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105-504: Following the widespread George Floyd protests in the summer of 2020, the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus proposed an extensive legislative package that included criminal justice reforms alongside reforms in education, health care and human services, and economic policy. The Black Caucus decided to pursue their proposed criminal justice reforms as an omnibus bill , which they introduced and advanced when

210-523: A bill which made a number of election-related changes. The bill made the November election day a state holiday . It also made permanent a number of changes that had been implemented for the preceding 2020 elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic , including "curbside voting" and universal access to postal voting . The bill also delayed the date of the 2022 primary election from March 15 to June 28, citing

315-482: A condition of employment. The amendment would, effectively, render any state or local " right-to-work " legislation (which would prohibit collective bargaining agreements that require union membership as a condition of employment) unconstitutional in Illinois. Prohibition on local-level right-to-work ordinances currently exists through both Illinois state law and federal legal precedence . In 2019, Illinois ratified

420-498: A contrast to daytime protests that were characterized as mostly peaceful events. Some initial acts of property destruction on May 27 by a 32-year-old man with ties to white supremacist organizations, who local police investigators said was deliberately inciting racial tension, led to a chain reaction of fires and looting. The unrest, including people overtaking the Minneapolis third precinct police station and setting it on fire

525-911: A downtown Minneapolis court building where a pretrial hearing was held for the four police officers involved in Floyd's murder. On October 7, 2020, several protests were held in Minneapolis to express anger over Chauvin's release from jail pending trial after he posted bond for his $ 1 million bail . Minnesota Governor Tim Walz deployed 100 National Guards troops, 100 Minnesota state police troops, and 75 conservation officers. Fifty-one arrests were reported that night, mostly for misdemeanor offenses, such as unlawful assembly. In early 2021, Minneapolis and Hennepin County officials spent $ 1 million on fencing and other barricades for police stations and other government buildings to prepare for potential civil unrest during

630-460: A grant program to aid public defenders with increased caseloads." On December 28, 2022, in a case that combined 60 lawsuits, Kankakee County Chief Judge Thomas Cunnington ruled that the Act's provision ending cash bail violated the state constitution . The ruling only applies to some judicial districts in the state covered by the lawsuits, and the impact of the ruling on the immediate implementation of

735-454: A history of protest and leftist politics since its founding: "[The ILWU] understood that division along the lines of race only benefited employers, because it weakened the efforts of workers to act together and to organize together. The UAW also asked members to join the protests by standing down for 8 minutes and 46 seconds , the amount of time Chauvin was initially reported to have held his knee to Floyd's neck. On June 17, in response to

840-459: A marquee that had counted down the days to Chauvin's trial to read, "Justice served?", and chanted, "One down! Three to go!", in reference to the looming trials of officers of the other three officers who participated in Floyd's arrest and subsequent murder. The street intersection area had been a "continuous site of protest" since the day Floyd was murdered, and at nearly a year after his murder, thousands of people from multiple countries had visited

945-476: A new process for pretrial release, which was set to take effect on January 1, 2023. After legal challenges, the provision was upheld and took effect on September 18, 2023. In the prior system, judges set an amount of "cash bail" or "money bond" for detained individuals. Detainees could be released prior to a trial if they paid the amount of bail. In the new system, the role of cash payments will be eliminated and judges will determine whether detained individuals pose

1050-641: A performance presented in partnership with Sing For Hope , performed on the steps of the Brooklyn Public Library. By the end of June, more than 4,700 demonstrations had occurred in the United States—a daily average of 140—with an estimate of 15 million and 26 million total participants. Protests had occurred in over 40% of the counties in the United States. Protests in the aftermath of Floyd's murder were then considered

1155-493: A proposed constitutional amendment must receive a vote of 60% approval in both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly. No gubernatorial approval is required. Advisory questions require a simple majority approval vote in each chamber of the Illinois General Assembly and the signature of the governor. In Illinois, ballot initiatives can be included on the ballot. In Illinois, in order to be included on

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1260-504: A result of anti-black sentiment, which is seen as structural in nature. According to a police statement, on May 25, 2020, at 8:08   p.m. CDT , Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) officers responded to a 9-1-1 call regarding a "forgery in progress" on Chicago Avenue South in Powderhorn, Minneapolis . MPD Officers Thomas K. Lane and J. Alexander Kueng arrived with their body cameras turned on. A store employee told officers that

1365-584: A right to collectively bargain. Currently, no state constitutions have a clause prohibiting right-to-work legislation (which ban collective bargaining agreements that require union membership as a condition of employment). The legislation referring the proposed amendment to voters received the needed 60% approval vote in the Illinois Senate on May 21, 2021, and in the Illinois House of Representatives on May 26, 2021. In order to be ratified,

