MAYWOOD – Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) attended a memorial and classroom dedication for Fred Hampton at Proviso East High School.

“Fred Hampton was a fallen angel who life was taken from us too soon, but his revolution still lives within us,” Lightford said. “Hampton’s legacy is something Maywood residents should always remember, because he spoke for the oppressed Black and Brown families who live in the community today.”

Fred Hampton accomplished much before being tragically gunned down in his sleep at the age of 21. He founded the Rainbow Coalition, expanded free breakfast programs across Chicago, and opened a free health clinic.

Proviso East High School hosted a memorial service for Fred Hampton in their auditorium, where many community leaders spoke about his legacy. The institution also dedicated their social room in his honor, which will now be called the Chairman Fredrick A. Hampton Social Justice Room.

SPRINGFIELD – Survivors of sexual assault will now have more privacy from the public because of a new law sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood).

“Sexual assault survivors deserve to withhold the details of their traumatic experience, Lightford said. “Now they will have the right to share their stories when they are ready, and no one else will be able to tell them first.”

Senate Bill 2339 clarifies that anyone seeking to inspect or copy court records relating to a child survivor of sexual crimes must get a court order, with reasonable exceptions for people who play a legitimate role in the judicial process. The law, which is supported by the circuit court of Cook County, closes a loophole that prevents them from excluding identities when releasing certain court records.

Lightford wants to provide an equitable education for all students

SPRINGFIELD - Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford’s (D-Maywood) effort to create a commission to evaluate whether public universities and community colleges receive fair funding to serve members of disadvantaged communities was signed by the governor on Monday.  

“Universities and colleges that serve members of disadvantaged communities need fair funding in order to serve their students and reverse the damage caused by historic and systemic racism,” Lightford said.

SPRINGFIELD – A champion of providing all Illinois students an equitable education, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) passed a new law that requires all Illinois schools to uphold policies that prevent teen parents and teenage survivors of domestic and sexual violence from dropping out school.

“Feeling neglected at school is something our students should never have to experience, especially if they are survivors of domestic or sexual violence,” Lightford said. “Providing safe learning environments will help ensure that all students are supported by their schools.”