Illinois governor slams 'demagogues' who attack schools, libraries

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker invoked Abraham Lincoln and Elie Wiesel in his annual state of the state address, attacking “demagogues who are pushing censorship.”

He didn't mention Ron DeSantis, but it was clear that Pritzker's ire was aimed at Florida's Republican governor and his allies.

The attack is the latest in an ongoing feud between the two ambitious governors over DeSantis blocking an advanced placement course on African American studies from his state’s school curriculum. DeSantis also has signed the "Stop W.O.K.E Act," which prohibits the teaching of "critical race theory" in Florida schools.

Pritzker didn't mince words.

“It’s an ideological battle by the right wing, hiding behind a claim that they would protect our children — but whose real intention is to marginalize people and ideas they don’t like," Pritzker told a joint session of the Illinois General Assembly gathered in the state Capitol for the first live address since before the pandemic. "This has been done in the past, and it doesn’t stop with just snuffing out ideas.”

Pritzker described "a virulent strain of nationalism plaguing our nation," and he criticized “demagogues” attacking school board members and library trustees.

He also invoked historical parallels to the current climate.

“This is the Land of Lincoln. We have a responsibility to that legacy,” he said.

Then Pritzker quoted Wiesel, the Holocaust survivor and Nobel Laureate: “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”

The governor made his comments after laying out a budget agenda focused on education funding.

“It’s all meaningless," he said, "if we become a nation that bans books from school libraries about racism suffered by Roberto Clemente and Hank Aaron, and tells kids they can’t talk about being gay. It signals to Black and brown people and Asian Americans and Jews and Muslims that our authentic stories can’t be told.”

That passage of his speech drew a standing ovation from Democrats seated on his right in the chamber and silence from Republicans at his left.

Pritzker then invoked his two college-age children.

“I don’t want them to be lied to," he said. "I want them to learn our true history, warts and all.”

Running feud

The speech follows Pritzker writing the College Board, which oversees Advanced Placement exams, to urge the group not to appease DeSantis by changing the African American studies course.

Earlier this week, DeSantis doubled down on the issue, threatening to withdraw state support for AP programs.

DeSantis’ threats and Pritzker’s comments in his Springfield address add fire to a feud between the two governors ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Both have been mentioned as potential candidates for their respective parties.

DeSantis is all but expected to jump into the GOP primary and face former President Donald Trump. Pritzker has repeatedly said he will be supporting President Joe Biden for president.