1470-415: A risk if released. Pretrial release can be denied by a judge after a hearing, "when it is determined that the defendant poses a specific, real and present threat to a person, or has a high likelihood of willful flight." In addition to the abolition of cash bail, other pretrial reforms in the Act include: The SAFE-T Act includes a range of reforms on policing practices and police accountability , including

1575-588: A set of amendments to the Act on December 1, 2022, which was signed into law by Governor Pritzker on December 6. Changes related to pretrial detention include a provision that those charged before January 1, 2023 would be able to stay on the old cash bail system or request to be moved to the new system, and "felonies and crimes such as kidnapping and arson to the charges that qualify someone to be detained while awaiting trial." Other changes "clarify court authority in controlling electronic monitoring and escape, outline specific guidelines for trespassing violations, and create

1680-600: A silent rally inspired by the 1917 NAACP Silent Parade . The march generated widespread media attention as one of the largest peaceful protests in modern New York City history. On June 19, Juneteenth , the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) shut down ports on the West Coast in solidarity with protesters. An educator from the University of Washington said that the union has

1785-656: A state law prohibiting local governments from creating right-to-work zones. In 2017, in a case concerning a 2015 local right-to-work ordinance adopted by the village of Lincolnshire, Illinois , Judge Matthew Kennelly issued a ruling in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois that the National Labor Relations Act does not enable local governments to pass right-to-work laws . This

1890-523: A stretcher. Not only had Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck for about seven minutes (including four minutes after Floyd stopped moving) but another video showed an additional two officers had also knelt on Floyd while another officer watched. Although the police report stated that medical services were requested prior to the time Floyd was placed in handcuffs, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune , Emergency Medical Services arrived at

1995-559: A vote of 32–23 in the state Senate on January 13, 2021 and was later approved by the House. Governor J. B. Pritzker signed the bill into law on February 22, 2021 at a signing ceremony at Chicago State University . The SAFE-T Act incorporated provisions from a previously proposed bill, the Pretrial Fairness Act. The most significant change in this section of the Act is the elimination of cash bail and its replacement with

2100-530: A year after Floyd's murder, civil rights activists continued to call for passage of the federal George Floyd Justice in Policing Act . Many activists believed that "justice for George Floyd" required changing the systems of policing and criminal justice in a way that would have prevented his murder. On April 23, 2021, in Austin, Texas , activists rallied outside the state's capitol to call for passage of

2205-419: The 1992 Los Angeles riots . The protests precipitated a worldwide debate on policing and racial injustice that has led to numerous legislative proposals on federal, state, and municipal levels in the U.S. intended to combat police misconduct , systemic racism , qualified immunity and police brutality . The protests led to a wave of monument removals , name changes , and societal changes throughout

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2310-711: The Brooklyn Museum at Grand Army Plaza for the Liberation March, a silent protest in response to police brutality and violence against black transgender women. Frustrated by the lack of media coverage over the deaths of Nina Pop , who was stabbed in Sikeston, Missouri, on May 3 and Tony McDade , who was shot by police in Tallahassee, Florida, on May 27, artist and drag performer West Dakota and her mentor, drag queen Merrie Cherry, decided to organize

2415-539: The COVID-19 pandemic and other natural disasters, constituted the largest military operation other than war in U.S. history. By the end of June 2020, at least 14,000 people had been arrested. By June 2020, more than 19 people had died in relation to the unrest. A report from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project estimated that between May 26 and August 22, 93% of individual protests were "peaceful and nondestructive" and research from

2520-738: The United States House of Representatives were for election in 2022. Prior to these elections, Illinois saw its congressional seat boundaries change due to redistricting , and lost one seat due to post- 2020 United States Census reapportionment. J. B. Pritzker Democratic J. B. Pritzker Democratic The incumbent governor and lieutenant governor , J. B. Pritzker and Juliana Stratton , won reelection. Kwame Raoul Democratic Kwame Raoul Democratic Incumbent attorney general , Democrat Kwame Raoul , won reelection. Jesse White Democratic Alexi Giannoulias Democratic The incumbent secretary of state

2625-752: The killing of Eric Garner in New York City resulted in numerous national protests. In 2015, the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore police custody resulted in riots in the city and nationwide protests as part of the Black Lives Matter movement. Several nationally publicized incidents occurred in Minnesota, including the 2015 shooting of Jamar Clark in Minneapolis ; the 2016 shooting of Philando Castile in Falcon Heights ; and

2730-451: The trial of Derek Chauvin in March. State and local officials also made plans to deploy thousands of police officers and National Guard soldiers. In early March, in the days preceding Chauvin's trial, local organizers staged peaceful protests with thousands of people marching in the streets. The situation at George Floyd Square in Minneapolis grew tense when a person was fatally shot inside

2835-507: The 2017 shooting of Justine Damond . In 2016, Tony Timpa was killed by Dallas police officers in the same way as George Floyd. In August 2019, Elijah McClain died after Aurora police ordered paramedics to administer ketamine under dubious circumstances. In March 2020, the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor by police executing a search warrant at her Kentucky apartment was also widely publicized. After Eric Garner and George Floyd repeatedly said " I can't breathe " during their arrests,

