CHICAGO – Governor Rauner cancelled a celebration of Juneteenth – marking the June 19th, 1865 emancipation of slaves – planned for Monday at Chicago's DuSable Museum after protests were threatened.
The uproar began gaining momentum when St. Sabina pastor Father Michael Pfleger urged calls against the event last week. Pfleger said it was an insult for the governor to speak at DuSable because Rauner has "abandoned and raped" the community of its resources:
Governor Bruce Rauner had rented a portion of the DuSable Museum for an hour Monday to recognize the occasion. After Pfleger's call, the public sector union SEIU urged a protest that was carried out Monday despite the event's cancellation.
"What IL needs is emancipation from Governor Rauner," SEIU's Executive Vice President Greg Kelley told the protesters.
Pfleger celebrated the cancellation, saying Rauner should "not be allowed in any Church, or institution in the City … until he's ready to come and say HE'S SORRY and ready to sign a budget!!!!"
