February 21, 2025, Chicago IL, - Since his inauguration on January 21, 2025, President Trump has brought the nation to its knees in an unprecedented test of our democracy, undermining the separation of powers that has always been the pillar of American governance. Daily, Americans are blindsided by his executive orders, shocking public statements, and illegal actions of his allies and appointees.
Elon Musk – the richest man in the world – has bought his way into the White House and forcefully seized control over the privacy, financial security, and future of every American citizen. Together with other Trump appointees, Musk is acting as a human wrecking ball, decimating entire federal departments and eliminating vital programs including everything from foreign aid, to public education, to veterans’ services and the health institutions we rely on to keep us safe.
And just in case there was any doubt left as to whether Musk is a full-fledged white supremacist, he has proposed offering refugee status to his Afrikaner kinsmen (white South Africans that supported and benefited from Apartheid), yet considers Black and Brown immigrants fleeing violence and poverty to be unworthy of the same grace.
Anyone who consumes popular media is confronted by the relentless onslaught of cuts and threats, especially in the states and cities that Trump has targeted with his anti-immigrant hate-mongering. As part of HR32, which bears the proud title of the "No Bailout For Sanctuary Cities Act," federal aid will not be granted to cities that prioritize morals and values over their finances. For Trump and his administration, the financial bottom line is always their north star, which they defend with the false narrative that savings will be returned to the American people. Yet the fact remains that Trump’s priorities lie only in tax cuts for the rich white men who prop him up, and he will exhaust our resources to create an American dictatorship. Unfortunately for us, he has the legislative support to do so.
In light of all the threats and harms that the Trump administration has already set upon Americans – and the many more that they will unleash – it is concerning that Governor Pritzker intends to further burden the people of Illinois by cutting more than $3 billion from our state budget. Pritzker's proposed cuts are just as harmful as those proposed by Trump and Elon Musk - no matter who makes the cuts, they come at an enormous detriment to our communities. Beyond engaging in a verbal war with the President, the Governor can do a number of things to protect Illinoisans. His top priority should be to pass policies that increase revenues for the state, rather than propose cuts, so that we can begin to make up for the federal support and resources we are losing.
As a member of the Illinois Revenue Coalition – an alliance of grassroots, labor, and policy organizations – we have proposed a slate of policies that would generate twice as much revenue as is required to avoid budget cuts. This is not only enough to eliminate our deficit, but it will also offset some of the federal government's budget cuts. An unelected man, the wealthiest in the world, is running the U.S. as an oligarchy – placing blame for our country’s problems on millions of working class Americans, spreading hate speech, and fearmongering in a country he himself is an immigrant in. Given this reality, anti-poverty policies that uplift those most vulnerable to his wrath are what is most essential to protecting our wellbeing.
In a time of unrelenting cruelty, unyielded executive power, and social uncertainty, the Workers Center for Racial Justice calls Governor Pritzker to say NO to any cuts to social services, and to ensure the people of Illinois are equipped offensively and defensively to withstand the attacks of the Trump administration. The pathway to a budget surplus is always the same: tax the rich. Governor Pritzker needs to put his budget where his mouth is, and pass policies that increase revenue and defend Illinoisans.
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