Debunking Republican Propaganda and Mailers Disguised as Newspapers

 

Westchester, Ill. – In recent weeks residents throughout specific areas in the Chicagoland region have received mailers disguised as newspapers under titles such as “DuPage Policy Journal,” “Will County Gazette,” and “Chicago City Wire.” The right-wing political mailers are the newest trick by Republican officials and their allies to spread falsehoods and myths about a historical criminal justice reform law, called the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today Act (SAFE-T Act).

The SAFE-T Act was signed into law last year but will abolish cash bail in Illinois beginning Jan. 1, 2023. The elimination of cash bail no longer allows defendants to pay their way out of jail regardless of crimes, and instead allows a judge to determine pretrial detention based on the risk they pose to the community. Civil rights groups and victim advocates supported these reforms because they have fought for years to reform the current bail system and recognize the SAFE-T Act prioritizes community safety over wealth.

“These mailers are filled with racist scare tactics designed to instill fear in our communities because the Republicans have nothing productive to contribute and their policies are repeatedly rejected at the ballot box,” said House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. “Sending out political mailers with false information disguised as newspapers is unethical and it’s designed to trick voters into believing they’re reading an objective news source. If you receive one of these in the mail, you should be aware it is not a real newspaper.”

The mailers are being funded by conservative operative Dan Proft, who finished sixth out of seven candidates for the 2010 GOP governor nomination, and Republican megadonor Dick Uihlein. According to the Chicago Tribune, Proft was cited by the State Board of Elections over similar newspaper-like mailers distributed by his previous PAC that shut down in 2019.

“Rather than engage in ongoing and meaningful discussions about reforming our criminal justice system, the Republicans have chosen to spread disinformation and purposely mislead the people of Illinois,” said Speaker Welch. “I’m grateful our statehouse reporters have worked hard to dispel these myths and provide the facts for the people of this state.”

For factual information about the SAFE-T Act, check out the following articles from trustworthy news sources and reporters below: 

 
Andrea Garcia