SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, is denouncing President Donald Trump’s racist social media post depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes by passing a formal resolution through the House chamber Wednesday.

“Black history is not an accessory to American history. Black history is American history,” said West. “And when racist rhetoric is encouraged and blatantly elevated by someone who holds the highest office in the land—this is not just offensive, it’s dangerous. Words shape culture, words shape policy and words left unchallenged shape a false narrative about who belongs and whose story matters in this nation.” 

Earlier this month, an artificial intelligence (AI) video was posted to the president’s Truth Social account depicting various Democratic elected officials and content creators as jungle animals. The Trump Administration claimed that the post was simply mirroring Disney’s The Lion King, although there were no apes in the film. The depiction of people of color as apes is a centuries’ old, well-known racial stereotype and caricature. The video has since been deleted from the president’s social media without an apology to the Obamas or anyone else depicted in the video, nor acknowledgement of the video’s inherently racist nature.

“This resolution makes clear that in Illinois, we will not participate in the federal administration’s erasure of truth, we will not allow history to be rewritten to make others comfortable and we will not be silenced when the dignity of our communities are undermined,” said West. 

West rose to share remarks and support for House Resolution 696 to honor the 100th anniversary of Black History Month and condemn the president’s racist rhetoric on the House floor. The resolution makes clear that this AI video is not the administration’s first overtly racist action, but one of its most recent efforts to diminish and sideline Americans of diverse backgrounds.

You can watch Rep. West’s full speech here.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Maurice West II, D-Rockford, released the following statement in response to Governor Pritzker’s annual budget address delivered today:

“With the completion of the governor’s budget proposal this afternoon, it’s clearer than ever that the weeks and months ahead will require serious, consequential conversations to deliver for our communities across Illinois. The federal government’s corrupt actions over the last twelve months have cornered working families into a cost-of-living crisis that threatens our access to affordable doctors and childcare while jumping the prices of groceries and gas. That’s why it’s absolutely critical to go line-by-line through the governor’s proposal to ensure the residents of Rockford see direct relief—and why I’m prepared to advocate for it.

“Last year we successfully cut millions in government waste from our state budget. I plan to target those same efficiencies to reinvest our savings into safety net resources that face constant threat from the federal administration. Fearmongering our residents is not only cruel, it’s corrupt. This time around, we’re putting the power back into the people’s hands, taking charge of what we can control as a state, and moving Illinois in a better, more affordable direction.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, will join advocacy group Mascots Matter this Wednesday, March 5 at 1 p.m. for a Capitol Blue Room press conference to discuss their initiative to prohibit public schools from using discriminatory disability mascots.

“We need to ensure all schools across Illinois show empathy and compassion in addressing the problematic names of certain mascots,” said State Rep. Maurice West. “Our schools should be a place we teach our children about respect and understanding, and holding on to sport nicknames considered to be a slur is irresponsible.”

“This week, the Mascots Matter campaign is proud to join Representative Maurice West at the Illinois State Capitol to discuss House Bill 3527, a groundbreaking piece of legislation that seeks to eliminate harmful and outdated mascots from Illinois schools, including those that perpetuate harmful stereotypes toward individuals with disabilities defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act,” said Shelby Holloway, Co-Director of the Mascots Matter Campaign. “This bill is a critical step toward ensuring that all individuals are empowered to embrace diversity, respect, and cultural understanding. We believe that this important measure will help foster a more inclusive future for Illinois, one that honors the dignity of every community.”

West’s House Bill 3527 creates the Prohibition of Discriminatory Disability Mascots Act and would require relevant public schools to phase out their problematic name, logo, mascot and other relevant material. “Discriminatory disability mascot” is defined in the legislation as any name, logo or mascot that is derogatory or representative of an individual or group based on disability, as defined by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

If passed and implemented, impacted schools would need to have adopted a new mascot identity by September 1, 2028.

For more information, please contact Press@StateRepWest.com or call 815-987-7433.

