Protesters Rally Against Illinois Coronavirus Stay-At-Home Order

CHICAGO, IL—Protesters gathered outside the Thompson Center Friday to demand that Gov. J.B. Pritzker lift his coronavirus restrictions and reopen the state’s economy. The state's modified, extended stay-at-home order took effect on Friday.

According to rally participants, Illinois cannot afford to keep operating under its current state. Illinoisans desperately want to get back to work, they said.

"Friends that are having to pay their mortgage, that are having to pay bills, they're in a difficult situation, and it should not be a partisan issue," said Froy Jimenez, a Chicago Public Schools teacher and former democratic candidate for the Illinois senate.

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"We're afraid. Talk to people that are worried about their businesses closing. Talk to people that can't sleep at night because they know they can't afford to support their family anymore," former Lake County Sheriff and current Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Mark Curran said during the rally. "We are desperately worried. We're in this horrible state. Ultimately, we've got to talk reality."

According to Illinois State Comptroller Susanna Mendoza, the state is on pace to spend an additional $6.2 billion more than it receives in revenue this fiscal year alone if it continues its current rate of spending without a budget. At the same time, Illinois is bringing in about $5 billion less in revenue annually. Protesters argue that the current shutdown is only making the situation worse.

"This is Illinois. This is the worst economy in America right now. We look in terms of our credit rating. We look in terms of our debt. We can't borrow money anymore. Our pension debt is a $130 to $160 billion every year. We are asking to borrow $10 billion. Where is that going? It's going nowhere," Curran said. "We look at our overall debt, we can't pay the bills. You look at all the city workers out here. The reality is, their pensions are done. The train has run out of fuel. We are not getting paid anymore."

Organized by the Republican activist group Freedom Movement USA rally participants are demanding that state and local leaders work together to devise a plan to cautiously allow Illinois residents to get back to work. So far, they said that hasn't fully happened.

"We're here to advocate for not only our governor who has taken some preventative measures, we acknowledge that. We want to encourage the general assembly, members of the state senate, and the House of Representatives to start getting involved in the decision-making of how we should plan on the future of our local Illinois economy," Jimenez said.

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Friday's event was not the first rally to demand the reopening of the state. A similar rally Sunday was held in Springfield, the state’s capitol, to protest the state's stay-at-home order. Meanwhile, critics, including Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, argue that the data continues to show that staying home and social distancing is, in fact, saving lives.

“The notion that we are going to open up before the data and the science tell us that we’re ready is really foolish, and we would be putting lives at risk to do so” Lightfoot told the Daily News.

VIDEO: Facebook Stream of Chicago Rally

"I will defend to the death their right to protest — even when they’re wrong," Pritzker said Friday in response to the recent rallies.

In a report by the The Washington Post, Pritzker said officials in Illinois have been collaborating across party lines during the coronavirus pandemic to discuss ways to safely reopen the state.

“I have frequent conversations with the elected officials around my state who are not in my own party, and we all share the common goal of opening our economy and getting people back to school and back to normal as fast as we can, but with an overriding concern for people’s safety and health,” the governor said.

Protesters argue, however, that more needs to be done, and there should be a balance. The current response to the coronavirus just isn't working, they said.

"It should be noted that we don't want to open up our economy in a reckless way, in an irresponsible way. Quite the contrary. We want to make sure we collaborate, and we hear many voices," Jimenez said. "It shouldn't be all open or all closed. We should find a medium solution in which we have multiple people, debating and discussing what's the best solution for our state."

VIDEO: Mark Curran and Froylan Jimenez speak during the rally