Ford Encourages Governor to Hold Moment of Silence against Hate and Racism

CHICAGO – With residents across the state coming together to stand against racism and police brutality, state Rep. La Shawn K. Ford, D-Chicago, is calling on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to lower the state’s flags and to call for an 8 minute and 46 second moment of silence against hate and racism.

“For too long, hatred and racism has been a sickness in our society turning neighbors against each other and ruining countless lives,” Ford said. “The demonstrations we have witnessed this past week show that people are exhausted of violent, unnecessary police brutality and racist institutions that have systematically disadvantaged people of color. The death of George Floyd, and of every other individual who has been lost before their time, cannot be forgotten and cannot be ignored as if it is some passing moment in a news cycle.”

Ford is calling on Pritzker to order state flags to be lowered to half-mast in honor of Floyd and other victims of racism. An additional 8 minute and 46 second moment of silence would recognize the amount of time that Floyd endured while he was slowly murdered through the deliberate actions of a Minnesota police officer in full view of the public. Ford hopes that state agencies, social services, private businesses and other groups will be encouraged to join the period of reflection, and that the silence would allow all residents to consider the uncomfortable deadly role that racism plays in society and in our lives.

“There is an immediate, large need for real action against racism,” Ford said. “While we can take some steps on a legislative level, the reality is this is an issue that goes well beyond government and politics. This is an issue that must be addressed on a core level by every single individual. As we evaluate a path forward for healing this state, I challenge residents to join in for a moment of silence to personally reflect and personally commit to being part of the real change to end hate and racism that is overdue.”