Prairie State Wire

An Illinois man upset with Gov. J.B. Pritzker's handling of the COVID-19 outbreak started a GoFundMe campaign to pay for a lawsuit against the governor's alleged abuse of power.

Chicago resident William Kelly started his GoFundMe campaign to pay for a lawsuit against Pritzker's alleged “unconstitutional abuse of power,” the GoFundMe campaign page said. Kelly is working with Remember America Foundation to fund the class-action lawsuit and has launched a Facebook group in support of the campaign.

Some Illinois citizens showed they are angry with Pritzker in comments on the Facebook group's page, particularly with his stay-at-home orders that have closed businesses and kept people from churches. 

More than 52,000 members have joined the Facebook group, and the GoFundMe effort created on May 19 had raised $3,704 of a $35,000 goal as of May 27.

Donors to the campaign have issued their own criticism of the Governor's policies: 

R. JORDAN, who donated $50, said on Facebook, "I believe in this cause."

"Lost 2 months of supplemental/part time income," S. Ball said along with her $5 donation. "I have a FT job and also have another supplemental/part time job. Still unable to get through to IDES to see if I qualify for that lost income."

"Complaining does not do much but actions such as this means you are serious. Many small gifts make for a successful show of support," J Countryman said on Facebook as he donated $20.

The petition to file the class-action lawsuit has more than 110,000 signatures from “injured, frustrated and fed up residents of Illinois and thousands of residents and businesses across the state that would like to be plaintiffs in our case,” Kelly said on the GoFundMe page.

Pritzker issued his first stay-at-home order to contain the coronavirus spread on March 20. It ordered non-essential businesses to close, ordered residents to stay in their homes except for necessary supplies or to help individuals to get necessary supplies, seek medical attention, or work in jobs labelled as essential. He has extended that order multiple times.

“Gov. J.B. Pritzker has abused his executive power granted to him by the voters of Illinois. He has used the excuse of the COVID-19 crisis to close schools, churches, public parks and beaches, shutter small businesses, and restaurants across the State of Illinois,” Kelly wrote. “He has caused the loss of millions of jobs and there is no end in sight. At the same time. Gov. Pritzker has allowed other businesses to remain open. He has allowed liquor stores, marijuana businesses, and other stores to remain open as essential businesses while discriminating against other small business owners.”

Pritzker's reopening plan that could keep some counties closed for many more months.  

“He is threatening business owners with jail if they open their doors. He has released violent thugs out of prison over virus concerns," Kelly said on the GoFundMe page. "Does Gov. Pritzker have the legal justification for shuttering businesses and forcing residents to stay-at-home under threat of law? For any of his acts?” 

The governor's decisions used faulty computer modeling projections and Pritzker still uses bad data to craft his orders, Kelly said.

“Illinois residents must fight back in a court of law to force Gov. Pritzker to account for his unconstitutional actions. To force him to obey the Constitution and the Bill of Rights,” Kelly said on the GoFundMe page.