The recognition that institutional racism exists in Illinois’ law enforcement, education system and houses of worship, for example, came as “an awakening” for many residents, Rep. Thaddeus Jones said, and it will be impossible for the state to “move forward” until Illinoisans confront those issues by having honest conversations.

For veteran state Rep. Will Davis, D-Hazel Crest, filing legislation is often a way to start a conversation about racial justice in the Illinois General Assembly.

State Sen. Jacqueline Collins, a Chicago Democrat who has been in the General Assembly since 2003, said echoes of a 1968 report’s findings can be heard amid protests of police violence and civil unrest reflected in the news headlines today.

For state Sen. Robert Peters, ongoing protests sparked by the death of George Floyd are bigger than a single event of violence by police, and it will take a collective effort to pave a path forward.

Rep. Marcus Evans would like to see the conversation around policing in the U.S. and Illinois focus on “bad individuals” using police powers wrongly, rather than a condemnation of policing in general.