* Isabel told you earlier that Gov. Pritkzer listed several fairly recent acts of political violence. A reporter followed up…
Q: Speaking about the list you ticked off at the beginning of this, all of the violence targeted at elected officials. How are you feeling personally? Are you talking with your family, with your security team about the temperature change? How has it changed since your first day of office to today?
Pritzker: Well, without revealing any of you know, what I think the State Police does in their protective efforts for elected officials in the state, I’ll just say they’ve done a terrific job of keeping my family safe. We have the best State Police in the country, and I really mean that. We have the best Executive Protection Unit in the country. I’m very proud of the people that I work with.
But if you’re asking, you know, the number of threats that have come in over the last few days has been an enormous multiple of those that were coming in in the days before. And and we’ve seen an increase in threats in the state of Illinois over the last seven, eight years, seven years, at least, since I’ve been governor six and a half, seven years. And not just about me. I’m just saying I think this is happening across the country and it’s happening in the state of Illinois.
But the truth is that the number of threats and the number of people who seem to want to engage in political violence has increased substantially. And I would like very much for people to just take a breath, take a step back, and recognize that, you know, there’s political violence that occurs against people on both sides and on both parties, and that our country would be a lot better off if people would see that. Democracy is really the method by which we avoid political violence. And I think over the course of the history of the United States, that’s been what makes this country great.
- Norseman - Monday, Sep 15, 25 @ 1:38 pm:
Praying for the safety of the Gov and the continued competency of the protection detail. I’d ask if the FBI was helping, but I know better.
- Flat Bed Ford - Monday, Sep 15, 25 @ 1:49 pm:
JB has made several inflammatory remarks towards Republicans and the MAGA movement. State of the State and his comments at a New Hampshire Democrat funder come to top of mind. None of these comments should cause anyone to take any sort of action whatsoever.
Maybe it would be best however for JB to focus on running Illinois in a manner that benefits ALL Illinoisians and not just those in his party.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, Sep 15, 25 @ 2:04 pm:
=== several inflammatory remarks ===
I am sorry, who was “inflamed”?
Because it sounds like you are arguing that Pritzker’s words made some MAGA members do bad things. We must categorically reject the argument that you are responsible for how I behave, or visa versa.
- Excitable Boy - Monday, Sep 15, 25 @ 2:06 pm:
- Maybe it would be best however for JB to focus on running Illinois in a manner that benefits ALL Illinoisians -
He has and continues to do so. Whether some people understand that is another issue.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Monday, Sep 15, 25 @ 2:14 pm:
Governor Pritzker makes a good point about political violence being committed against people of both parties.
It’s been a while ago, so maybe some of you can help me remember.
After Gabby Giffords, Paul Pelosi, and Melissa Hortman were attacked, did any Democrats demand retribution or revenge?
- JS Mill - Monday, Sep 15, 25 @ 2:18 pm:
=It’s been a while ago, so maybe some of you can help me remember.
After Gabby Giffords, Paul Pelosi, and Melissa Hortman were attacked, did any Democrats demand retribution or revenge?=
Exactly. But, if you only watch one channel for news or get caught in a specific algorithm, you probably don’t know that.
- DuPage Saint - Monday, Sep 15, 25 @ 2:19 pm:
He deserves all the protection that he and experts think he should have. Probably true of some of our constitutional office holders and nationwide some senators and reps. I just think that some alders and appointed officials do not deserve any but think they need them. I guess better safe than sorry. But ex mayors or officials only for a short time and then if they want protection make them pay for it. Many national politicians get rich in office or shortly thereafter and should pay for their details. Carter being only exception I can think of.
- JS Mill - Monday, Sep 15, 25 @ 2:26 pm:
=JB has made several inflammatory remarks towards Republicans and the MAGA movement.=
Vance just hosted the kirk podcast from the White House. But you were saying something about “inflammatory remarks”?
- low level - Monday, Sep 15, 25 @ 2:58 pm:
==JB has made several inflammatory remarks towards Republicans and the MAGA movement. ==
Thank you for your statement. We are all now more stupid for having taken the time to read it. You remind me of what frequently happens when the parents of children who are bullied go to the principal to report the bully and rather than take action the bulied kids are blamed for speaking up or fighting back.
- maybe - Monday, Sep 15, 25 @ 3:32 pm:
=It’s been a while ago, so maybe some of you can help me remember.
After Gabby Giffords, Paul Pelosi, and Melissa Hortman were attacked, did any Democrats demand retribution or revenge?=
Exactly. But, if you only watch one channel for news or get caught in a specific algorithm, you probably don’t know that.=
And AOC and the likes have never advocated for people to approach politicians and their families while they are eating at a restaurant?
But as JB said, democracy is the answer, use your vote.
- Big Dipper - Monday, Sep 15, 25 @ 3:37 pm:
==After Gabby Giffords, Paul Pelosi, and Melissa Hortman were attacked, did any Democrats demand retribution or revenge?==
I also remember MAGA laughing about the violent attack on the elderly Pelosi which seems inconsistent with their pearl clutching over Kirk.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Sep 15, 25 @ 3:39 pm:
===And AOC===
We do not live in New York.
- maybe - Monday, Sep 15, 25 @ 3:59 pm:
=We do not live in New York.=
JB eluded to a nationwide problem. I did not reference New York specifically, however that verbage from there can carry over to neighboring Kentucky.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/08/politics/mitch-mcconnell-louisville-protest
- Homebody - Monday, Sep 15, 25 @ 4:26 pm:
I hope people here aren’t equating protesting with actual threats and attacks. Those are obviously very different things. I have to assume someone who is equating them is doing so in bad faith.
- H-W - Monday, Sep 15, 25 @ 4:31 pm:
=== JB eluded to a nationwide problem. ===
Specifically, the thread is discussing violence and calls for violence. Show some intelligence. Your attempt to suggest a parallel between a rise in threats of violence and interrupting a dinner to discuss issues with a politician suggest Maybe, you are not ready to vote.
Stay on topic.
- Roadrager - Monday, Sep 15, 25 @ 4:32 pm:
==I also remember MAGA laughing about the violent attack on the elderly Pelosi which seems inconsistent with their pearl clutching over Kirk.==
United States Senator “Based” Mike Lee of Utah was cracking jokes for likes and retweets after Melissa Hortman, her husband, and their dog were murdered. Now he wants the government to restore Cold War curbs on speech and call it the Charlie Kirk Act. The hypocrisy is the point.
- Big Dipper - Monday, Sep 15, 25 @ 4:36 pm:
I’m pretty sure you meant alluded.