for that tweet? Where is Leader Durkin? - Oswego Willy - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 1:07 pm: Leader Brady, retweeting Archbishop Paprocki; @SenBillBrady -I agree. Hateful imagery and slogans have no place in our political discourse. Did I miss Leader Durkin’s… thoughts? - Norseman - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 1:32 pm: === Talked to several down state legislators over the weekend who refused to go to the protests. === We’ve seen this play out all too often throughout time. “I didn’t participate so don’t blame me.” This especially applies to leaders like state representatives. If they don’t speak out and act against improper actions, they are acquiescing to the bad. - Flapdoodle - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 1:39 pm: ==Talked to several down state legislators over the weekend who refused to go to the protests.== Good for them, but so what? It doesn’t mean a thing until they and the GOP leadership speak out publicly to disavow the anti-Semtic, far right element more prominent in these protests. It doesn’t mean a thing until GOP leadership and members in the GA call Miller, Bailey, et al. to account. Another commenter correctly pointed out that Hitler did not burst onto the scene fully formed. It happened haphazardly, in a time of crisis, when mainstream politicians and people thought they could control and work with the Nazis to beat down the left. They stayed silent until they themselves were silenced. The GOP leadership should make a note of this bit of history. Those who try to ride tigers quite often wind up inside them. Act now, take formal action to call the right wing nut jobs in your caucus to account, or be feckless hand-wringers on your way to political meaninglessness and ridicule. - Motambe - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 1:59 pm: Bishop Paprocki, I’m confused. Apparently if Governor Pritzker were a Baptist or Roman Catholic, the criticism would not be anti-Semitic, and therefore acceptable? - Lincoln Lad - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 2:02 pm: Silence = Acceptance Not condemning allows implied acceptance Implied acceptance = acceptance - Sideline Watcher - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 2:02 pm: MLK: “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” - Fighter of Foo - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 2:27 pm: Why didn’t JB condemn Antifa the last go round? Or Madigan? - Oswego Willy - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 2:30 pm: === Why didn’t JB condemn Antifa the last go round? Or Madigan?=== What an odd argument. Because you feel “others” aren’t condemning “others”, you’re cool with your leaders all but embracing HGOP members speaking in front of anti-Semitic and national socialists emblemed signs? Very odd way to go about it. - Fighter of Foo - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 3:03 pm: The point is, there are fringes on both sides. Neither are representative of the whole. - Oswego Willy - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 3:07 pm: === The point is…=== … if you can’t rebuke racism, anti-Semitic people because politics, that’s an odd way to seem to smart to… anything… regarding anyone’s take on politics If you need someone “first” to do something before you wholly condone racist… welp… wow. You’re really not condoning any, and purposely accepting them. - @misterjayem - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 3:19 pm: “The point is, there are fringes on both sides.” And one side has swastikas. – MrJM - Oswego Willy - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 3:26 pm: Is Leader Durkin, and the HGOP, saying the moral compass of their caucus is held be Mr Miller and Mr Bailey? If the caucus thinks it’s fine TWO of the members spoke in front of anti-Semitic signs, national socialist symbols… then ok? - Lt Guv - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 4:26 pm: == Why didn’t JB condemn Antifa the last go round? Or Madigan? == Besides, as appropriate, when those protests took place when they turned violent, there were arrests and enforcement. Up until then, one is allowed to protest. These goofs should expect the same treatment — keep it peaceful, your right to protest will be protected. Become violent, pay the consequences. - @misterjayem - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 4:40 pm: “Why didn’t JB condemn Antifa the last go round?” What are you talking about? – MrJM - Candy Dogood - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 4:52 pm: - Oswego Willy - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 12:22 pm: Back before American exceptionalism really latched on as political philosophy I feel like it meant that everyone in the office of the Presidency at least tried to be worthy of the status of leader of the free world. It’s like one day millions of us just woke up and decided that we never again had to be aspirational. - Oswego Willy - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 5:01 pm: - Candy Dogood - “We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.” - Abraham Lincoln - Saul Goodman - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 5:10 pm: Let’s see: we have a picture of two people, holding one — admittedly awful — sign. There’s only one other person in the picture, and she has her back turned toward them. You got any more pictures? ‘Cuz based on what I see here you have a couple of cranks who speak for nobody but themselves. - Oswego Willy - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 5:13 pm: === Cuz based on what I see here you have a couple of cranks who speak for nobody but themselves.=== Keep up. Not only did no one attending challenge these signs as inappropriate, they felt very comfortable having these signs for everyone to see. They were welcome there, they felt welcome, not one speaker there rebuked them. - Oswego Willy - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 6:18 pm: Leader Durkin surfaces… “This is a small amount of a few people that show up at events and do nothing but bring out hate and bring out the worst in people in this country. I find their actions contemptible and repugnant & I find them contemptible and repugnant as well” Noting… Doesn’t denounce Miller or Bailey for speaking. - Saul Goodman - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 7:47 pm: Oswego Willie: - Oswego Willy - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 5:13 pm: === Cuz based on what I see here you have a couple of cranks who speak for nobody but themselves.=== Willie, what exactly do you want people to do? Challenge them to a duel? - Oswego Willy - Monday, May 18, 20 @ 7:52 pm: === what exactly do you want people to do? Challenge them to a duel?=== They feel comfortable for a reason. The reason is they are comfortable. When I see national socialist symbols and anti-Semitic signs with the doctors and nurses protesting… It’s not like this is the first time hateful language has followed these events. If you want to be affiliated with these groups, they are a stain on you, you don’t kick them out… they feel comfortable, then you’re welcoming them Oswego Willy - Pundent - Tuesday, May 19, 20 @ 8:28 am: When you hold a sign with Swastikas, and wear a shirt promoting the re-election of the president, it a clear indication that your ideas have gone mainstream. - Da Big Bad Wolf - Tuesday, May 19, 20 @ 4:58 pm: == Why didn’t JB condemn Antifa the last go round?=== When did Antifa do something in Illinois during Pritzker’s tenure? Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.