CHICAGO – At a meeting of the Illinois Senate Black Caucus earlier this week, State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) was unanimously elected by his colleagues as the new caucus chair.

“I am honored and humbled to have been elected by my colleagues as the new chair of the Senate Black Caucus, and I want to thank them for trusting me with this important position,” Peters said. “The list of issues facing Black communities in our state is long and relentless, and I am excited to lead our caucus as we fight to win real safety and justice.”

Peters takes over as chair following a tumultuous summer, during which the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others by police sparked a nationwide movement of protests against police brutality and systemic racism.

CHICAGO – State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) congratulated several museums in the 13th Senate District on receiving grants from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources earlier this week, part of a push to ensure these important local resources stay afloat during the ongoing pandemic.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has put an economic strain on a lot of us, and museums are no exception,” Peters said. “These institutions are some of the most important cultural and educational centers of community, and it’s great to hear they’ll be getting funding that will ease a financial burden and allow them to make some improvements.”

SPRINGFIELD – In the wake of months-long nationwide protests against police brutality and misconduct, State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) took the first step toward reforming the criminal justice system last week by filing the Pretrial Fairness Act, which would end cash bail in Illinois.

“For many people, the definition of ‘criminal justice’ ends at the point of arrest, but it’s important to realize the true size of the entire system,” Peters said. “The reality is that the criminal justice system is large, wide reaching, and full of systemic injustice from top to bottom. The hope is that the Pretrial Fairness Act will be the first in a long series of reforms to reshape the system that has destroyed so many families.”

CHICAGO — State legislators will continue their discussion on police reform during Thursday’s joint hearing of the Senate Criminal Law Committee and Senate Special Committee on Public Safety.

Senate Criminal Law Chair State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago) and Senate Public Safety Special Committee Chair State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) will co-chair the joint hearing. State Representative Justin Slaughter (D-Chicago) of the House Judiciary-Criminal Law Committee and other members of the committees will participate as guests.

Discussions at the hearing will focus on the Uniform Peace Officers' Disciplinary Act, qualified immunity and officer liability.

It will be the eighth criminal justice reform hearing called by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus. Criminal justice reform is one of four pillars the caucus is using to guide their agenda to address systemic racism. The pillars include:

1. Criminal justice reform, violence reduction and police accountability
2. Education and workforce development
3. Economic access, equity and opportunity
4. Health care and human services

To watch the virtual committee, visit https://ilga.gov/senateaudvid.asp and click "Watch Live Virtual Committee Video." The link will become available when proceedings begin.

Who: Senate Criminal Law Committee and Senate Special Committee on Public Safety

What: Joint hearing on police reform

When: 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5

Where: Virtual hearing can be viewed here: https://ilga.gov/senateaudvid.asp#

Blue Room Stream, a subscription-based service, will also stream the hearing at https://livestream.com/blueroomstream/events/9326370.

CHICAGO – In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis it created, a second round of Business Interruption Grants from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity have begun to be distributed. State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) expressed gratitude for the support given to local restaurants small businesses.

“This has been an unprecedented several few months in our world that has affected everyone, and local restaurants and small businesses have really stepped up to try to retain some sense of normalcy during all the uncertainty,” Peters said. “Many have done so at personal financial cost, which was only made worse by the economic downturn the COVID-19 pandemic brought about. That’s why I’m grateful to see such important local establishments getting a bit of a boost from the BIG grants, and I hope they will use that money to continue providing services and support to our community during these trying times.”

CHICAGO – Illinois lawmakers examined police reform during Tuesday’s joint hearing of the Senate Criminal Law Committee and Senate Special Committee on Public Safety, the seventh hearing on criminal justice reform prompted by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus to examine and address systemic racism in the state.

“We must have a system that is more just and equitable for both communities and police,” Senator Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) said. “If a defendant is guilty, they should be held accountable but there should not be a thumb placed on the scale to make someone plead to something that they did not do. That is not justice. We have to make sure that we are holding the right people accountable.”

CHICAGO — Illinois lawmakers examined bail and police reform during the sixth hearing prompted by the Black Caucus Tuesday.

“The system of cash bail sits at the intersection of poverty and racism,” Sims said. “Blacks and other racial minorities are more likely to be arrested by police, despite evidence showing they are no more likely to commit crimes than their neighbors. If arrested, Blacks are more likely to sit in jail awaiting trial, oftentimes for nonviolent offenses, simply because they cannot afford bail. This reality creates instability for the accused, their families and our communities. Our justice system is supposed to assume innocence until someone is proven guilty, but unfortunately it has not worked this way and for far too long has worked against people of color and the poor.”