Who: State Rep. Maurice West, Mascots Matter
What: Blue Room press conference on House Bill 3527/Mascots Matter Advocacy Day
When: Wednesday, March 5, 2025; 1 p.m.
Where: Capitol Blue Room

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, issued the following statement Wednesday after the governor’s annual budget address:

“The chaos out of Washington right now underscores the importance of securing a responsible budget that reflects our values and prioritizes the challenges facing families. We must continue to take steps to lower costs on groceries and daily essentials, expand access to lifesaving health care, reinforce comprehensive public safety initiatives and further invest in our education system from early childhood through college.

“Today is the start of a longer process, and I look forward to reviewing the governor’s proposal in detail to see how we can use this document to create real opportunity for our community.”

For more information, please contact Press@StateRepWest.com or call 815-987-7433.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Reflecting on his years of leadership, ability to build consensus and firm commitment to advancing causes that uplift Illinois residents, state Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, has been named an Assistant Majority Leader for the 104th General Assembly.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to serve amongst this House’s leadership, and to further bring the perspective of Rockford and our region to some of the most important conversations in Springfield,” West said. “This is going to be a consequential General Assembly, and the people we serve expect real results. It’s critical that we work together to address the challenges facing families across our community.”

In addition to being named to the caucus leadership post by House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, West will again serve as Chair of the House Ethics and Elections Committee where he will continue his work to empower voters and encourage better government. West also continues to lead as Chair of the bipartisan Legislative Ethics Commission, and has previously served as Vice Chair of the House Mental Health and Addiction Committee.

“I appreciate the trust placed in me by Speaker Welch and my colleagues,” West said. “There’s a lot of work ahead, but there’s also the opportunity to do great things to uplift families across our state. I look forward to the work ahead.”

For more information, please contact Press@StateRepWest.com or call 815-987-7433.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, issued the following statement Wednesday after taking the oath for a new General Assembly term:

“As we convene again in Springfield, I am honored to again be entrusted with the privilege of serving the people of the 67th District. I promise to always put my constituents first in everything I do, whether it be enacting legislation in Springfield or providing critical services to residents in the district.

“My top priority for this legislative session is to continue to create real economic opportunities for every family in Northern Illinois through properly funding our education system, providing high-quality workforce development programs, continuing to build our infrastructure, and bringing increased state investment to the Rockford area. I will also continue to build on recent efforts to strengthen public safety, provide high quality mental health services, and ensure our school children have enough to eat as they head to the classroom. We have made great progress in recent years, but there is much more work to do.

“I am grateful for the trust this community has placed in me, and I appreciate the countless conversations I have had with residents who are invested in building a better Illinois for everyone. I’m looking forward to the work ahead.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, issued the following statement
Wednesday after Gov. J.B. Pritzker gave his annual budget address:
“Every budget is an opportunity to take needed action to support families and build a stronger Illinois.
In recent years, we’ve taken significant steps forward to support early childhood education and
essential services that families depend on. It’s critical that we continue to prioritize funding for every
level of education, support workforce development and choose a comprehensive approach to public
safety. I look forward to engaging local stakeholders as we begin to review and consider the
governor’s proposal line-by-line.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, issued the following statement Wednesday after Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s annual State of the State and Budget Address:

“As the governor spoke today, I was reminded of the priorities facing families throughout our community and of the ability for our state to take real action to support them.

“I am encouraged by how Illinois has handled its finances in recent years. A responsible, balanced approach has allowed us to eliminate a multi-billion-dollar bill backlog, while securing multiple credit rating upgrades that will save taxpayers money. It’s important that we continue this good stewardship, while using greater financial flexibility to better invest in the issues affecting families right now.

“Here in the Rockford Region, we need to continue to better invest in our children’s future by supporting our schools and working to further attract talented teachers who can take root in our community. We must also continue to support vocational job training and higher education opportunities that enable residents to secure a high-paying career.

“When it comes to public safety, we must use our state resources to support a comprehensive approach to violence. Not only should our local law enforcement be assisted to do their job safely and effectively, we must also support violence intervention programs that target the root causes of crime and help prevent problems before they start.

“Today was the first step of a longer budgeting process. I look forward to reviewing the governor’s outline in detail and engaging local stakeholders on how to ensure our community’s needs are properly represented in the final product.”