* The Illinois Statehouse is also being closed at 2 o’clock, I’m told…
Secretary of State office buildings in Springfield are closing today at 2 p.m.
The Springfield buildings impacted include, but are not limited to, the following: The Howlett Building, the Illinois State Library, the Herndon Building and the Driver Services facility located at 2701 S. Dirksen Parkway. All of the buildings will reopen tomorrow, June 2.
Out of an abundance of caution and after conferring with law enforcement, these buildings are being closed at 2 p.m. today to protect the public and employees.
* The SoS confirmed to me that this rally prompted the closure decision…
…Adding… Illinois Legislative Correspondents Association…
Spokesman Henry Haupt says media are not required to vacate the [Statehouse] pressroom, but the office is advising it out of “an abundance of caution.”
* Last night…
* Yesterday…
* ‘My silence won’t allow it’: Vehicle procession organized by Black Lives Matter Springfield remembers George Floyd, others
…Adding… From the scene…
- Amalia - Monday, Jun 1, 20 @ 11:01 am:
compelling poster. watch out for the anarchists. the protest went violent in Pittsburgh when a 20 year old white man (sought now by name by police) broke windows in a police car. he was wearing an anarchist face covering.
- RuralKing - Monday, Jun 1, 20 @ 11:04 am:
Peacefully demonstrating? These things have not turned out to be “peaceful”. Why let them start so late in the day? Let them protest/rally in the morning and then disperse by 2 or 3 pm. Hope there is a significant police presence and that rioters will be arrested.
- snarknado - Monday, Jun 1, 20 @ 11:08 am:
What message does this send? We need to close down the Capitol and SOS offices because of a Black Lives Matter protest, but no need to do that when the gun rights advocates ore reopen Illinois folks are marching down the street.
The violence is NOT perpetrated by peaceful protesters.
- Bob Loblaw - Monday, Jun 1, 20 @ 11:09 am:
RuralKing
Haven’t you spent the last two months insisting the government doesn’t have the right to tell people when they can and can’t be out in public?
- Bigtwich - Monday, Jun 1, 20 @ 11:10 am:
Saw the drive by in Springfield yesterday. Heard there were three thousand cars. I have no trouble believing that. It was well done.
- cermak_rd - Monday, Jun 1, 20 @ 11:21 am:
RuralKing,
What do you mean, let them? My attitude is if church members have the right to gather and spread COVID as a result because they have an absolute right to religion, then everyone else’s rights are absolute too. Including the right to protest.
As for me, I’ve holed up in Chateau Cermak and have no intention of coming out anytime soon!
- Honeybear - Monday, Jun 1, 20 @ 11:31 am:
We had two, what I called “lighthouse keepers” at our Family Community Resource Center. They were pulled out for today.
Pretty sure we’ve entered the event horizon as a nation.
- jimbo26 - Monday, Jun 1, 20 @ 12:37 pm:
The Black Lives Matter Springfield Chapter sponsored Caravan around Springfield with 3000 cars and an estimated 9000 people equals about about 7.5% of the population of Springfield showing up to support Black Lives Matter in our community. Amazing to see so many people waving from porches and yards as we drove by.
- Saul Goodman - Monday, Jun 1, 20 @ 2:18 pm:
If this is going to be a peaceful rally, why are we closing the Statehouse?
If we can’t be sure it will be peaceful, why are we allowing it to proceed?
- gone but not forgotten - Monday, Jun 1, 20 @ 3:05 pm:
Why are people criticizing the Secret Service for having the President be in bunker for the protests in DC? Protection such as this?