2940-497: The 20th century was the 1992 Los Angeles riots , which were in response to the acquittal of police officers responsible for excessive force against Rodney King , an African American man. The Black Lives Matter movement was originally started in 2013, after Trayvon Martin’s killer was found not guilty in court. In 2014, the shooting of Michael Brown by police in Ferguson, Missouri , resulted in local protests and unrest while

3045-528: The Chauvin trial at several locations. In Houston, Texas, Floyd's family held an event on April 9, 2021. In Maryland, a group gathered to pray that for justice for Floyd and his family as the jury began deliberations in the Chauvin criminal trial on April 19, 2021. As a jury deliberated in Chauvin's criminal trial, a vigil for Floyd was held on April 19, 2021, in Melbourne, Florida. People in many cities in

3150-406: The Chauvin's guilty verdict spread on April 20, 2021, a crowd of one-thousand people marched in downtown Minneapolis and others gathered at 38th and Chicago Avenue to celebrate the outcome. Demonstrations in Minneapolis during Chauvin's criminal trial and verdict announcement were largely peaceful. Following Chauvin's verdict, many activists in Minneapolis did not perceive that "Justice for Floyd"

3255-534: The Court upheld the provision ending cash bail. The provision took effect on September 18, 2023. George Floyd protests In Minneapolis–Saint Paul : May 26, 2020 – May 2, 2023 (2 years, 11 months and 1 week) The George Floyd protests were a series of protests and demonstrations against police brutality that began in Minneapolis in the United States on May 26, 2020. The protests and civil unrest began in Minneapolis as reactions to

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3360-551: The East 38th Street and Chicago Avenue intersection in Minneapolis where Floyd was killed. In many parts of the United States, protests over Floyd's murder gradually diminished over time. In Portland, Oregon, however, Floyd's murder resulted in a yearlong period of "near-continuous protests" over racial injustice and police violence, at times featuring clashes between demonstrators and authorities and resulting in property damage. In Boston , activists rallied on March 4, 2021, to demand

3465-794: The George Floyd Square's Justice Resolution 001 had been met, that all four police officers be held legally accountable for murdering George Floyd. By the forth anniversary of Floyd's murder in 2024, the streetway remained a continued place of protest. Protests outside the Minneapolis area were first reported on May 27 in Memphis and Los Angeles . By May 28, protests had sprung up in several major U.S. cities with demonstrations increasing each day. By June, protests had been held in all U.S. states. At least 200 cities had imposed curfews , and at least 27 states and Washington, D.C., activated over 62,000 National Guard personnel in response to

3570-464: The Minneapolis–Saint Paul events alone the second-most destructive period of local unrest in United States history, after the 1992 Los Angeles riots . About 60% of the local financial losses were uninsured. In Minneapolis, protesters barricaded the street intersection at East 38th Street and Chicago Avenue where Floyd was murdered and transformed it into a makeshift memorial site, which

3675-487: The Nonviolent Action Lab and Crowd Counting Consortium estimated that by the end of June, 96.3% of 7,305 demonstrations involved no injuries and no property damage. However, arson, vandalism, and looting that occurred between May 26 and June 8 caused approximately $ 1–2 billion in insured damages nationally, the highest recorded damage from civil disorder in U.S. history, and surpassing the record set during

3780-557: The November 2020 election . Terrance Floyd, George's brother, and other family members rallied voters in support of the candidacy of Joe Biden , and they made an appearance with the Biden family at a campaign event in Tallahassee, Florida . Terrence Floyd also rallied voters in New York City on the November 3, 2020, Election Day. By December, the protest movement was still "deeply rooted" at George Floyd Square, an occupied protest of

3885-649: The Texas’ George Floyd Act—reform legislation introduced to ban chokeholds and require officers to intervene to stop excessive use of force—that had stalled in the state legislature. On May 6, 2021, Black mothers led a march in Washington, D.C., to encourage passage federal police reform legislation named after Floyd. On May 19, 2021, in Nevada , protesters jammed phone lines to the state legislature after police reform legislation introduced as result of

3990-474: The U.S., particularly against African Americans , have long led the civil rights movement and other activists to protest against a lack of police accountability in incidents they see as involving excessive force. Many protests during the civil rights movement were in response to the perception of police brutality, including the 1965 Watts riots which resulted in the deaths of 34 people, mostly African Americans. The largest post-civil rights movement protest in

4095-543: The United States in support of federal police reform legislation. At a rally in New York City outside Brooklyn Borough Hall on May 23, 2021, Terrance Floyd, George's brother, called on the crowd to continue advocating for police reform and for communities to “stay woke ”. Civil rights activist Al Sharpton said, "convicting Chauvin is not enough", and encouraged congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, as well as continued activism ahead of

