Latino Leaders Urge Cook County State’s Attorney to Safeguard Elections in Cicero (Chicago, IL) – Several Latino political leaders and advocates are calling on Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke to take steps to protect voters in Cicero from potential intimidation and suppression ahead of upcoming elections.
During a news conference, retired U.S. Rep. Luis Gutiérrez was joined by Chicago Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar and Cicero Township Democratic committeeperson candidate Diana Garcia in urging increased oversight to ensure election integrity in the suburban town.
Gutiérrez accused longtime Cicero Town President Larry Dominick and local officials of using government resources in ways that could discourage voter participation, particularly among Latino residents.
“Cicero Town President Larry Dominick is no stranger to using governmental resources, including the police, to intimidate Latino voters who have been identified as not supportive of his regime,” Gutiérrez said. “He has especially preyed on mixed-status families to suppress and intimidate dissent in our democratic process.”
Gutiérrez and others at the event also criticized local officials for what they described as a lack of opposition to federal immigration enforcement activities in Cicero. According to the former congressman, more than 300 residents have been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the past six months.
“Most municipal officials in Cook County have publicly opposed ICE’s efforts. But not in Cicero, where Larry Dominick and his supporters are silent,” Gutiérrez said. “Their refusal to designate Cicero a sanctuary is in line with their voter suppression tactics.”
Commissioner Aguilar said many residents in the predominantly Latino suburb feel vulnerable and fear intimidation during the election process. He called on the state’s attorney’s office to increase its presence in the community through Election Day.
“As a commissioner, I am asking our state’s attorney to double her office’s presence through election day,” Aguilar said. “The intimidation and suppression of our democratic process in Cicero ends now.”
Garcia, who is running for Cicero Township Democratic committeeperson, urged local leaders to speak out against what she described as discriminatory practices and intimidation tactics. She also raised concerns about immigration enforcement activity near schools, churches and local businesses.
“The betrayal of local Cicero officials is deeply saddening and disturbing,” Garcia said.
Sigcho-Lopez said many residents in Cicero feel they lack adequate representation and called for stronger protections to ensure voters can participate without fear.
“For too long we have been governed by the fist, especially in Cicero, by people who don’t represent our interests,” Sigcho-Lopez said. “Ninety percent of Cicero residents are Latinos who are surviving terror, who work hard every day to make ends meet, and they deserve real representation.”
The group said they hope the state’s attorney’s office will take additional steps to monitor elections in Cicero and ensure voters can cast ballots without intimidation or interference.
Latino Leaders Urge Cook County State’s Attorney to Safeguard Elections in Cicero
