South Central Reporter

Gov. J.B. Pritzker targets organizations and groups that he differs with like the Illinois Republican Party through his COVID-19 executive orders, and it's all politics, according to Christopher Hicks.

The Illinois Republican Party has filed a lawsuit against Gov. J.B. Pritzker, saying his executive order limiting the number of people at gatherings – 10 under Phase 3 of his reopening plan, 50 in Phase 4 – has been unfairly applied, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. The lawsuit says Pritzker has targeted organizations and groups he differs with, including the Illinois GOP, which was forced to hold its convention in a virtual setting.

It’s a matter of fairness, Hicks told the South Central Reporter.

Political activist Christopher Hicks said Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois attorney general have set a double standard for the governor and his opponents. | By Raymond Cunningham/Wikimedia Commons

In a response to the lawsuit, Attorney General Kwame Raoul contends that Pritzker has adhered to the Illinois Constitution.

“The 10-person limitation on gatherings is no different for First Amendment purposes than a building occupancy limit imposed by a municipal fire code,” the attorney general’s office said, the Southern Illinoisan reported. “Political rallies and conventions have always had to abide by occupancy limits, even though overflow crowds (or lack thereof) may signal strong support (or the reverse) for a particular message or messenger. The act of gathering in a confined space, which increases the risk of casualties in the event of a fire, is what is being regulated, not the message being delivered at the gathering.”

The AG said when Pritzker attended a crowded Black Lives Matter rally, he was acting in “personal capacity,” WLS reported. He also said the Illinois Republican Party was choosing to “completely ignore the devastating toll of a pandemic” by challenging Pritzker on this issue.

“It is not the least bit surprising to see Raoul defending the reckless and hypocritical actions of the governor,” he told the South Central Reporter. “Raoul will make sure to do as he is instructed by (Speaker Mike) Madigan and Pritzker after both contributed approximately $4 million to his political coffers during his campaign for attorney general. Raoul only takes action when his puppet masters pull the strings and give him permission to do anything.”

Hicks said the lawsuit raises a legitimate question. Does the law apply equally to all Illinois residents?

“If the governor cannot follow the same rules he set forth for the rest of Illinois, why should anyone else feel obligated to follow these ‘rules,’” he told the South Central Reporter. “I guess the governor and his allies believe a certain set of rules apply to them and not others.”

Hicks said the odds are, they will get away with this dual standard.

“Regardless of whether it is right or wrong, King Pritzker is likely to be successful and avoid any punishment,” he told the South Central Reporter. “We have seen far too many times the special rules in place that do not hold our elected officials accountable.”

A Sawyerville resident, Hicks has made politics both a passion and a career pursuit.

He has worked for several Republican political campaigns, including Jeanne Ives’ 2018 bid for governor in 2018, and currently serves as a field director for a political consulting firm.

When not volunteering his time or working on a campaign, he has been a candidate for office, seeking a seat on the Macoupin County Board in 2018 – but losing by nine votes after a recount.

He also has run for a town trustee seat in Sawyerville as well as for mayor. He has twice been elected as a Mount Olive Republican precinct committeeperson.

When congressional Democrats impeached President Donald Trump, Hicks traveled to Washington, D.C., to work for FreedomWorks and try to force House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to release the articles of impeachment.

He is a 2011 graduate of Heartland Community College and a 2013 graduate of Southern Illinois University.