South West Illinois News

Shannon Adcock, founder and president of Awake Illinois, said that Governor J.B. Pritzker's rhetoric contributes to hostility toward Republicans and parents defending their rights. The statement was made on the social media platform X.

"Governor Pritzker “foments” rhetoric like this against loving Moms and Dads—peaceful parents who have risen to the occasion to protect their God given rights," said Shannon M Adcock. "The DAY AFTER Pritzker said “Republicans cannot know a moment of peace” Peter Kozak likened me to an executed Nazi war criminal. What's the opposite of “peace”, Pritzker? You know what it is—it's chaos & war. Shameful, weak men like JB and Peter are no heroes."

Governor J.B. Pritzker intensified his criticism of Republicans during an April 2025 speech in New Hampshire. He declared that "these Republicans cannot know a moment of peace" and linked his remarks to earlier references about the rapid rise of Nazi Germany. According to Capitol News Illinois, Pritzker later clarified that he never explicitly called Republicans Nazis and said his comments were meant to encourage peaceful protest. However, critics accused him of vilification.

Illinois Republicans responded by condemning Pritzker’s rhetoric. Representative Adam Niemerg filed articles of impeachment against the governor, accusing him of inciting political violence by comparing GOP policies to fascism. Other lawmakers demanded an apology or resignation, labeling his language as "inflammatory" and inappropriate for a sitting governor, as reported by NBC Chicago.

Critics and commentators have described Pritzker’s rhetoric as extreme and divisive. Conservative leaders warned that comparisons to Nazis trivialize history and exacerbate polarization, while the Illinois Republican Party termed his comments "dangerous partisan rhetoric." Even some liberal analysts pointed out that such historical analogies could undermine serious debate, according to the Illinois GOP.

Adcock is the founder and president of Awake Illinois, a Naperville-based group she launched in 2021 to advocate for parental rights and education transparency. She has described herself as an "accidental activist" following pandemic-era school debates and has opposed critical race theory along with other progressive education initiatives. Her activism also extends through a related nonprofit, Awake Americans.

Awake Illinois is a nonprofit civic-advocacy organization founded in 2021 that emphasizes parental rights, transparency in schools, and resistance to perceived government overreach. The group is registered with the Illinois State Board of Elections and organizes events, grassroots activism, and educational campaigns on local issues. Its mission is outlined on its official website.