SPRINGFIELD – In response to House Speaker Mike Madigan’s call for the removal of Stephen Douglas’ statue from the Illinois Capitol grounds, State Senator Emil Jones III (D-Chicago) has suggested it be replaced with a statue of Barack Obama to honor our nation’s first Black president.

“We have nothing that commemorates our first Black president, who started his political career here in Illinois,” Jones said. “We have countless statues that honor military and political leaders who fought to preserve slavery. Why not replace this one with Barack, a Black man who tried to lift Black voices in communities across the nation?”

Although Stephen A. Douglas was a Democrat, he owned slaves in Mississippi and held deeply racist views about people of color. Douglas also supported the 1857 ruling in Dred Scott v. Sandford, which stated that enslaved people did not become free when taken into free states like Illinois.

Read more: Jones calls for Stephen Douglas statue to be replaced with Obama

CHICAGO –Corazón a Corazón, a Blue Island-based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing educational assistance to Latino communities, will receive a $25,000 grant from the Illinois Secretary of State, State Senator Emil Jones (D-Chicago) announced.

“Literacy is critical to individual and community well-being, as well as economic development across the region,” Jones said. “Adult literacy is an often overlooked issue, but these funds will help address the problem right here in our community. Residents who want to contribute to the effort may be interested in volunteering as a tutor.” 

Adult literacy programs throughout Illinois will serve more than 13,500 students. Supported by $5.6 million in state funds, the programs will depend on nearly 6,000 volunteer tutors to provide skills training for students, according to the Secretary of State’s office. Adult literacy projects are focused on improving reading, writing and math skills for Illinois adults who read below the 9th-grade level or speak English at a beginning level. 

Read more: Jones announces local adult literacy program will receive $25,000 grant

CHICAGO – After yesterday’s launch of the Business Interruption Grant program, State Senator Emil Jones III (D-Chicago) encourages local businesses to apply for more than $540 million in grants.

“Businesses in disproportionately impacted areas were already in desperate waters, and it’s satisfying that the majority of these grants will be aimed towards helping restore these communities,” Jones said. “It’s important that opportunities continue to come to these neighborhoods, because they are ones who need it the most.”

Read more: Jones encourages local businesses to apply for Business Interruption Grants

CHIICAGO – Blood drives across the state have been cancelled to prevent the spread of COVID-19, prompting State Senator Emil Jones III (D-Chicago) to put out a call for African American blood donations to help treat sickle cell patients. 

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, the state’s blood supply has gotten dangerously low, which means sickle cell patients may not be able to get life-saving transfusions,” Jones said. “African American communities have already been suffering from limited resources during the pandemic—they need support from their neighbors now more than ever. I encourage everyone to lend a hand to address this shortage.” 

Read more: Jones encourages African American blood donors to step up for sickle cell patients in need of...