Referring to President Trump at a speech in March, Pritzker said, "Bullies respond to one thing, and one thing only, a punch in the face." During that same speech at a California LGBTQ convention, Pritzker said, "I won’t continue to advocate that we wage conventional political fights when what we really need is to become street fighters." Pritzker's calls for political upheaval and his wink and nod toward political violence didn't end there. Just this week, at a New Hampshire Democratic party fundraiser, Pritzker ramped up the rhetoric. First, he started his speech by saying, "It's time to fight everywhere and all at once."
Then, Pritzker dipped his toes in even more dangerous rhetorical waters.
"Never before in my life have I called for mass protests, for mobilization, for disruption, but I am now. These Republicans cannot know a moment of peace."
Several Illinois House Republicans sounded off in response to the governor's dangerous rhetoric, slamming the state's chief executive for crossing the line in calling for political violence.
House Republican Floor Leader, State Representative Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis), issued the following statement in response to the Governor's New Hampshire comments.
“Governor Pritzker’s comments calling for violence against President Trump and all Republicans are unacceptable and wrong. If Governor Pritzker has political differences with Republicans or President Trump’s agenda, he should express those differences, but refrain from ploys like the one he perpetrated over the weekend.
“The Governor’s new calls for disruption and that Republicans, ‘cannot know a moment of peace,’ come after he previously suggested that President Trump should be punched in the face. The state of Illinois has a multitude of major problems that need to be addressed. The Governor has taken his eye off the ball. As state agencies have been mismanaged, the budget has exploded, and taxes are as high as they have ever been, the Governor is focused on gaining attention for his national political ambitions.
“Governor Pritzker’s comments show that he knows Democrats have lost the political argument and now must engage in theatrics to distract from their failed policies.”
House Republican Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) called Pritzker's words dangerous and power-hungry.
"Governor Pritzker’s rhetoric has crossed a dangerous line. In July, he rightly declared, ‘Violence is never the answer in our democracy.’ Yet now, he calls for mass disruption, declaring that Republicans ‘cannot know a moment of peace,’ and urging Americans to ‘become street fighters.’ These are not the words of a unifier—they are the words of someone willing to trade principle for power.
“In a time when political violence has already taken a terrible toll on this country, such inflammatory language is reckless, irresponsible, and just dangerous. Disagreement in a democracy must never justify dehumanization or threats of unrest. Leaders set the tone. If we normalize this kind of dangerous escalation, we risk eroding the very democratic foundations we claim to protect," McCombie said.
Assistant Minority Leader C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Murrayville) took to social media to express his disgust with the governor's speech.
"Governor Pritzker should apologize to all Republicans for encouraging harassment and disruption as he focuses on his White House aspirations. The hateful rhetoric, threats of violence, and actual attacks that are sure to follow are on JB Pritzker," Davidsmeyer said.
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Photo Credit: John Tully for The New York Times