Monday, December 18, 2017

Chicago, IL – Over 250 women attended a downstate women’s lunch and panel discussion with JB Pritzker and Juliana Stratton on Saturday. JB moderated the panel of four women, including Juliana, at a packed hall at Operating Engineers Local 318 in Marion.

Here’s what Illinoisans are reading and seeing in the news about the downstate women’s lunch:

From WSIL:

From the front page of The Southern Illinoisan:

At campaign stop, Pritzker tells Southern Illinois Democratic Women he’s ‘ready to resist’

During a campaign-stop luncheon hosted by the Southern Illinois Democratic Women on Saturday afternoon, Democratic gubernatorial hopeful J.B. Pritzker billed himself as a feminist ally and a proud member of the anti-Trump resistance.

Pritzker, a billionaire investor and entrepreneur, told a crowd of 250 people at the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 318 that he was “ready to listen … ready to resist and ready for the fight ahead.”

After his speech, Pritzker moderated a panel discussion featuring female leaders.

His running-mate, Juliana Stratton, state representative of the 5th District, noted in her introductory remarks that Pritzker was the first candidate in the race to choose a woman for the lieutenant governor position.

“This is a partnership, and together, we’re going to put Springfield back on the side of women and families,” she said. […]

Pritzker said his involvement in Democratic politics started with his mother, who instilled in him a passion for social and economic justice activism.

“One of my very first memories, in fact, as a little kid was getting dragged around by my mother to knock on doors for Democratic candidates,” Pritzker said. “… My mother taught me how to fight for what I care about, and how to resist — my mother did that.”

He said central and Southern Illinois have suffered under Gov. Bruce Rauner with the shuttering of social service programs, and went on to sketch out the basic aspects of his platform, highlighting a need for affordable health care, universal preschool and child care, affordable college education and paid family leave.

Pritzker said public officials must do less talking and more listening, particularly to women.

“I need your advice on the challenges that we face and how we move forward. I need the help of women of color, who have been resisting for generations. Together, we will keep up this fight at a grassroots level, keep our momentum going and channel our energy into victory in 2018, and then, after we win in 2018, we are gonna go beat that misogynist in the White House!” he said.

Next, Pritzker moderated a panel featuring the founder of Action Illinois and co-founder of Southern Illinois Democratic Women Jennifer Camille Lee; Pamela Smoot, clinical assistant professor in Africana Studies and coordinator of recruitment, retention and outreach at the College of Liberal Arts at Southern Illinois University; Stephanie Fortado, a labor activist and lecturer at University of Illinois’ labor education program; and Stratton, a first-term lawmaker.

Read the full article HERE.

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