Facing Race: The Illinois Legislative Report Card on Racial Equity, 2007-2008

Check out the new interactive report card toolkit, and download this report, at http://www.unitedcongress.org/policyguide !

Direct link to the 2007-2008 Report Card: http://www.arc.org/pdf/ILL_RC_final_3.pdf

The Illinois Legislative Report Card on Racial Equity offers legislators a blueprint for promoting human rights, and for producing racially equitable outcomes for the people of Illinois. This policy guide — published by the United Congress of Community and Religious Organizations and the Applied Research Center — was developed by over 1,000 grassroots leaders from racial and religious communities throughout the state, as well as key policy advocates, researchers, and academics.

In February 2008, on the day of the report card's release and press conference, over 250 community advocates came together in Springfield to hand-deliver lawmakers' individual report cards, and to talk with them about the impacts of their actions on Illinois' most vulnerable communities.

The report card reviews 56 bills introduced in the 95th General Assembly that, if signed into law by the Governor, would have the most direct positive and negative impacts on communities of color. The "2007-2008 Illinois Legislative Report Card on Racial Equity" evaluates the Governor and legislators on their responses to these initiatives. Assessed are whether the legislation (1) explicitly addresses racial outcomes and works to eliminate racial inequities; (2) increases access to public benefits and institutions for communities of color; (3) advances enfranchisement and full civic participation for all Illinoisans; (4) protects against racial violence, racial profiling, and discrimination; and (5) is enforceable and has instituted mechanisms ensuring accountability. The Report Card assigns letter grades to Illinois lawmakers based upon their support in 2007 for 56 pieces of legislation aimed at improving civil rights, criminal justice, economic justice, educational equity, health equity, and housing and community development.

The Illinois Constitution articulates the importance of human rights and racial equity values, including liberty, justice, and opportunity for all Illinois residents:

We, the People of the State of Illinois - grateful to Almighty God for civil, political and religious liberty in order to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the people; maintain a representative and orderly government; eliminate poverty and inequality; assure legal, social and economic justice; provide opportunity for the fullest development of the individual and secure the blessings of freedom and liberty to ourselves and our posterity - do ordain and establish this Constitution for the State of Illinois. (Illinois State Constitution. Preamble.)

Our elected and appointed officials must partner with grassroots communities — across racial and religious lines — to step up to this constitutional calling to ensure a happy and healthy future for all Illinoisans.

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