Darren Bailey accused of using Chicago trauma for political gain

CHICAGO - Chicago protesters are calling some political ads traumatizing.

A group of protesters gathered Thursday outside the John Hancock building — the temporary home of state senator and GOP gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey.

The group wants some of the campaign ads that Bailey stands behind to be pulled from the airwaves, saying they racially profile Black and brown people in the city.

SUBSCRIBE TO FOX 32 CHICAGO ON YOUTUBE

Purpose Over Pain is a group of parents who lost their children because of Chicago violence. They believe Bailey's campaign ads are re-traumatizing.

"Darren Bailey said that this is a hellhole, so if this a hellhole then why the hell are you here in Chicago?" said Pamela Bosley of Purpose Over Pain.

"Stop running and condoning comments and commercials that continue racist stereotyping of the Black and brown communities. We are divided enough in Chicago. There's enough racism in Chicago. We don't need you to stereotype Black and brown folk with the violence in Chicago running your commercials," said Father Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Church.

The Bailey campaign released the following statement in response:

"We have no communication with or control over this pac, but Pritzker and his pal Lightfoot have control over the skyrocketing crime in Chicago, but sadly they don’t care about the more than 500 people murdered this year in Chicago or the fact they’re creating new victims everyday with their soft-on-crime policies. Pritzker has turned his back on law enforcement and left these communities behind. Darren Bailey’s focus is making Illinois safe and affordable for everyone."