In response to an apparent racially charged shooting at a historic African-American church Wednesday in Charleston, S.C., State Senator Mattie Hunter released the following statement:

“I am extremely saddened by the senseless killings of innocent people attending bible class at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in South Carolina yesterday evening. My colleague, Reverend State Senator Clementa Pinckney, was among the victims. Senator Pinckney was a member of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators and a much-beloved pastor of the “Mother” church.

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Friday, the governor announced his plan to eliminate youth employment and violence prevention programs such as Operation CeaseFire along with social services for middle-class and low-income families in Illinois. State Senator Mattie Hunter questioned the governor’s priorities.

“Governor Rauner needs to think about real people instead of political posturing and intimidation tactics. He is cutting services that protect youth and give them opportunities they otherwise wouldn’t have. He is aiming at the middle-class and the low-income families struggling to make ends meet. I don’t know why the governor would make it a priority to hurt working families,” said Hunter, who has challenged the governor since his first announcements of cuts back in February.

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Seniors, the disabled and low-income families are at risk for Republican Governor Rauner’s plan to suspend the State Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program which ensures vulnerable citizens have access to affordable energy. In response, Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee Chair Mattie Hunter is holding a hearing at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 11, in Chicago to address these cuts.

“In the harshest winters and most grueling summers, our most vulnerable families rely upon energy assistance. This is a matter of life or death for some people,” Hunter said.

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In 2011, wrongful convictions cost Illinois taxpayers $214 million and the falsely accused a combined 926 years in prison. The Illinois Senate approved a good government measure to create transparency in the grand jury process.

“Wrongful convictions erode the public’s trust in our criminal justice system. Transparency is the only way to restore faith in this process,” said State Senator Mattie Hunter, the plan’s sponsor.

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