May 13, 2015
By CBS 2’s Roseanne Tellez, Chicago
Activists want to send a message to Governor Bruce Rauner that really hits home, so they protested outside his home on May 13th, with several planning to spend the night outside Rauner’s condo inside a Lakeshore East high rise.
The coalition of several community groups protested what they said are $18 million in budget cuts.
The group of about 150 people gathered at the Bean in Millennium Park where the speakers revved up the crowd before hitting the streets, marching, chanting and holding signs. They say Rauner’s cuts will spell disaster for the state’s homeless, poor, disabled and people with mental health and substance abuse problems.
“The actual proposed budget cuts make me just furious because Rauner really needs to take a look directly in the faces of the people who these cuts are going to hurt and not think of them as statistics,” said Julie Rush.
“Illinois is solving its problems on the backs of people least able to support that burden,” said Peggy Slater. “It’s a cheap shot and I don’t want to be a part of taking it.”
The group planned on putting up what they called “Raunerville” and about 15 are planning on spending the night in a tent outside Rauner’s condo.
In response to the protest, the governor said the state is facing a hole because of insider deals and overspending and says the budget contains $15 million for services specifically designed to help the homeless and other assistance programs.
Please visit CBS Chicago for the full story and a link to the video: http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2015/05/13/activists-protest-budget-cuts-outside-gov-rauners-home/
