Bloomington-Normal NAACP celebrates legislative victory abolishing cash bond

Posted on January 18, 2021
The bill now awaits Gov. Pritzker’s signature. (Photo courtesy: Heart of Illinois ABC)

By Heart of Illinois ABC

BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington-Normal NAACP along with other organizations in town gathered over zoom to celebrate the legislative victory abolishing cash bond.

The Pretrial Fairness Act bill passed Wednesday and now awaits Governor JB Pritzker’s signature.

The organizations attending the online press conference said while this is a step in the right direction, the fight is far from being over.

“We know there is still a need for education,” said Louis Goseland with BloNo Democratic Socialists of America. “We know there is still a need to keep fighting all the way until this legislation is fully implemented and we can finally fully celebrate our entire victory of ending the racist and classic practice of wealth based incarceration.”

The groups shared their concerns with the current cash bail system and according to the organizations in attendance 90% of people in Illinois jails haven’t been convicted of a crime and most can’t afford their bail.

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected]. 

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