Friend, Friday the 13th is one of the most superstitious days of the year.
I'm not usually the most superstitious person, but so far, my run-ins with far-right extremists haven't exactly been my luckiest encounters. Let's review:
1️⃣ This summer, right-wingers circulated a story about President Biden using the pseudonym "Robert Peters", which led to my name being in the news for all the wrong reasons.
2️⃣ Earlier this year, I defended Chicago youth against ignorant and racist remarks – Tucker Carlson bad-mouthed me on FOX News because of it.
3️⃣ More recently, conservative leaders and conservative media have not hesitated to spread misinformation about the Pretrial Fairness Act, my bill to eliminate cash bail in Illinois – making it the first state in the nation to do so.
At the end of the day, these encounters only push me to work harder for my constituents and continue to fight for public safety and criminal justice reform.
Senator Robert Peters was born in 1985 deaf and with a massive speech impediment. His biological mother was addicted to drugs and alcohol, and his adopted mother and father were a social worker and a civil rights lawyer. He saw first hand the impact and devastation of the racist war on drugs.
As he grew up, he admired the work his father did as a civil rights and criminal defense attorney, challenging wrongdoing by the police. This combined with the effect of the criminalization of addiction, inspired his work on criminal justice reform rooted in the safety, freedom, and wellness of all people.
A defining moment for Peters was the Great Recession, as he struggled to find work and lost his parents within a year and a half of each other. He found his power through political organizing in solidarity with a variety of organizations in Chicago fighting for justice.
As a state senator, Peters has championed the end of cash bail in Illinois after years of organizing around it before becoming a Senator. This legislative session alone, Peters has passed six bills out of the Senate, as he continues to push Illinois forward as a leader in criminal justice reform and true public safety for all. He chairs the Labor Committee in the Senate and is Chair of the Senate Black Caucus. He is focused on environmental justice, racial justice, economic freedom, and public safety for all.
Prefer to donate by mail? Please address a check to:
Peters for Illinois
PO Box 15118
Chicago, IL 60615-5139
