July 17th was the first anniversary of the death of civil rights activist Congressman John Lewis. He was an inspiration to America and the world. The following quote from heather Cox Richardson honors his memory:

A year ago tonight, Georgia Representative John Lewis passed away from pancreatic cancer at 80 years old. As a young adult, Lewis was a “troublemaker,” breaking the laws of his state: the laws upholding racial segregation. He organized voting registration drives and in 1960 was one of the thirteen original Freedom Riders, white and Black students traveling together from Washington, D.C., to New Orleans to challenge segregation. “It was very violent. I thought I was going to die. I was left lying at the Greyhound bus station in Montgomery unconscious,” Lewis later recalled.

Read the rest of her essay here.

The stage is being set to reverse Democratic gains from the 2020 election. We’re already aware that  the 2022 elections will be another “election of our lifetime.” Now is the time for each one of us, personally, to act. There is so much at risk.

There’s an increasing presence of far-right members in our community fighting against science and equity. They are anti-mask, anti-vaccine, and anti-diversity, equity, inclusion training. It’s critical that voices for democracy and science establish and maintain a presence to counter the propaganda spewed by far-right agitators. There’s a nationwide push to sow disinformation and fear, just as GOP-led state legislatures are working to pass laws to suppress voting rights, which disproportionately affect people of color, students, the elderly, the disabled, and new voters. GOP operatives are deliberately focusing on local elections, school boards, library boards political events

Much as we may wish that it couldn’t happen here, it can, and it is. Anti-vaxers and anti-maskers are organized and very vocal at our local school board meetings.They are actively launching FOIA requests in districts in an attempt to intimidate school board members. They are promoting their extreme beliefs across social media. They attack teachers who speak out. One of us recently spoke at a school board meeting to counter one of these ultra conservative presenters.

We need people who share our values to run for school board and for local office. Do “the ask” when speaking with friends, neighbors, and people in your precinct.

We also need to be voices spreading awareness of what is happening in our local school boards and to attend meetings to speak up to counter the extreme voices. Any citizen can speak at school board meetings – you do not need to be a parent of a current student.

For further information

• Articles by NBC journalist Ben Collins, who covers disinformation
• QAnon Supporters Launch Plan To Run For Local School Boards (interview with Collins)
• Demolishing Public Libraries From The Inside: Niles Public Library Is a Warning

by Karen Peck

These were my comments to the Naperville D203 School Board on Monday, July 12th, 2021. I spoke because of the increasing presence of far-right members of the community, fighting against science and equity. They are both anti-mask/anti-vaccine, and anti-diversity, equity, inclusion training.

It’s important that voices for democracy and science have a presence to counter the propaganda being spewed by far-right agitators. There is a nationwide push to sow disinformation and fear, just as GOP-led state Senates are working to pass laws to suppress voting rights, which disproportionately affect people of color, students, the elderly, the disabled, and new voters. GOP operatives are deliberately focusing on local elections, local school boards, and local political events.

Please consider speaking at upcoming school board meetings to be sure the voices of White supremacy and anti-science are countered by democratic values and democracy.

Transcript

In a special election held on June 17, LTDO Treasurer Robert Sacks was elected to the position of Democratic Party of DuPage County (DPDC) Treasurer. He replaces Steve Schenk, who served in the position for the prior 2 1/2 years. In addition to taking on the Treasury responsibility at the county, Robert will continue to serve as DPDC bookkeeper, and LTDO Treasurer, as well as treasurer for the campaigns of Forest Preserve District President Daniel Hebreard, County Board member Lynn LaPlante, Gail Cabala-Lowry, and a member of the Lake County Board.