Chicago Faith and Community Leaders Warn: ‘Don’t Disenfranchise African American Voters’ Call For A Fair and Transparent Election

CHICAGO, IL – Clergy and community leaders are holding a press conference 9:30 a.m., Monday, December 22, 2014, in the Lower Level of the 69 West Washington Building to speak out on voter disenfranchisement of the black vote and to call for fair and transparent municipal elections during the ballot challenge hearing proceedings at the Chicago Board of Election Commissioner.

Several mayoral candidates have been removed from the ballot as they faced petition challenges. The high profile candidacy of millionaire African American businessman Willie Wilson faces petition challenges, and many leaders are very concerned that without Wilson on the ballot Chicago’s black community will be essentially voiceless in the February 24, 2015 municipal election.

“We are calling for complete transparency in the Election Board’s proceedings,” said Rev. Stephen Thurston of the New Covenant Baptist Church.

“The mission of the Board of Elections would be to see that the people have all of the candidate options that they are entitled to,” said Rev. Marshall Hatch of the New Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church in West Garfield Park.  “Real choices in elections are the hallmarks of real democracy.  Chicago deserves real options.”

Rev. Ira Acree of Greater St. John Bible Church stated, “When we look at the conditions in our neighborhoods, Chicago needs genuine dialogue about the future of the city.  We appeal to the Board to be very careful not to limit the live options of Chicagoans unnecessarily. The Board must be prepared to give full explanations of hearing results that remove viable candidates from the ballot.”