4200-444: The United States reacted to Chauvin's murder conviction on April 20, 2021, with largely peaceful demonstrations. Some jurisdictions had proactively mobilized National Guard troops and declared states of emergency in preparation for possible violence, and some businesses had boarded up to prevent potential looting. Many activists perceived the guilty verdict as just one step in the process to obtain justice over Floyd's murder. At nearly

4305-613: The United States staged protest events on October 14, 2020. Rallies and vigils were held in Minneapolis, Brooklyn, and Los Angeles, among other places. In Portland, Oregon, where Black Lives Matter protests had been held daily since Floyd's murder, demonstrators staged a sit-in . For some Black Americans, particularly a group interviewed in George Floyd's hometown in Houston, Texas, the protests over Floyd's murder transformed to greater political activity and increased voter turnout in

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4410-861: The United States walking off their jobs for approximately 8 minutes, in honor of Floyd. The theme for the March on Washington held in Washington, D.C., on August 28, 2020, was, "Commitment March: Get Your Knee Off Our Necks", a reference to Floyd's arrest by Chauvin. Over the Labor Day holiday weekend, which the Saturday marked 100 nights of protests since Floyd's murder, marches and rallies where held in many cities. In Miami, Florida , protesters on September 7, 2020, commemorated Floyd's murder and pressured local authorities to enact changes to policing policies, such as banning chokeholds during arrests. To mark what would have been Floyd's 47th birthday, groups across

4515-474: The active, ongoing protest and memorial site there. People gathered at multiple locations in Minneapolis for the announcement of Chauvin's sentencing on June 25, 2021, when he received a 22.5-year prison term. Family and civil rights activists expressed disappointment and said it should have been for the 30-year maximum, and they advocated for passage of the federal George Floyd Justice in Policing Act legislation. Several demonstrations were held in Minneapolis

4620-621: The amendment is required to receive either 60% support among those specifically voting on the amendment or 50% support among all ballots cast in the state's election. If ratified, the amendment would expand the Bill of Rights contained in the Illinois Constitution of 1970. It would add the following text as a new 25th section of Article I of the Constitution of Illinois, SECTION 25. WORKERS' RIGHTS (a) Employees shall have

4725-602: The anniversary of George Floyd's murder including rioting but situations were finally said to have calmed down in the early hours of May 26, 2021. In New York City, protesters marched and then knelt for 9 minutes and 29 seconds while blocking traffic. A rally in Portland, Oregon, was peaceful in the afternoon, but at night, 150 demonstrators set fire to a dumpster outside the Multnomah County Justice Center and damaged other property. Police declared

4830-410: The area of Floyd's head and neck. A Facebook Live livestream recorded by a bystander showed Officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck. Floyd repeatedly tells Chauvin "Please" and "I can't breathe", while a bystander is heard telling the police officer, "You got him down. Let him breathe." After some time, a bystander points out that Floyd was bleeding from his nose while another bystander tells

4935-462: The ballot, an initiative must receive signatures of support equal in number to 8% of the turnout for the previous gubernatorial election. For the 2022 election, this meant that ballot initiatives required 363,813 signatures. Ballot initiatives in Illinois are only permitted to revise Section IV of the Constitution of Illinois . In order for an initiative be included on the November 2022 ballot,

5040-520: The conviction of all four officers present at the scene of Floyd's murder and for local authorities to investigate past cases where police officers used excessive force. Two days later, thousands marched in Boston to call for justice for Floyd as part of a coordinated, 17-state set of rallies. In Salt Lake City , activists protested Floyd's murder by staging a car caravan on March 6, 2021. Prayer vigils seeking justice for Floyd were held in conjunction with

5145-466: The courtroom for the trial. Protest demonstrations were held in the streets surrounding the courtroom building during the trial. On February 24, 2022, Kueng, Lane, and Thao were convicted on all federal civil rights charges they faced at trial. A small group of protesters gathered outside the court building in Saint Paul and at the location in Minneapolis where Floyd was murdered while the verdict

5250-403: The criminal trials of Lane, Kueng, and Thao and the federal civil rights trial of all four officers. By May 25, 2021, the anniversary of Floyd's murder, the United States had experienced a yearlong movement to address racial injustice in policing. Several street protests were held in many locations in the United States to mark the anniversary. There was mass disturbance on May 25, 2021, to mark

5355-436: The day after George Floyd's murder and when a video of the incident had circulated widely in the media. By midday, people had gathered by the thousands and set up a makeshift memorial. Organizers of the rally emphasized keeping the protest peaceful. Protesters and Floyd's family demanded that all four officers at the scene of his arrest and killing be charged with murder and that judicial consequences be swift. That evening,

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5460-409: The delay in the release of 2020 United States Census data needed for the reapportionment of electoral districts. The incumbent senator of Illinois's class 3 United States Senate seat was first-term Democrat Tammy Duckworth , first elected in 2016 . She won re-election in 2022, defeating Republican nominee Kathy Salvi with 56.8% of the vote compared to Salvi's 41.5%. All of Illinois's seats in

