South Central Reporter

State Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City) proudly admits he stands in full support of protest demonstrations that have broken out across the state over Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

“I absolutely support them,” Wilhour told the South Central Reporter. “I think what you’re seeing is the result of people looking at their own data on the ground and concluding they’re not seeing the hospitalizations and deaths from this virus that the governor talks about. What they’re seeing are their lives wasting away from a one-size-fits-all approach to this crisis that’s not working.”

Hundreds of protesters recently turned out for demonstrations outside state government buildings in Springfield and downtown Chicago where they demanded that the governor pull the plug on the order that forced small businesses across the state to close after the government deemed them nonessential.

“What it comes down to is the governor hasn’t been transparent or accountable about his actions,” Wilhour said. “Everything he’s done, he's done by fiat even though there’s a plan out there to deal with everything that he’s totally ignored. I just don’t think people are going to accept it for much longer.”

Wilhour said he sees the protests continuing and even intensifying as long as the governor maintains his unflappable position.

“Downstate residents think the facts on the ground here are different from what they may be in Chicago and because of that they shouldn’t be caged,” Wilhour said. “Nothing leads you to believe the governor is listening to what the people are saying. People understand the seriousness of this virus, but they’re convinced a targeted approach to fighting it is what’s needed. While most people feel like they should be phasing back into normalcy, the governor is ruling by fear and putting tyranny over liberty.”