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John
It's no secret that I'm passionate about my work to reform our criminal system, but I want to talk a little about my personal conviction, and why I started this journey all those years ago.
Diving right into it, my story doesn't have the easiest beginning. My biological mother, facing difficult circumstances, decided to put me up for adoption when I was born.
My adopted parents – but especially my dad – taught me the importance of taking care of the people in your community.
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I grew up admiring the work my dad did as a civil rights and criminal defense attorney – watching him challenge wrongdoing by the police, while learning about the intense criminalization of addiction from what my mom went through, inspired my work to reform our criminal justice system and better the community for us all. And in the Senate, we've made large steps toward this vision.
FIRST: We finally ended cash bail in Illinois! After a long legal battle brought on by far-right conservatives, we solidified the end of a discriminatory system that targeted lower-class people of color in our communities.
THEN: We were able to expand protections for workers to make sure they receive the compensation they deserve, regardless of full or part-time status.
NOW: I'm ensuring our kids are protected – not only by protecting them from predatory law-enforcement practices, but with my new bill that addresses issues with child labor, laying out updated guidelines that look out for our kids' rights, schooling, and their futures.
I like to think my dad is incredibly proud of the real change we've seen in our community, and the work is just getting started.
John, I'm dedicated to helping folks in our community get ahead, but we have to work together to create a fairer and just system – no matter how long it takes. Could you donate today to support my progressive vision for Illinois' future?
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Thank you,
Sen. Robert Peters
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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 via mail? Address a check to
Peters for Illinois
P.O. Box 15118
Chicago, IL 60615-5139
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