{"id":2452335,"date":"2025-06-26T11:49:02","date_gmt":"2025-06-26T15:49:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/il-state-sen-slams-evanston-reparations-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-06-26T11:50:39","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T15:50:39","slug":"il-state-sen-slams-evanston-reparations-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/il-state-sen-slams-evanston-reparations-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"IL state Sen. slams Evanston reparations &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fil-state-sen-slams-evanston-reparations-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2452335&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Illinois State Senator andrew Chesney has criticized Evanston&#8217;s reparations program, calling it &#8220;outrageous&#8221; and &#8220;offensive.&#8221; His comments follow a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/taking-woke-education-to-court\/\" title=\"Taking Woke Education To Court\">federal civil rights lawsuit<\/a> by Judicial Watch aimed at terminating the initiative, which allocates $25,000 from taxpayer funds exclusively to Black residents.Sen. Chesney contends that the program is a misguided attempt to placate certain demographics while exacerbating divisions within the community. he echoed concerns raised by Judicial watch President, Tom Fitton, about potential violations of the 14th Amendment, as the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >program restricts financial assistance based<\/a> on race. Despite the pushback, a recent survey indicates strong support for the reparations initiative among various racial groups in Evanston. The program was initiated in 2019 with a $10 million fund from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/opinion-reparations-a-bad-idea-based-on-fake-history-from-the-1619-project\/\" title=\"OPINION: Reparations: A Bad Idea Based On Fake History From The 1619 Project\">cannabis tax revenue<\/a>, aimed at addressing systemic racism and promoting homeownership among black residents affected by historical discrimination. The City of Evanston plans to defend its reparations policy vigorously against the lawsuit.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">IL state Sen. slams Evanston reparations; city will defend policy &lsquo;vehemently&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2158837\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square) &ndash; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/illinois\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Illinois<\/a> state Sen. Andrew Chesney is voicing sharp criticism of the city of Evanston&rsquo;s reparations program, calling it &ldquo;outrageous&rdquo; and &ldquo;offensive to everyone.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Chesney&rsquo;s remarks come on the heels of a new federal<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/civil-rights\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"> civil rights <\/a>lawsuit filed by Judicial Watch to shut down the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/racial-discrimination\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">race-based<\/a> initiative, which gives $25,000 in taxpayer money exclusively to Black residents.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3455055\/multiple-groups-groups-sue-over-texas-10-commandments-law\/\">Multiple groups, including faith groups, sue over Texas 10 Commandments law<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/3454881\/dave-mccormick-qatar-base-strike-us-young-service-members\/\">Dave McCormick lauds young service members: &#8216;That&#8217;s the military I know&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3454930\/supreme-court-planned-parenthood-allows-states-block-medicaid-funds\/\">Supreme Court allows states to block Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to carve out a little thing for you, give you a few bucks to keep you quiet. Oh, by the way, we&rsquo;re going to pack a bunch of illegal immigrants into your communities, but here&rsquo;s a little money to shut up,&rdquo; said Chesney, R-Freeport. &ldquo;It should be offensive, one, to the people they&rsquo;re targeting&mdash;they&rsquo;re trying to give this money to&mdash;but it should offend everybody.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>A spokesman for the city of Evanston said the city does not comment on the specifics of pending litigation, but said they will vehemently defend any lawsuit brought against the city&rsquo;s reparations program.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>On social media, Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton announced the civil rights class action lawsuit.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If you identify as white, you can&rsquo;t apply. If you identify as Asian, you can&rsquo;t apply. If you identify as Hispanic, you can&rsquo;t apply,&rdquo; said Fitton. &ldquo;This is a brazen violation of the 14th Amendment federal civil rights law.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>A new&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.norc.org\/research\/library\/evanstons-reparations-program-receives-strong-community-support.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">survey<\/a>&nbsp;from National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago shows strong support for Evanston&rsquo;s reparations program, with majorities across racial groups&mdash;including 70% of white residents&mdash;calling it &ldquo;good public policy.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Fitton said the constitution is supposed to be colorblind.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;But the left in Evanston and those who want to play the racial division card, they don&rsquo;t believe that and Judicial Watch is hoping and praying a federal court will remind them of the rule of law,&rdquo; said Fitton.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Chesney said he fully supports Judicial Watch&rsquo;s efforts to stop the Evanston reparations law and predicted the lawsuit will succeed.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is the northwestern part of the state where Gov. J.B. Pritzker has his name on the law school,&rdquo; said Chesney. &ldquo;These people are proudly woke. They think they&rsquo;re being compassionate, but what they&rsquo;re really doing is carving up the population into voting blocks and handing out taxpayer money to stay in power.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3452503\/pritzker-to-announce-running-third-term-governor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">PRITZKER ANNOUNCES HE IS RUNNING FOR A THIRD TERM<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In 2019, Evanston officials launched a $10 million reparations program funded by cannabis taxes, calling it a &ldquo;first step&rdquo; to address systemic racism. According to reports, Alderman Robin Rue Simmons said the $25,000 grants were meant to &ldquo;build wealth instantly for a family&rdquo; by helping Black residents harmed by redlining and housing discrimination.<\/p>\n<p>The program aimed to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/cityofevanston.civicweb.net\/document\/50624\/Adoption%20of%20Resolution%2037-R-27,%20Authorizing%20the.pdf?handle=E11C7B73E1B6470DA42362AB80A50C46\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">revitalize, preserve, and stabilize<\/a>&nbsp;Black owner-occupied homes and promote intergenerational equity through increased homeownership.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecentersquare.com%2Fillinois%2Farticle_118ff0e2-9e96-48bc-97cc-f745e1f0909e.html%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook%26utm_campaign%3Duser-share\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2158837\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2158837\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>IL Sen. Chesney criticizes Evanston&#8217;s reparations program as &#8220;outrageous,&#8221; while the city vows to defend it vigorously amid a federal lawsuit<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2452336,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/illinois-state-capitol.jpg.optimal.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[28042,57953,5894,9128,32076],"class_list":["post-2452335","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-evanston","tag-il-state-sen","tag-politics","tag-reparations","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/illinois-state-capitol.jpg.optimal.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2452335","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2452335"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2452335\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2452339,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2452335\/revisions\/2452339"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2452336"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2452335"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2452335"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2452335"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}