South Central Reporter

Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) faces a decision and a dilemma, according to a longtime Republican activist.

That’s the view of political veteran Christopher Hicks of Sawyerville in the wake of Casten’s decision to remain silent on an anti-law enforcement post from Hadiya Afzal, the Democratic Party nominee for a DuPage County Board District 4 seat.

On July 26, Afzal, a rising star in progressive political circles, posted a video of a law enforcement officer in Portland, Oregon, who was struck in the face with a projectile during a riot.

Christopher Hicks | Submitted

“I’ve been watching this on repeat for 15 minutes and laughing every single time,” Afzal posted.

Afzal initially said her words had been “taken out of context,” Afzal apologized and dropped out of the race, as several Democrats had demanded she do.

“As a young activist, I made the decision to run for office in DuPage County Board District 4 to bring progressive policy changes for the community I grew up in and care deeply for,” she wrote in departing from the race. “I posted a personal Tweet regarding the protests in Portland, Oregon. My post was in poor taste and doesn’t reflect the values I was raised with and hold dear. I do not support or condone violence in any form. I appreciate and support the role that law enforcement plays in keeping our communities safe.”

Hicks, who has worked on campaigns and sought office, told South Central Reporter that the vicious social media post was on par for what he has heard from liberals in recent months.

“It is no surprise to see the America-hating Democrats displaying so much hatred for our police officers who put their lives on the line every single time they put on that uniform,” he said. “Casten won’t dare speak out of turn unless his puppet masters allow him to do so. Casten knows his role in the Democratic Party is to be seen and not heard unless allowed to speak. He follows his whipping orders out of fear of losing support and funding.”

Hicks said the congressman should have made it clear he was opposed to such rhetoric.

“Of course Casten should speak out but his lack of doing so comes as no surprise after his vote on the justice in policing act, which is nothing more than a political assault on police officers for votes,” he said. “It's painfully obvious Casten is so out of touch with voters especially after refusing to condemn efforts to defund the police.”

Hicks is a field director for a political consulting firm and had twice served as a Mount Olive Republican precinct committeeman.

He was a candidate for a seat on the Macoupin County Board, on the Sawyerville council and for mayor. In addition he sought the seat for the Illinois 48th Senate District in 2018 but was disqualified from the Republican primary due to a lack of signatures on nominating petitions. He also ran for the Illinois 95th House District seat in 2016.

A 2011 graduate of Heartland Community College and a 2013 graduate of Southern Illinois University, Hicks went to Washington, D.C., during the impeachment of President Trump to call on Speaker Nancy Pelosi to release the articles of impeachment.

He’s a conservative Republican and said the demarcation between the two parties on law enforcement has never been clearer. It should spur more people to vote for GOP candidates, he said.

“These so-called ‘New Democrats’ hate law enforcement so much because they know that thin blue line is the only thing stopping them from a complete takeover of this country and the anti-American values they want to force on all Americans,” Hicks said. “The ‘gap’ will only be bridged when true America-loving patriots take back Congress.”