I’m a history teacher. And I know this much: moments like this are the ones history remembers.

When Donald Trump was inaugurated, leaders across this country faced a choice: stand up for our neighbors, or cave to fear.

I chose to stand up.

Just weeks into Trump’s presidency, he targeted Cook County because we are proudly a Welcoming County. He sued me, the Governor, and the Mayor: an intimidation tactic meant to scare us into submission. We refused. We fought back. And in October, the case was thrown out. They never refiled.

That’s what resistance looked like.

But not everyone made that choice.

Days before Trump’s inauguration, as we braced for mass deportations, my opponent voted to weaken Chicago’s protections for undocumented residents. He’s made this choice before.

This 15-second video sums it up:  

Since then, he’s stayed largely silent, while violent, masked agents have terrorized our streets, ripped parents from their children, and traumatized entire communities.

As Cook County Board President, I’ve acted to protect our residents: 

• banning ICE and border patrol from County property, 

• keeping services accessible to everyone, and 

• pushing back against federal overreach whenever it threatened our communities.

America is great because people came here from everywhere to build it, some freely, some in chains, many fleeing persecution or violence. We owe them dignity, not fear.

History will remember what leaders did in this moment. 

I know where I stood. And I know where my opponent stood too.

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Paid for by Preckwinkle for President. A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available on the Board's official website, http://elections.il.gov/, or for purchase from the State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois. All contributions are reported to the State Board of Elections. Contributions are not accepted from employees of Cook County. Companies holding contracts with the Cook County are limited to $750.

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