(The Center Square) – Illinois state Sen. Andrew Chesney is voicing sharp criticism of the city of Evanston’s reparations program, calling it “outrageous” and “offensive to everyone.”

Chesney’s remarks come on the heels of a new federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Judicial Watch to shut down the race-based initiative, which gives $25,000 in taxpayer money exclusively to Black residents.

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“We’re going to carve out a little thing for you, give you a few bucks to keep you quiet. Oh, by the way, we’re going to pack a bunch of illegal immigrants into your communities, but here’s a little money to shut up,” said Chesney, R-Freeport. “It should be offensive, one, to the people they’re targeting—they’re trying to give this money to—but it should offend everybody.”

A spokesman for the city of Evanston said the city does not comment on the specifics of pending litigation, but said they will vehemently defend any lawsuit brought against the city’s reparations program. 

On social media, Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton announced the civil rights class action lawsuit. 

“If you identify as white, you can’t apply. If you identify as Asian, you can’t apply. If you identify as Hispanic, you can’t apply,” said Fitton. “This is a brazen violation of the 14th Amendment federal civil rights law.”

A new survey from National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago shows strong support for Evanston’s reparations program, with majorities across racial groups—including 70% of white residents—calling it “good public policy.”

Fitton said the constitution is supposed to be colorblind.

“But the left in Evanston and those who want to play the racial division card, they don’t believe that and Judicial Watch is hoping and praying a federal court will remind them of the rule of law,” said Fitton. 

Chesney said he fully supports Judicial Watch’s efforts to stop the Evanston reparations law and predicted the lawsuit will succeed.

“This is the northwestern part of the state where Gov. J.B. Pritzker has his name on the law school,” said Chesney. “These people are proudly woke. They think they’re being compassionate, but what they’re really doing is carving up the population into voting blocks and handing out taxpayer money to stay in power.”

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In 2019, Evanston officials launched a $10 million reparations program funded by cannabis taxes, calling it a “first step” to address systemic racism. According to reports, Alderman Robin Rue Simmons said the $25,000 grants were meant to “build wealth instantly for a family” by helping Black residents harmed by redlining and housing discrimination.

The program aimed to revitalize, preserve, and stabilize Black owner-occupied homes and promote intergenerational equity through increased homeownership.