Prairie State Wire

The Illinois Republican Party is accusing Gov. J.B. Pritzker of ignoring the stay-at-home order he put into place in March. While the state is currently in Phase 3 of Pritzker’s reopening plan, large gatherings are still prohibited.

In a press release, the organization states that Pritzker is joining in groups with hundreds of people, prohibiting Illinois families to attend meaningful events such as long-planned weddings and festivals, while asking "millions of people to shutter their businesses, cancel their weddings, and miss the funerals of their loved ones."

Youth sports and summer school programs, festivals and picnics that are staples of the state’s tourism and community engagement have been cancelled or curtailed. 

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, another government figure who has drawn scrutiny since the COVID-19 restrictions began, has not attended a rally or protest. Meanwhile, Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Julia Stratton have joined protests and shown their open violation of the Governor's own order.

“The Governor flaunting his disregard for his own rules is a slap in the face to every Illinoisan who has been diligently following them,” said Illinois GOP Spokesman Joe Hackler. “If the Governor wants to show solidarity with protesters, his time is better spent on the phone with legislators trying to build a coalition for change. He could be calling for an immediate special session. Instead, he poses for a photo-op while undermining whatever credibility he had left on his coronavirus restrictions.”

In early May, Pritzker announced the Restore Illinois Plan, a 5-phase plan allowing cities to reopen their facilities, businesses to reopen and events to begin again as Illinois recovers from the coronavirus pandemic. The plan divides the state into four regions, and not all regions are in the same phase of the reopening plan.