Prairie State Wire

Illinois Channel TV hosts Jeff Berkowitz and Terry Martin wonder if Gov. J.B. Pritzker may have delivered the wrong message in simply signing off on legislation that officially makes Juneteenth a state holiday.

President Joe Biden recently signed legislation making Juneteenth a federal holiday.

“I want to know who in the state legislature is taking the lead to say I want to see something done in Chicago; I don’t want to see violence get worse,” Berkowitcz said in a video posted to YouTube. “Those are some of the things I want to see on Juneteenth.”

Democrats recently moved to pass legislation turning the day that commemorates emancipation of the last enslaved African Americans going all the way back to 1865 into a state holiday. With the governor’s signature, the day now stands as a paid day off for state workers at a cost of more than $11 million to state taxpayers.

“It’s fine to have a holiday, recognition of history and values, but when we bring it to today and we want to talk about racism and the lack of opportunity, why is it in so many schools, rather it’s in Chicago on the south, East St. Louis or Baltimore, we see so many  students going to failing schools,” Martin said.  “That ought to be part and parcel of this discussion. Why isn’t the alternative to give families and kids a choice.”

According to Berkowitcz, nearly three out of every four third-grade minority students attending Chicago public schools are now reading below grade level.

“We need a revolution that says we’re not going to tolerate this in the inner cities of Illinois anymore,” he said. “That’s what we need on Juneteenth. We ought to hear the governor of Illinois talk about this, talk about school choice, talk about improving that terrible statistic and do something about it. Do something about the union power that shut down public schools for the last year needlessly.”

Martin points out whenever school choice has come to Illinois, it’s been Republican lawmakers that have been pushing it.

“School choice is something that Republicans started under (former Gov. Bruce) Rauner. Gov. Pritzker now wants to end that.”

Martin said it’s all part of how the state has lost its way under Democratic rule in Springfield.  

“We need to have more debate,” he said. “Whether it’s policing, energy or education, the way this state is being run right now, where they throw things up behind the scenes and then they make these major changes. I think it’s time for the citizens of Illinois to have a government that’s worthy of the people and allows them be to be participating.”