Friend,

As a son of Haitan immigrants, a Black man, and the Attorney General of Illinois, the past year has forced me to reflect on my own experiences and responsibilities.

The killing of George Floyd prompted a question to appear on my Facebook feed:

“How old were you when a cop first pulled a gun on you?”

My answer was seventeen, the first time. It’s happened to me three times.

That answer showed me that I was being dishonest with myself and with others about the anger that I harbored.

I was always taught that, as a Black man in a professional setting, I needed to watch how much I expressed my passion, especially when I was on the campaign trail. Otherwise, I could be perceived as “the angry Black man.”

But we have to be honest about the anger that we harbor – and we have to channel it into something that can bring about change and deliver on the promise of America.

I knew the flaws that existed in the system, the shortcomings. So many of my Black brothers and sisters pointed them out for centuries.

But we, as a country, hadn’t been able to confront the issues or address these shortcomings in the way that we’ve been able to do so over the past year.

This national reckoning surrounding systemic racism and white supremacy and the centuries of violence and hatred faced by Black Americans makes the roles of Democratic state attorneys general all the more important.

At the federal level, I’ve worked with Congress to push for state AG authority to conduct “pattern-or-practice” investigations against police departments that may be engaging in systemic, unconstitutional policing.

And at the local level, I’m working with community leaders, elected officials, and law enforcement officers to increase accountability measures against those who have failed to live up to their responsibilities as our communities’ protectors.

We have so much more work to do, and we will keep fighting to make our communities more just and equitable for everyone living in them.

Thank you for your support of the most diverse group of Dem AGs in history as we continue to fight for families and communities as the People’s lawyer.

- Kwame

Kwame Raoul
Attorney General, Illinois