Illinois Senator, Darren Bailey, is in hot water after remarks made following the mass shooting in Highland Park yesterday. Robert E. Crimo III killed seven people and injured at least 30 during an Independence Day parade. Crimo was still at large hours after the shooting. As a result, other suburbs in the area canceled their celebrations. During a Facebook livestream in Skokie, Bailey expressed his feelings about the shooting a mere hour after it happened.
The shooter is still at large, so let’s pray for justice to prevail, and then let’s move on and let’s celebrate — celebrate the independence of this nation.
The senator continued, saying canceling festivities in Skokie was the right move because safety comes first. Later, he called for a “special session” to discuss crime and the prosecution of criminals.
Reactions To Bailey’s Statements
Sen. Bailey has since apologized for his statements. But not before critics dragged him through the mud. Political pundit and sportscaster Keith Olbermann referred to him on Twitter as “Trump’s soulless candidate for governor of Illinois.” U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger said in reference to Bailey’s approval from Trump, “This is what happens with MAGA type candidates…they lost the ability to have compassion.” Bailey apologized, saying he intended to pray for the victims and their families while advocating for the capture of Crimo. He said he didn’t mean to diminish the emotions of the people of Illinois with his statement. Bailey didn’t directly relay the statement, but a spokesperson spoke to USA Today on his behalf.
Darren Bailey is running for governor of Illinois against billionaire incumbent JB Pritzker. Pritzker and a few other donors spent millions of dollars to help Bailey win the primary. The reason? To allegedly ensure having an easier opponent to beat come November. It’s unclear if Bailey’s statements will be forgotten in the near future, but if it doesn’t, it’s likely to impact his popularity in the polls. According to The Boston Globe, there have been at least 314 mass shootings in 2022.
Written by Kimberly Stelly | Instagram | Twitter
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