Prairie State Wire

Shannon Adcock, president of Awake Illinois, expressed concerns about moderate leaders failing families by compromising with radicals who undermine parental rights. Her statement was made on the Prairie State Wire Podcast.

"They don't want to ruffle any feathers," said Adcock. "They just think that they can work with these Marxists. You cannot find unity with people who will strip you of your parental rights. Who want to sexualize your children and, uh, basically replace you."

Conservative activism concerning parental rights in Illinois has intensified, particularly in response to legislation such as House Bill 2827. According to Capitol News Illinois, critics argue that the bill infringes on family autonomy, while supporters assert it ensures academic accountability. Groups like Awake Illinois have labeled it a "radical anti-parent" measure and mobilized against what they perceive as government overreach into private education. This reflects a broader national trend of conservative-led parental rights movements gaining momentum since the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a University of Chicago survey cited by UChicago News, only 42% of Illinois public schools taught students how to access contraception, despite 93% offering some form of sex education. Furthermore, 30% of sex education teachers in Illinois lacked formal training compared to 18% nationally. These disparities have fueled demands for greater parental oversight in curriculum decisions, especially on sensitive topics like sexuality and gender identity.

Parental rights legislation has surged nationally. The Christian Science Monitor reports that 32 U.S. states considered "parents' bill of rights" bills in 2023, up from just 18 the year before. This growth coincides with the rise of groups like Moms for Liberty and Awake Illinois, which have pushed for more parental control over school policies. The movement has been particularly active around issues such as curriculum transparency and gender-related instruction in schools.

According to Awake Illinois’ official site, Adcock is the founder and president of the organization and a graduate of the University of Illinois. Based in Naperville, she launched Awake Illinois in 2021 to advocate for parental rights, education reform, and transparency in public schools. Adcock has also been active in legal challenges against Illinois school policies and is a frequent critic of Democratic education legislation in the state.