Chicago City Wire

Gov. J.B. Pritzker eased statewide restrictions on May 1, 2020, the same day protesters took to the streets in Springfield and Chicago, but activists claim a lawsuit filed against the governor by a state representative had more influence.

“The only noticeable change came from a judge granting a restraining order on some of the restrictions because they were harsh and weren’t regional,” said David Krupa, 13th ward Republican committeeman. “People aren’t really paying attention to the order anymore.”

May 1 modification to Gov. Pritzker’s March 20 stay-at-home order include opening state parks, golf courses, retail stores and garden centers, according to media reports.

“The governor will not be persuaded by protests alone because he doesn't care what the people think,” Krupa told Chicago City Wire. “The only way to affect change here in Illinois is through the courts for now anyway.”

NBC Chicago reported on April 27 that Clay County Circuit Court Judge Michael McHaney granted state Rep. Darren Bailey's (R-Xenia) requested restraining order, freeing him from state stay-at-home orders. Gov. Pritzker vowed to immediately appeal and stay the order.

“Rep. Darren Bailey's decision to take to the courts to try and dismantle public health directives designed to keep people safe is an insult to all Illinoisans,” said Gov. Pritzker at a press conference.

Although Bailey is a state representative for Clay County, he filed the lawsuit in an unofficial capacity as an individual, which means he alone is exempted from the governor’s stay-at-home order. It does, however, open the door for others to file similar complaints.

“There will continue to be legal battles over the fate of the state whether we reopen cautiously or if we stay closed,” Krupa said in an interview. “I think the governor will lose and that the courts are going to deem the lockdown to be past the point of being constitutional.”

To date, the Illinois Department of Health website reports 79,007 positive coronavirus cases and 3,459

deaths statewide.

Gov. Pritzker’s modified stay-at-home order expires on May 31, 2020 and allows residents to leave home for health, supplies and services, outdoor activity, certain types of work and caregiving.

But Krupa said it's too little too late.

“People are being negatively affected by this,” said Krupa. “A lot of people are going on unemployment. they obviously can't go back to work until the restrictions are lifted and if you've got 90 percent of the existing COVID-19 cases in Cook County, why would you lock down the rest of the state?”

The Illinois unemployment rate is 4.6 percent, according to U.S. Bureau for Labor Statistics.

“I will take a moment now to address those who think the coronavirus is just a Chicago or Cook County problem and that downstate Illinois is immune or doesn’t need restrictions,” Gov. Pritzker told journalists at a press conference. “Folks, that’s just not how this virus operates. COVID-19 knows no counties or regional boundaries. It’s clear that some people are simply looking at the number of cases in a county and not looking at the infections.”