5565-673: The demonstrations in the United States, making the protests the largest in U.S. history . While the majority of protests were peaceful, demonstrations in some cities escalated into riots, looting , and street skirmishes with police and counter-protesters. Some police responded to protests with instances of violence , including against reporters. At least 200 cities in the U.S. had imposed curfews by early June 2020, while more than 30 states and Washington, D.C. activated over 96,000 National Guard , State Guard , 82nd Airborne , and 3rd Infantry Regiment service members. The deployment, when combined with preexisting deployments related to

5670-654: The end of cash bail in 2023 as "the end of days" and alleged that criminals would be released from prison. Opponents have also spread content on social media claiming that the law would create "non-detainable offenses" and similarly alleging that criminals would be released from prison. Social media content and conservative news outlets promoting these claims have likened the law to the fictional horror film series The Purge . Similar claims and Purge references have also been made by former Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey . These claims have been challenged and debunked by legal experts and fact-checkers . Advocates of

5775-525: The evening of June 25. Civil rights activists and protesters noted the forthcoming civil rights case against the four police officers at the scene of Floyd's murder, and the criminal case against former officers Kueng, Lane, and Thao scheduled for March 2022. Though the City of Minneapolis began the process of reopening the street intersection at George Floyd Square to vehicular traffic in June 2021, organizers of

5880-455: The execution or application of agreements between employers and labor organizations that represent employees requiring membership in an organization as a condition of employment. (b) The provisions of this Section are controlling over those of Section 6 of Article VII. Judicial elections were to be held, consisting of both partisan and retention elections. Local elections took place in several jurisdictions, including county elections such as

5985-502: The fall election". Protests continued over the weekend of June 19 in many cities, and observations of Juneteenth gained a new awareness. Jon Batiste , bandleader for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert , took part in a Juneteenth day of protests, marches, rallies and vigils to "celebrate, show solidarity, and fight for equal rights and treatment of Black people" in Brooklyn . Batiste also appeared in concert with Matt Whitaker in

6090-580: The first redistricting process to be affected by it will be in 2031. The Act makes several amendments to the Crime Victims Compensation Act, designed to expand the definition of victims and make it easier for victims to apply for cash compensation. The Act reforms several aspects of the state's vehicle code, including "end[ing] driver’s license suspensions for failure to pay automated camera tickets, traffic fines and abandoned vehicle fees." The SAFE-T Act's passage made Illinois

6195-520: The first state in the United States to abolish cash bail as the standard of pretrial detention. House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch framed the Act as part of a broader effort "to remedy inequalities" in light of the "past year's reckoning of racial injustice." In his signing statement, Governor Pritzker called the legislation "a substantial step toward dismantling the systemic racism that plagues our communities, our state and our nation and brings us closer to true safety, true fairness and true justice." The Act

6300-417: The following: The SAFE-T Act includes reforms concerning the rights of prisoners and other detainees, including: The Act makes several reforms to sentencing policies by: The Act also ends prison gerrymandering in Illinois by requiring that people in prison are counted as residents of their last known address for the purpose of creating electoral districts. This provision takes effect in 2025, meaning that

6405-501: The fundamental right to organize and to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing for the purpose of negotiating wages, hours, and working conditions, and to protect their economic welfare and safety at work. No law shall be passed that interferes with, negates, or diminishes the right of employees to organize and bargain collectively over their wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment and work place safety, including any law or ordinance that prohibits

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6510-483: The gathering a riot and made five arrests. Most demonstrations—which included street marches, prayer services, and festivals—in the United States were peaceful. At many rallies, protesters expressed disappointment with the lack of change to policing policies and budgets, and some said they would continue protesting and advocating for their desired goals. Floyd's murder came as the global Black Lives Matter movement had been slowly building for years, but outrage over what

6615-671: The global protest movement begun by Floyd's murder did not advance. By late May 2021, Floyd's murder, and the video of it, had given way to a yearlong, nationwide movement featuring the largest mass protests in United States history. To commemorate the one-year anniversary of his murder in a several-day event titled "One Year, What's Changed", the George Floyd Memorial Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by Floyd's family, planned marches and rallies in Minneapolis, New York, and Houston for May 23, 2021, and called for two days of virtual activism everywhere in

6720-531: The largest in United States history. As of July 3, protests were ongoing. On July 4, the Independence Day holiday in the United States, several protests were held, including in several cities where protests had been going on since the day after Floyd's murder. On July 20, the Strike for Black Lives , a mass walkout intended to raise awareness of systemic racism, featured thousands of workers across

6825-480: The law have noted that there are no "non-detainable offenses" in Illinois law and argued that the Act ensures pretrial detention will no longer depend on "how much money a person has in their bank account." Three elected prosecutors (called "state's attorneys" in Illinois) from Will , McHenry , and Kankakee counties have filed lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the Act. The Illinois legislature passed

