Cook County Libertarian Brandon Sizelove

This is the correct response to this act of violence. It's easy to call for violence if you have never experienced it or witnessed it. Too much violence in this country! Everyday it's a new thoughts and prayers. It's time for something actionable. Peace! 🕊️ Every individual has that responsibility choose peace! You as an individual have that choice! You can't control anyone else's choice. But you can choose Peace!
Peace is what we need as a nation! We need to heal as a nation. Choose Peace!!! Chicago please choose Peace!!!

Was scheduled to speak at Northwestern University today in front of 2,500 students. But after hearing about what happened to Charlie Kirk at Utah State this afternoon… I’m stunned. At a loss for words.

As someone who’s been a victim of gun violence, shot twice, I’m truly experiencing PTSD watching that video. Today reminded me of how I felt a few weeks ago when that 42-year-old Black man was murdered in Chicago on IG Live. You could see the fear in his eyes when the shooters came for him. They said it was over a chain, but ain’t no tellin. That fear sat in my chest all week because I remember that feeling, when your soul jumps out your body type feeling. That last performance type feeling where you holding on for your kids type feeling. I’ve felt that three times in my life.

I’m thinking today about Officer Areanah Preston, who was gunned down in her own front yard. I wear a bracelet in her honor. I think about these things all the time because we live them every day.

America, the way you feel right now… this is what PTSD feels like. Imagine being a kid from Chicago, having been to 15 funerals before 9th grade. It’s hard to dream big when you’re always looking over your shoulder. Ordering food through bulletproof glass like it’s regular. That’s trauma on loop.

I’ve always believed exposure is key. Exposure is violence prevention. We need y’all’s support at my block my hood my city. Because we don’t just want to survive this, we want to transform this. That kind of change takes real investment. https://www.formyblock.org/explorers

Too many people have lost the understanding of what it means to take a life. A person ain’t just a body, they’re part of a whole social web: somebody’s child, somebody’s sibling, a friend, a future. Taking a life erases all that. Every moment they were about to live. Every space they were part of. Every impact they didn’t get to make.

Rest in peace to Charlie Kirk. Whatever your politics, he was a human being. And as Dr. King said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” We gotta be the light out here y’all. For real.

In honor of Pride Month, here are 5 fun facts about the animal kingdom that you may not know!

🌈 Clownfish live in social groups with a strict hierarchy. The largest fish is the female, the second largest is the breeding male, and the other is immature juvenile fish. If the female dies, the breeding male changes s*x to become the female, and the largest non-breeding male becomes the breeding male.

🌈 Several species of penguins have been observed in human care forming same-s*x pairs that build nests together, incubate abandoned or stolen eggs, and successfully raise chicks.

🌈 Bottlenose dolphins will engage in both male-male and female-female pairings. Male dolphins often form strong, long-lasting bonds with other males and engage in s*xual behaviors. These relationships strengthen social bonds and alliances within dolphin pods.

🌈 Garden snails possess both male and female reproductive organs. During mating, two snails exchange s***m and can both fertilize eggs, enhancing their reproductive capabilities.

🌈 Male black swans can form long-term same-s*x pair bonds and may mate with a female to obtain eggs, which the two males then incubate and raise together.

Are you curious to learn more facts like these about animal kingdoms? We have the perfect event to attend! Crabtree Nature Center (3 Stover Rd, Barrington) is hosting a Rainbow Families event this Saturday at 1pm! For more info, visit: (https://fpdcc.com/event/rainbow-families/).

This weekend! Bring your little humans out 🙂

GET INVOLVED: PDGA State & Provincial Coordinators serve a vital role in PDGA tournaments and more in your area. 📈

There are 30 positions open in 2023. Details and application process ➡️ http://ow.ly/X7qI50OfcaT

Great way to get out and try something new!!!

Five Fun Facts about Raccoons - Forest Preserves of Cook County Easily recognized by the black mask worn across their eyes, raccoons (Procyon lotor) are a common mammal found throughout the Forest Preserves of Cook