Day of Action Rally in Barrington Urges Lawmakers to Listen, Stop Grandstanding

Voices joined together shouting down Hough Street in the heart of downtown Barrington, getting curious looks and honks of support from drivers.

“Roskam, don’t shut the government down. Enough is enough,” members and supporters of the Organization for Action (OFA)-Illinois chanted.

Wednesday was a Day of Action for OFA chapters throughout the country and a dozen or so people gathered at Barrington Memorial Park for one rally. The group then started walking, north to Village Hall where U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam has an office.

“Hey Roskam! Hey Obstructionists! Hey Republicans! Hey Obstructionists Democrats! Enough is enough,” the group shouted.

The epic battle between Republicans and Democrats over a possible government shut down and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, spurred the Day of Action involving hundreds of chapters across the country. 

Lake County/McHenry County and the Northwest Suburbs chapters joined together in Barrington to reach out to Roskam to share their views and urge the Republican legislator to avoid a government shutdown and help pass a smart budget.

Roskam was not in the office but met with organizers on Tuesday. In Washington, the gridlock continued Wednesday.

“It’s important we come out to gatherings like this and let our voices be heard, let our voices be heard loudly,” said Bill Davis, OFA-Illinois Northwest Suburbs leader as he stood in front of village hall.

A shutdown would be devastating and would stall the economic recovery, Davis said.

Obamacare is not up for debate anymore, he said. “This is the law of the land,” he said.

“We didn’t send our elected officials to Washington to engage in political grandstanding that threatens to reverse progress and sabotage our economy,” said Nick Burke, co-leader of the Lake County/McHenry County chapter.

A government shutdown would hurt seniors who would not receive Social Security checks or be able to apply for Social Security and it would hurt students who would not be able to participate in work-study programs and hurt military families, Burke said.

“Republicans may play around with their threats to shut down the government or default on the nation’s obligations, but their actions have real consequences on the nation and the world economy,” he said.

OFA-Illinois is not a bipartisan organization that focuses on social issues like health care, women’s issues, immigration and fiscal issues, said Christine Johanson Ross, of Buffalo Grove, who serves on the health care issue for Northwest Suburbs OFA. There are 29 chapters in Illinois and the organization is growing.

Supporters carried signs with slogans like “Stop Holding Our Country Hostage.” Motorists honked and shouted support driving past on Route 59. Each honk got a cheer from the people at the rally.

“We are finding our voice and it will get louder and louder until we can influence legislators,” Davis said.