Senators bring awareness to anti-religious hate crimes (Updated with video)

SPRINGFIELD – Chicago senators took on hate in a statehouse press conference by recognizing April 19 as Illinois Muslim Action Day.

Senate Resolution 1748 recognizes the national Take on Hate Day and efforts to fight anti-religious hate crimes.

State Sens. Mattie Hunter and Jacqueline Y. Collins joined the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC) for a press conference and recognized pages for the day on the Senate floor.

"The great state of Illinois has always welcomed, supported and protected people of all races, religions and walks of life," said Hunter, sponsor of the resolution. "We must work together to inspire a movement to restore our inherent American value that all people deserve to live free of bigotry, hate and violence."

Read more …

Free document shredding, electronic recycling event

CHICAGO - In efforts to reduce identity theft, Chicago elected officials are hosting a free document shredding and electronic recycling event from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 7 at 1254 N. State Parkway on the State Street parking lot.

Ald. Brian Hopkins, state Sen. Mattie Hunter and state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz are teaming with NewTech E-Scrap Recycling to help residents safely discard important documents and old electronics.

Attendees can bring up to three boxes worth of materials to discard.

For more information call Alderman Brian Hopkins' 2nd Ward office at 312-643-2299 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Money for teens, violence prevention passes Senate

SPRINGFIELD – Youth relying on after-school, employment and violence prevention programs are one step closer to having their needs met thanks to legislation that passed out of the Senate today.

Sen. Mattie Hunter of Chicago voted in favor of a budget plan to fund youth-targeted programs and reduce violence.

"Keeping our after-school programs and pipelines to employment open for teens keeps them off of the street," said Hunter, a member of the Senate Human Services Committee. 'Illinois' youth can no longer be used a bargaining chips in distracting debate over the governor's turnaround agenda. In Chicago, having a safe place to go and access to jobs is a matter of life and death for too many of our young people."

Read more …

Senate Black Caucus takes the lead on lead

SPRINGFIELD – State Sens. Donne Trotter and Mattie Hunter took an important step to ensure that instances of lead exposure like what happened in Flint, Michigan doesn’t happen in Illinois. Currently, it’s legal to re-sale or re-lease a property that is found to have high levels of lead in the paint and other building materials. A measure that passed through the Illinois Senate’s Public Health Committee unanimously would prohibit the reuse of that property until the issue is solved.

Read more …