6930-464: The law was unclear as the judge did not issue an injunction . After the ruling, Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that the state would appeal the decision at the Supreme Court of Illinois . On December 31, 2022, the Court issued a temporary stay on the provision ending cash bail pending its review, "in order to maintain consistent pretrial procedures throughout Illinois." On July 18, 2023,

7035-518: The legislature convened in January 2021. The proposed omnibus criminal justice reform bill incorporated a number of proposed reforms in police training, rules, and oversight, pretrial court processes, sentencing, and corrections. The omnibus bill incorporated two prior legislative proposals: the Pretrial Fairness Act sponsored by Senator Robert Peters and a police certification reform proposal championed by Attorney General Kwame Raoul . Proponents in

7140-470: The location of Floyd's arrest and murder, and other sites in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area of Minnesota . Protests quickly spread nationwide and to over 2,000 cities and towns in over 60 countries in support of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. Polls in the summer of 2020 estimated that between 15 million and 26 million people had participated at some point in

7245-472: The man was in a nearby car. Officers approached the car and ordered George Floyd , a 46-year-old African American man, who according to police "appeared to be under the influence", to exit the vehicle, at which point he "physically resisted". According to the MPD, officers "were able to get the suspect into handcuffs, and noted he appeared to be suffering medical distress. Officers called for an ambulance." Once Floyd

7350-473: The murder of George Floyd , a 46-year-old unarmed African American man, by city police during an arrest. They spread nationally and internationally. Veteran officer Derek Chauvin was recorded as kneeling on Floyd's neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds; Floyd complained of not being able to breathe, but three other officers looked on and prevented passersby from intervening. Chauvin and the other three officers involved were later arrested. In April 2021, Chauvin

7455-434: The night of May 28, garnered significant national and international media attention. After state officials mobilized Minnesota National Guard troops in its largest deployment since World War II , the violent unrest subsided and mostly peaceful protests resumed. However, the violence by early June 2020 had resulted in two deaths, 604 arrests, an estimated $ 550 million in property damage to 1,500 locations, making

7560-516: The official post-mortem declared Floyd's death a homicide . Video footage of Officer Derek Chauvin applying 8 minutes 15 seconds of sustained pressure to Floyd's neck generated global attention and raised questions about the use of force by law enforcement. On June 25, 2021, Chauvin was sentenced to 22 years and 6 months in prison with the possibility of supervised release after serving two-thirds of his sentence or 15 years for second-degree murder. Organized protests began in Minneapolis on May 26,

7665-461: The one-year anniversary of Floyd's murder in May 2021. Officials in Minnesota and elsewhere proactively mobilized counter-protest measures for Chauvin's trial, but it did not result in unrest like what happened immediately after Floyd's murder. Local officials in Minneapolis–Saint Paul prepared counter-protest measures in early 2022 for the start of the federal trial for the other three police officers at

7770-444: The other three officers were fired. Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter ; the former charge was later changed to second-degree murder . On June 1, a private autopsy commissioned by the family of Floyd found the death to be a homicide and that Floyd had died due to asphyxiation from sustained pressure, which conflicted with the original autopsy report done earlier that week. Shortly after,

7875-464: The outcome of the Derek Chauvin trial. On April 20, 2021, Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murdering George Floyd. By then, Floyd's murder had resulted in one of the largest civil rights protest movements in recent decades, and the Minneapolis–Saint Paul region had experienced a prolonged series of protests and intermittent unrest over issues of police brutality and racial injustice. As news of

7980-628: The phrase became a protest slogan against police brutality. The murder of George Floyd sparked mass protests and calls for police reform in the face of ongoing police violence against African-Americans. Large companies such as Nike and Walmart aimed to express their support for the movement through branding themselves as antiracist. Despite some politicians expressing backlash for the Black Lives Matter protests, politicians such as Republican Senator Mitt Romney participated. The movement sought to express their understanding of police brutality as

8085-534: The police that Floyd is "not even resisting arrest right now", to which the police tell the bystanders that Floyd was "talking, he's fine". A bystander replies saying Floyd "ain't fine". A bystander then protests that the police were preventing Floyd from breathing, urging them to "get him off the ground ... You could have put him in the car by now. He's not resisting arrest or nothing." Floyd then goes silent and motionless. Chauvin does not remove his knee until an ambulance arrives. Emergency medical services put Floyd on

8190-557: The possibility of a military response. On June 10, thousands of academics, universities, scientific institutions, professional bodies and publishing houses around the world shut down to give researchers time to reflect and act upon anti-Black racism in academia. Organizations involved with #ShutDownSTEM day included Nature Research , Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the American Physical Society . On June 14, an estimated 15,000 people gathered outside

