Rev. Violet Johnicker

When children see scary images on the news, they can have big feelings and big questions. You can provide comfort through tough times and remind kids they are safe. For more resources, visit: m.sesame.org/OfferingComfort

GOOD NEWS FOR THE POOR

The number of people jailed in Cook County has dropped by nearly 500 people since the Pretrial Fairness Act took effect. Similar declines are happening across IL. These numbers will fluctuate as this fight is far from over. We must stay engaged & defend the law from attacks.

"We get mad at the wrong thing. We get mad at the people under the spell of the powers and principalities, rather than the powers and principalities themselves." - @OOkuwobi at @iamccda calling us to embrace love and work against division and hate

California Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed Emily’s List president Laphonza Butler to succeed the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein. She will become the first Black openly gay U.S. senator in America. wsj.com/politics/elect…

CEO pay of the largest carmakers in the world. Honda: $2.3M Nissan $4.5M Toyota: $6.7M BMW: $5.6M Mercedes: $7.5M Porsche: $7.9M Ford: $21M Stellantis: $25M GM: $29M Folks, don't believe it for a second that US automakers can't afford to pay workers better wages.

Police have killed at least 827 people so far in 2023, with more than 3 people killed by police per day on average. mappingpoliceviolence.us

It took a statewide movement to #EndMoneyBail in Illinois. Today, communities all across Illinois came together to mark this historic moment. Events celebrating the Pretrial Fairness Act took place in Chicago, Joliet, Rockford & Springfield!

In 3 days, the new law will go into effect in Illinois to end cash bail, protect survivors, save taxpayer money, & enhance public health. Approved by the IL Supreme Court. The lies are already in full force. Fortunately: there's a fact-checking resource: pretrialfairness.org/debunk.

So disappointed to see our State's Attorney continuing to spread misinformation. The people of Winnebago County deserve better. Get the facts here:

@leftfemme Same in seminary - one of our professors told us that's how to remember which way to move the tassel at graduation: grad school moves your mind to the left (And yes I recognize not all seminaries actually broaden your world view but I'm so thankful mine did!)

my take on leftists going to law school is basically that I cannot be the only person who graduated and was further left than when they entered?? Law school and my internships pushed me towards abolition and showed me exactly how rotten American systems are.

Money bond ends September 18th! Help us hold the courts accountable by getting trained to observe court and take notes - no experience required! Sign up here for a training Wednesday night at 6pm: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI…

Racism is not mere dislike. Racism is driven by an ideology of supremacy + power (being in it, fear of losing it, and by a grotesque desire for more of it). So if a person is indoctrinated to believe that their race should always be in power, but is losing it… #Jacksonville

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Get trained up and hold the courts the accountable! Our first court watch training is this weekend! Click the link to court watch in Winnebago County with our friends at @RockfordUM or to sign-up for trainings in other parts of IL: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI…

We just launched this letter campaign and already have 160 letters! Help us get to 200 before the end of today!

That's Imogene and me on the left in this photo, and we love living in a state that's working to end mass incarceration and make our communities safer. Join me in signing this letter to our state legislators telling them you care about justice! actionnetwork.org/letters/lets-f…

"Wealth-based jailing has been brought up in our legislature twice, effectively placed on the ballot & heard by the courts. It is time to roll up our sleeves & see this historic reform through." Rev. Otis Moss III (@OM3) chicagotribune.com/opinion/commen…

"As faith leaders from the Rockford region, we are united in celebrating the Illinois Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Pretrial Fairness Act. Ending the injustice of the money bond system is a significant moral victory" Read the rest here: rrstar.com/story/opinion/…

Thanks be to God, the old way is ending and a new, more just system will begin. There’s still a long way to go in making this world look like the beloved community that God calls us to build, but today’s victory for justice is a time of celebration.

I'm so proud my kids get to grow up in an Illinois that has denounced the antiquated system of money bond. Someday I’ll explain that we used to have a horrible system of locking people in cages who hadn’t even been convicted of crimes, and then forcing them to buy their freedom.

As a Methodist pastor and as a citizen of Illinois, I am overjoyed by today’s news that the Illinois Supreme Court has upheld the Pretrial Fairness Act! From here in Rockford to every corner of the state, people have come together to end money bond.