Will County Gazette

Will County Board member Steve Balich said he defends Gov. J.B. Pritzker attending a Black Lives Matter really that drew a large crowd, in apparent violation of Pritzker’s own order against gatherings of more than 10 people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, that same freedom applies to other people, Balich said, which is why a Illinois Republican Party lawsuit alleged the governor violated the First Amendment by restricting the number of people who can gather in one location is right, he said.

Supreme Court Justice Brett Cavanaugh, appointed by President Trump, denied the GOP bid. 

“The U.S. Constitution gives us the right of assembly. This does not give the right to loot and destroy public property,” Balich told Will County Gazette. "Freedom of speech does not mean that the Black Lives Matter has the right to say what is good or bad speech. Cultural Marxist will do what it takes to shred our country from all culture, history, religion and tradition.

“The governor has the right to attend any meeting he wants, as a private citizen or the governor. Citizens have rights guaranteed by the Constitution which overrides state law, ordinances, laws, resolutions and proclamations.”

The Illinois GOP filed the lawsuit against Pritzker on June 15, saying his May 29 executive order limiting the number of people at gatherings — 10 under Phase 3 of his reopening plan, 50 in Phase 4 — was only enforced against groups he differs with politically.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul responded to the lawsuit, noting the governor had correctly followed the law and was only trying to safeguard the public from the dangers of COVID-19.

“The 10-person limitation on gatherings is no different for First Amendment purposes than a building occupancy limit imposed by a municipal fire code,” the attorney general’s office wrote in a response. “Political rallies and conventions have always had to abide by occupancy limits, even though overflow crowds [or lack thereof] may signal strong support (or the reverse) for a particular message or messenger. The act of gathering in a confined space, which increases the risk of casualties in the event of a fire, is what is being regulated, not the message being delivered at the gathering.”

When Pritzker attended the Black Lives Matter rally on June 8, he did so in a “personal capacity,” according to Raoul.

Balich, a Homer Glen resident, was elected to the Will County Board District 7 seat in 2012. He previously served as the Homer Township clerk for four years and as a trustee for eight years.

Balich was among the plaintiffs who filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on May 13 against Pritzker, seeking compensation for the loss of property, wages and income. He said Pritzker has been overstepping his bounds throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Still, he said Pritzker has a perfect right to exercise his First Amendment rights.

“The governor can say what he wants no matter how biased because it is his right to express his opinion,” Balich said. “J.B. forgot that one month ago the riots took place when he expressed concern of the COVID-19 spike. It was considered by the elected Democrats a right to protest.

“Many of the rioters came from out of state with the sole purpose of doing what a good cultural Marxist does in destroying the U.S. as we know it. Republicans understand the coronavirus data, which is all over the place. The only data that does not change is that the people that actually die is extremely low in relation to the population, which is never given because it destroys the narrative being pushed by the media. People that have certain conditions who are usually over 55 are at a higher risk.”

That doesn’t mean he believes the virus is a hoax. Balich said he simply wants people to understand what they are dealing with right now.

“Republicans see the COVID as extremely catchy, but with the multiple strains while some people that have strong enough immune systems to fight it off. It is a horrible flu if you get it,” he said. “The U.S. has about 2.8 million cases with about 131,000 deaths from a population of 332 million. The number of cases increases — even if people recover they are not removed from the total, to push the narrative. Fact is about 1.2 million cases recovered. The U.S. has about 395 deaths per million people, with 35 million tests. Increased testing increases the number of cases but we don't know how many of those are actually even slightly sick.”

Balich favors an open, honest debate. That’s why he thinks Pritzker should speak out — but so should everyone else who wishes to express their opinion.

“Any person with some ability to think critically will agree the governor has the same rights as every citizen guaranteed in the supreme law of the land, the Constitution,” he said. “The statement that Republicans ignore the guidelines is pure politics. The governor should be smart enough to not say the rioters and looters have a right to do their thing, and the peaceful protesters have the right to protest; while at the same time claim Republicans are ‘bad’ because they are against the economic, mental, criminal, family, etc. devastation inflicted by the shutdowns.”