8295-405: The protest movement rooted there still considered their presence an "occupation" and "resistance". The square hosted a celebration of life for Floyd on October 14, 2021. By December 23, 2021, the occupied protest had persisted at George Floyd Square for 19 consecutive months. Activists in Minneapolis had vowed to continue protesting until the outcome of the criminal case of all involved officers at

8400-484: The protest rally turned into a march to the Minneapolis Police Department 's third precinct station where the officers were believed to work. After the main protest group disbanded on the night of May 26, a much smaller group, numbering in the hundreds, spray-painted the building, threw rocks and bottles, broke a window at the station, and vandalized a squad car. A skirmish soon broke out between

8505-590: The protester-held "autonomous zone" during an altercation on March 6, 2021. In March and April 2021, groups of protesters gathered at George Floyd Square and outside Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis during Chauvin's trial, but the streets of Minneapolis were largely empty of mass demonstrations like those in late May and early June 2020. In April 2021, 3,000 National Guard troops and law enforcement officers were called from neighboring states in preparation for potential unrest over

8610-599: The protests, three different police reform plans, plans from the Republicans, the Democrats, and the White House, were unveiled aiming to curb police brutality and the use of violence by law enforcement. On June 25, NPR reported that the hopes for passage were doubtful because they were "short-circuited by a lack of bipartisan consensus on an ultimate plan [and] the issue is likely stalled, potentially until after

8715-564: The reelection, but ceded ground compared to her 2018 performance, with a margin of just 16% compared to 23%. She traditionally performed the best in Cook County, which was reflected by her victories in all ten congressional districts it is a part of. She won four other districts in the remaining part of the state, while Teresi secured just three overall. Organizations Labor unions Organizations Mike Frerichs Democratic Mike Frerichs Democratic The incumbent treasurer

8820-412: The right for employees to organize and bargain collectively through representatives of their choosing in negotiations concerning "wages, hours, and working conditions and to protect their economic welfare and safety at work." The amendment would also prohibit legislation which interferes with, negates, or diminishes collective bargaining agreements, including agreements which require union membership as

8925-471: The scene of Floyd's murder. Relatively small protests took place during the trial and after the verdict announcement. On May 25, 2021, the one-year anniversary of Floyd's murder, a number of protests took place; most of these were short-lived, with calm being restored on the early hours of May 26, 2021. While the nationwide protests ended, the occupation of George Floyd Square in Minneapolis–Saint Paul persisted into 2024, however as of 2022 vehicular traffic

9030-456: The scene of Floyd's murder. The criminal trial was scheduled to begin on June 13, 2022. In early 2022, local officials prepared counter-protest measures and for potential unrest ahead of the January 20 schedule start of the federal civil rights trial of Kueng, Lane, and Thao. Officials erected security fencing around the Warren E. Burger Federal Building in Saint Paul, Minnesota, that contained

9135-591: The scene six minutes after getting the call. Medics were unable to detect a pulse, and Floyd was pronounced dead at the hospital. A May 26 autopsy conducted by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office found that there were "no physical findings that support a diagnosis of traumatic asphyxia or strangulation"; the preliminary findings stated that underlying health conditions, the police restraint, and potential intoxicants likely contributed to Floyd's death. On May 26, Chauvin and

9240-482: The signatures supporting it were required to be filed no later than May 8, 2022. No ballot initiative was filed by this deadline. Thus far, a single ballot measure (a legislatively referred constitutional amendment) has been scheduled for the November general election. Yes No In the November 8, 2022 general election, Illinois voters voted on whether to ratify the proposed Right to Collective Bargaining Amendment. The proposed amendment would guarantee

9345-525: The state legislature championed the bill as "a broad and ambitious initiative that takes a detailed look at sentencing reform, policing [and] violence reduction." The bill was opposed by the Illinois Law Enforcement Coalition and Republican lawmakers. After private negotiations, several provisions were removed from the bill, including a proposal to end qualified immunity for law enforcement. The amended omnibus bill passed by

9450-523: The unrest. In Seattle , starting in early June, protesters occupied an area of several city blocks after the police vacated it, declaring it the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone , where according to protesters "the police are forbidden, food is free and documentaries are screened at night". On June 11, President Trump challenged mayor Jenny Durkan and governor Jay Inslee to "take back your city", and implying, according to Durkan,

9555-435: The vandals and protesters trying to stop them. At around 8 p.m., police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at demonstrators, some of whom had thrown water bottles at police officers. Protests were held at several locations throughout the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area in subsequent days. The situation escalated the nights of May 27 to 29 where widespread arson, rioting, and looting took place, which were noted as

9660-540: The weekend of June 6 and 7, surfers around the world held a "Paddle Out", which is a Hawaiian mourning tradition. The tribute was held for George Floyd and all the lives lost to police violence. Thousands observed the tradition in Honolulu, Hawaii , La Jolla , Hermosa Beach and Santa Monica, California , Galveston , Hackensack, New Jersey , Rockaway Beach, New York , Biarritz , France, Senegal and Australia. 2022 Illinois elections A general election

