What: The Unlock Civics Coalition (a coalition of over 100 community organizations) will host a Press Conference at the Rainbow P.U.S.H. coalition National Headquarters (RPC) to bring attention to the inhumane conditions inside Illinois prisons and to call on the state legislature to pass the Reintegration and Civic Empowerment Act (RACE Act)(SB2983/HB5414) which will:
Restore voting rights to people incarcerated in Illinois while they are serving their sentence, adding an estimated 35,000 to 50,000 Illinois citizens back on the rolls as voters and give them space to hold elected leaders accountable;
Expand civic education course offerings led by incarcerated peer educators so that people inside may access these lessons the entire time of their incarceration.
When: Monday, March 30, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
Where: Rainbow PUSH Coalition (RPC) National Headquarters 930 E 50th St
Who:
State Representative Kam Buckner
State Representative Justin Slaughter
State Senator Lakeisa Collins
Rainbow P.U.S.H.
Chicago Votes
She Votes Illinois
Equality Illinois
End Permanent Punishment Illinois
Live Free Illinois
Illinois Alliance for Reentry and Justice
Black Voter Project
University of Chicago, Gen Forward Survey
Why: To demand that the Speaker of the House Chris Welch, Senate President Don Harmon, and the Illinois General Assembly pass the RACE Act (SB2983/HB5414), with the support of state leadership: the Governor and Attorney General, so that people living under inhumane conditions within the Illinois Department of Corrections have voice in Illinois’ democratic system to hold elected leaders accountable.
Background and Context: The inhumane conditions under which incarcerated people are forced to live rank among the most urgent reasons for restoring voting rights to all incarcerated people. In prisons, sexual assault runs rampant; women, trans people, and men are taken advantage of by those in positions of authority.
In prison, slave labor is legal and widely exploited. People often lack access to clean drinking water, develop both mental and physical illnesses, and are stripped of their humanity.
Open Cases Filed on Behalf of People in Prison Against Illinois
Health Care in Prisons Report
Woman sues Illinois, alleging she was forced to give birth early while incarcerated at Logan Correctional Center | WGLT
Shackled Mom Says Prison Forced Her Into Labor, Sues Logan Lockup
Illinois prisons were ordered to improve health care for inmates. They’ve spent seven years failing.
Partner Quotes
“You cannot build a democracy by excluding people, and democracy is not a zero-sum game. The more people who have a voice to represent their lived experiences, the better we can build systems that serve everyone. Voting represents the voices of those whose lives depend on the decisions elected officials make, and no voices are more important than those of people who are most oppressed in our society—those from over-disenfranchised communities: Black people, Brown people, poor people, and incarcerated people.”
Stevie Valles, CEO of Chicago Votes
“Every great moral failure in American history was held in place by silence and legalized exclusion — and Illinois is writing its own chapter right now. Women giving birth in shackles. People drinking contaminated water. Officials who cannot be voted out have no reason to stop. That is not an accident — that is a design. Governor Pritzker, Speaker Welch, Senate President Harmon — you have the power and the moral standing to end this. The RACE Act is your moment. We are ready to walk this across the finish line together.”
Stephen Thurston, Chief Impact Officer of Rainbow P.U.S.H.
“Equality Illinois believes that democracy only works when everyone
has a voice. Disenfranchising incarcerated people — disproportionately
Black, brown, and LGBTQ+ Illinoisans — is not just a voting rights
issue. It is a human rights issue. We stand firmly in support of the
RACE Act and the restoration of full civic participation for all
people, regardless of their address.”
Channyn Lynne Parker, CEO of Equality Illinois
“A democracy cannot function while excluding the very people most impacted by its decisions. The conditions inside our prisons are not just a crisis of humanity, they are a reflection of a system that operates without accountability. Restoring voting rights is not just about participation; it’s about power, dignity, and ensuring that those living under these conditions have a voice to change them. That’s why we strongly support the RACE Act as a critical step toward restoring civic power and accountability. We cannot claim justice while silencing millions.”
Marlon Chamberlin Founder and Executive Director of Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments –
BREAKING: Report Out From She Votes Illinois Exposes Human Rights Violations Committed At Logan Correctional Center
TW: This story contains references to SA and abuse of power
A woman identified as Jane Doe was incarcerated at Logan Correctional Center in Illinois. Starting in August 2016, she was repeatedly sexually assaulted by her assigned prison counselor, Richard McLeod. The counselor controlled important things in her life, including access to phone calls with her child, and used that power to coerce her.
After she reported the abuse in August 2017 to prison officials (including internal affairs): They did not immediately protect her, and instead used her as “bait” in an attempt to catch the counselor in the act.
The “plan” failed, and the abuse continued, highlighting the deliberate indifference to people in prison.
In September 2023, A federal jury awarded her about $19.3 million in damages.
IDOC appealed the case and it went up to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that prisoners can consent to have sex with staff. However, prisoners cannot meaningfully consent to sex with staff because of the extreme power imbalance.
In February 2026, the court: Upheld liability (meaning: yes, her rights were violated), but threw out the damages award, and ordered a new trial on damages, only for which Jane Doe will be retraumatized all over again, having to argue for damages.
She Votes Illinois further learned that individuals who report sexual assault by staff are placed in segregation under the label of “Protective Housing.” While IDOC officially describes it as a safety measure, she indicated that these conditions are effectively the same as punitive segregation, including that you cannot receive visits from family, basically sending a strong message to discourage individuals from reporting sexual abuse.
