Chicago City Wire

Northwest Side GOP Club Vice President Ammie Kessem rages there’s a method to madness in how Gov. J.B. Pritzker is exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Democrat politicians are going to keep up this charade until after the election,” Kessem told Chicago City Wire. “It’s obvious to everyone what’s going on.’

Pritzker recently doubled down on his decision to keep most student-athletes off the field over COVID-19 concerns, sparking protests from parents, students and coaches all across the state. The Illinois High School Association fired off a letter to Pritzker requesting that they be allowed “to resume control over determining the resumption of sports and activities.” Currently, the two sides are allowing teams across the state to practice this month under specific COVID-19 guidelines.

Kessem has simply grown tired of all the politics she argues have shaped many of Pritzker’s decision ever since the crisis hit.

“It’s pathetic they are using our children as pawns,” she said.

Kessem has long been a staunch critic of the state’s handling of the pandemic. She recently blasted the Chicago Public School system for turning to a total remote learning plan for the fall semester. 

“Science, which the Democrats love to talk about, and factual evidence have proved this pandemic is not affecting children and healthy individuals,” Kessem said. “If a CPS teacher has health conditions that could make them more susceptible to dying, then by all means they should take proper precautions and ask to be put on disability status until a vaccine can be distributed.”

Kessem added classes need to resume as soon as possible for the benefit of everyone.

“We need to get these kids back in school,” she said. “The repercussions of that not happening are catastrophic. Many, many doctors have said so. Children’s brains learn and retain knowledge at very distinct times throughout their growth cycle. The harm that is being done to them is irreversible.”