9765-437: The world and occurred during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic and amid the 2020 U.S. presidential election season. Protests continued through 2020 and into 2021, most notably in Minneapolis at the 38th and Chicago Avenue street intersection where Floyd was murdered that activists have referred to as George Floyd Square . Several demonstrations coincided with the criminal trial of Chauvin in March and April 2021 and

9870-604: Was a ruling counter to a 2016 United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit decision on such laws. Kennelly's ruling was subsequently upheld the following year by the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in a unanimous decision. Currently, only three states in the United States ( Hawaii , Missouri , and New York ) have clauses in their state constitutions which assert

9975-529: Was adorned with public art installments and described as like a " shrine ". Thousands of visitors protested and grieved at the site. When Minneapolis city officials attempted to negotiate the re-opening of the intersection in August 2020, protesters demanded that before removing cement barricades the city meet a list of 24 demands, which included holding the trial for the four officers present during Floyd's murder. On September 11, 2020, hundreds rallied outside

10080-536: Was captured in a bystander's video and Floyd's dying words, "I can't breathe", resulted in solidarity protests in more than 50 countries and led to what was described as a "social awakening" on issues of racial injustice and brought renewed attention on past police brutality cases. Protests in Canada, Europe, Oceania, Asia, and Africa rallied against what they perceived as racial discrimination and police brutality, with some protests aimed at United States embassies. Over

10185-399: Was final as J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao still awaited trial, and issues of systemic racism and police reform had not been addressed satisfactorily. George Floyd Square occupation protest organizers, who had transformed the street intersection where Floyd was murdered into an "autonomous zone" adorned with public art, said they would continue to protest. Activists changed

10290-471: Was finally allowed to pass through it. On May 2, 2023, Tou Thao was found guilty of aiding and abetting manslaughter—the last federal or state court case related to Floyd's murder. The conviction fulfilled a key demand of protesters that all four police officers be held legally accountable for murdering George Floyd. The protest at George Floyd Square continued into 2024. Cases of police misconduct and fatal use of force by law enforcement officers in

10395-399: Was found guilty of second-degree murder , third-degree murder , and second-degree manslaughter . In June 2021, Chauvin was sentenced to 22 + 1 ⁄ 2 years in prison. The George Floyd protest movement began hours after his murder as bystander video and word of mouth began to spread. Protests first emerged at the East 38th and Chicago Avenue street intersection in Minneapolis,

10500-423: Was handcuffed, officers Kueng and Lane attempted to help Floyd to their squad car, but at 8:14 p.m., Floyd stiffened up and fell to the ground. MPD Officers Derek Chauvin and Tou Thao then arrived and made more failed attempts to get Floyd into the squad car. Floyd, who was still handcuffed, went to the ground face down. Officer Kueng held Floyd's back and Lane held his legs. Chauvin placed his left knee in

10605-471: Was held in the U.S. state of Illinois on November 8, 2022. The elections for United States Senate and United States House of Representatives , Governor , statewide constitutional officers, Illinois Senate , and Illinois House were held on this date. 2022 was a midterm election year in the United States. The primary election was held on June 28. The general election was held on November 8, 2022. On June 17, 2021, Governor J. B. Pritzker signed

10710-529: Was largely lauded by advocates of criminal justice reform. Republican lawmakers and several law enforcement officials strongly opposed the legislation. By mid-2022, however, law enforcement opposition to the Act had slightly softened. Ahead of the 2022 elections , the Pretrial Fairness Act has been the subject of significant criticism and some misinformation by opponents. Several widely distributed mailers, funded by conservative activists Dan Proft and Brian Timpone designed to appear as newspapers, characterized

10815-406: Was read. George Floyd Square in Minneapolis continued to be a place of protest for over two years after Floyd's murder, with the movement there persisting into 2023. On May 2, 2023, Tou Thao was found guilty of aiding and abetting manslaughter, which marked the conclusion of all state and federal court cases for the four Minneapolis police officers. Thao's conviction signaled that a key demand of

10920-650: Was second-term Democrat Mike Frerichs . Organizations Labor unions Organizations All of the seats of the Illinois Senate were up for election in 2022, as this was the first election following redistricting . All of the seats in the Illinois House of Representatives were up for election in 2022. The Illinois General Assembly has the authority to refer statewide ballot measures , either as legislatively referred constitutional amendments or referendums . In order to be referred to voters,

11025-407: Was sixth-term Democrat Jesse White . He announced that he would not seek reelection to a seventh term. Alexi Giannoulias defeated Dan Brady in the secretary of state election. Susana Mendoza Democratic Susana Mendoza Democratic The incumbent comptroller was Susana Mendoza , a Democrat who was first elected in a 2016 special election and subsequently reelected in 2018. Mendoza won

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