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The drama is strong in this one

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Illinois

* Center Square on the HCRCA…

The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police was among the first to raise concerns about the changes. President Chris Southwood Tuesday said now it’s signed, they’re getting the word out.

“Freedom-loving citizens all across the state have been stripped of their basic right to conscientious choice and can now be discriminated against because of their conscientious refusal to have COVID vaccines forced on them,” Southwood told WMAY. […]

Calling Pritzker a “dictator,” Southwood said there will be political consequences for those that supported the change.

“And I think that those people have now certainly in our opinion have lost the right to represent freedom loving citizens all across this state and we’re going to make sure their constituents know about it as these elections come closer and closer,” Southwood said.

To the governor and Democrats that talk about supporting labor, Southwood said they’re being hypocrites if they supported changes to the HCRCA.

All you “lost” was your ability to sue your employer and recover treble damages if and only if you could find a judge who let you get away with exploiting a statutory loophole that was never intended to be interpreted this way in the first place.

Also, the Illinois FOP’s campaign committee has a whopping fifteen grand in it.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 8:50 am

Comments

I am close to fine with the idea of defunding the police. If I am mugged or my home broken into, I am not sure I would even bother reporting it. I suppose I’d need a police report for insurance purposes, but that’s the only help I’d expect from them.

Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 8:58 am
= basic right to conscientious choice =

When did this become a basic right. I can’t seem to find it in the constitution anywhere.

Does that mean states like Indiana and Kansas hate freedom too. They don’t allow this supposed right either.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 9:01 am
=Freedom-loving citizens all across the state have been stripped of their basic right to conscientious choice=

Just curious if Southwood has those same thoughts about Texas.

Yeah, I didn’t think so.

Comment by Steve Rogers Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 9:02 am
The problem with ILFOP, besides the lack of funds to really cause a stir, is their membership hasn’t been supporting democrats for years. The passage of this changes nothing in the political landscape.

Comment by Maybe Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 9:03 am
“When you’re crazy in-law uncle is the President of the Illinois FOP…”

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 9:06 am
If someone doesn’t want to get a vaccine, what is wrong with them still being in compliance by getting a test? I’ve been asking this question for week/months and nobody can answer it.

Comment by Just Me 2 Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 9:09 am
===To the governor and Democrats that talk about supporting labor, Southwood said they’re being hypocrites if they supported changes to the HCRCA.===

“To the crazy in-law uncle that talks about supporting labor, Labor history and it’s Genesis says being a hypocrite to why organized labor even exists is opposing changes to the HCRCA.”

Better.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 9:11 am
=Freedom-loving citizens all across the state have been stripped of their basic right to conscientious choice=

Not a good look when the people entrusted to uphold the law don’t know what the law is.

Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 9:16 am
Someone get this snowflake an emotional support animal. He’s been triggered

Comment by illinoyed Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 9:17 am
Southwood wouldn’t know what freedom means if it hit him over the head. Anyone who exercises his idea of freedom to a police officer would get beaten senseless.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 9:18 am
Cheryl44 - I’ve had two apartment break-ins in the past 20 years and the CPD were utterly useless both times.

Comment by skutt Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 9:27 am
” I can’t seem to find it in the constitution anywhere.”

Right after the right to go fishing during stay at home orders.

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 9:28 am
“I suppose I’d need a police report for insurance purposes”

Maybe someday, someone will explain why we need to summon a person armed with a gun to fill out the paperwork after a property crime or auto accident, but I’ll bet today isn’t that day.

– MrJM

Comment by MisterJayEm Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 9:40 am
once again, I have to wonder, why is the small percentage of officers not complying driving an agenda? In Chicago it is less than 30% of the officers who have not reported. the brass don’t seem to be representing majority actions.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 9:46 am
Skutt, I expect them to be useless (except for the paperwork) if my place is broken into. I’d prefer them to not bring along a communicable disease as well. And yes, MrJM, you’d think.

Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 9:59 am
I will keep saying it again, time to fire those officers and other state and local employees who are refusing to get vaccinated. And treat them as if they committed a felony, and take away their pensions and retiree benefits. I’ve already gotten the booster last month and my health care right of conscience tells me that work would be a lot safer if we got the non-vaccinated folks off the payroll.

Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 10:13 am
Mr JM - today is your lucky day. It’s to reduce the possibility of insurance fraud. Thought that was pretty obvious.

Comment by Captain Obvious Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 10:14 am
The thing Southwood and people like him continually forget is they’re in the minority with these views.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 10:15 am
“It’s to reduce the possibility of insurance fraud. Thought that was pretty obvious.”

When a farmer makes a crop insurance claim for hundreds of thousands of dollars, the underwriter sends out a friendly, unarmed fellow to look at the damage.

Gunmen aren’t needed to “reduce the possibility of insurance fraud.”

Thought that was pretty obvious.

– MrJM

Comment by MisterJayEm Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 10:33 am
===When a farmer makes a crop insurance claim===

Or a homeowner who files a hail damage claim.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 10:39 am
Does anyone else find it odd that the police are advocating which laws should be followed, and which should not be followed? Any find it odd that the police are advocating for the right to interpret laws in ways that serve the interests of individuals, not the community?

Comment by H-W Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 11:09 am
=Does anyone else find it odd that the police are advocating which laws should be followed, and which should not be followed?=

History has shown us that when the people sworn to uphold the law begin to pick and choose which laws they believe are valid, democracy is put at risk and we should all be concerned.

Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 11:23 am
=Does anyone else find it odd that the police are advocating which laws should be followed, and which should not be followed?=

Yes, from day 1. Same goes for all of the formerly law and order people and legislators like Bailey.

I never thought they would be ok with kids drinking and doing drugs in school but now that they want us to pick and choose I guess they are cool with that.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 11:25 am
I’ve long had a moral objection to driving the speed limit in various circumstances, but the cops don’t seem to acknowledge it.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 11:27 am
== why is the small percentage of officers not complying driving an agenda? ==

The union leadership has to run for re-election every three years. An active group of disgruntled members can easily swing a low turn-out election, which is why the FOP is far from the only union pushing back against vax mandates.

And an important thing to keep in mind with the Chicago FOP: retired members can vote in union elections. John Cantanzara’s electoral base is living in southwest Florida, eagerly awaiting his next bomb-throwing session on Fox News.

Comment by Telly Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 11:35 am
I wish someone would explain to the FOP that this freedom loving citizen and many others like me, want the freedom to live, work, learn, shop etc. without fear that some anti-vaxxer is going to possibly give me an infectious disease that ends up further infecting/harming my grandma, nephew, child, immunocompromised family member… etc.

We want the freedom to live in a world without a pandemic and they want the freedom to do their own research on Facebook.

Comment by Freedom Loving Citizen Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 12:53 pm
I just don’t get the opposition to taking the vaccine.
But as this drags on this may have to go to SCOTUS.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 1:03 pm
Anytime FOP throws a tantrum about this, I wonder if the reporter will ever ask if they believe in stopping the biggest killer of cops in 2021 - COVID 19 - or if really have their officers’ best interest at heart.

Comment by DeeLay Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 1:14 pm
==I just don’t get the opposition to taking the vaccine.==

I don’t get it either unless you have some medical issue. What I really don’t get is the opposition to testing. As others have asked time and time again - what is the issue with being tested if you aren’t vaccinated? These types of people have very little regard for other people.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Nov 10, 21 @ 4:34 pm