All articles are authored by Zachary J. Gittrich, unless otherwise noted.
Peoria Teachers Rally in the Hundreds
8/9/2022 | On August 8th, 2022, nearly 800 teachers, students, parents, and other members of the working class rallied in support of Peoria Public Schools District 150 (PPS) teachers & students. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
CALL TO ACTION: Save the Peoria County Auditor
8/9/2022 | The Peoria County Board Is Attempting To Eliminate The People’s County Financial Watchdog! (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
8/9/2022 | By Lawrence J. Maushard | It was a genuine privilege to spend time with Heather and Doug at their well-tended and inviting living space inside a sprawling, littered though organized encampment they claimed presently includes about 8 people. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
New Mass Surveillance Tools at Peoria Public Schools
8/3/2022 | Peoria Public Schools District 150 (PPS) will be adding new surveillance tools to its schools. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Gordon-Booth Improves Peoria Mental Health Response Bill
4/26/2022 | Back in February, State-Rep for Peoria Jehan Gordon-Booth held a press conference with Peoria Police Department Chief Eric Echevarria announcing a new police program called the ‘Police Plus Mental Health Emergency Response Pilot.’ (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Disability Activists Not Happy About Peoria’s Co-Responder Bill
2/16/2022 | Disability activists are unhappy with State-Rep Jehan Gordon-Booth’s new co-responder program for Peoria Police Department. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Activists Urge Sheriff Asbell to Halt Evictions
1/20/2022 | With temperatures well below freezing a group of Peoria activists, including civil-rights activist Lawrence Maushard are calling on Peoria County Sheriff Brian Asbell to halt evictions performed by his deputies until late-March of this year. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Peoria County Board Guts Auditor’s Office
10/19/2021 | The Peoria County Board last week took the unprecedented step to pull funding for Auditor Thomas’ entire staff. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
From the River to the Sea: Defending Palestine Plays in Peoria
5/25/2021 | In the wake of increased violence in Palestine–largely caused by the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians by the apartheid Israeli government–nearly 300 people protested on the Corner of Main & University in Peoria, IL. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Fragments on Playing in Peoria
Fragmentary thoughts on Peoria, IL.
Fragments include:
The Horseshoe Roundup:
The Peculiarities of Cumulatives:
Does Change Play In Peoria?
The Peoria Horseshoe, Or, The Poverty of Peoria:
#OylerGate
#Oylergate Update I
Does Systemic Racism Play in Peoria? Part 1
Does Systemic Racism Play in Peoria? Part 2
Does Systemic Racism Play in Peoria? Part 3
#OylerGate Update II
Does Systemic Racism Play in Peoria? Part 4
Should Wealthy Peorians Care About the Poors?
(view more)
The Many Faces of Sheriff Asbell
2/25/2021 | Sheriff Brian Asbell was appointed as interim Sheriff of Peoria County in 2017. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Aaron Schocks No One Upon Exit from Glass Closet
03/06/2020 | What I absolutely cannot forgive is when the Douchington of the 18th district voted against including sexual orientation, gender identity, and national origin into definitions of hate crimes. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
‘No War’ absolutely still plays in the streets of Peoria
01/18/2020 | By Lawrence Maushard | I was a rally organizer, speaker and one of the unpermitted marchers on Jan. 11 in Peoria who blocked traffic at Main and University to protest for peace, no war on Iran. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
10/07/2019 | The consequences of this decision–to Adult or Not to Adult–is no trivial matter, as two teens face murder charges. Possible sentencing if convicted varies drastically between the two. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
OylerGate: A Complete Chronicle
An complete chronicle of the scandal known as #OylerGate. See all chronicles here.
Outing Aaron Schock Needs to Play in Peoria
07/09/2023 | Former U.S. Representative Aaron Schock has been testing the waters for a political comeback of some sort. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Whole Women’s Health Leaving Peoria Feeling Empty
07/09/2023 | As of June 2, 2019, after nearly four decades, there is no longer a clinic offering abortion services in Peoria. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
03/30/2019 | If you attend one of the many Candidate forums for Peoria’s At-Large City Council seats, you’ll likely hear the dull piano that accompanies John “Growth™” Kelly as he prattles on about the wonders of tax abatement and deregulation. “GROWTH!” he says: so much he must own the trademark for the concept. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Last Minute Responses on Peter Kobak
04/02/2019 | At the tale end of the 2019 local elections for At-Large Peoria City Council seats, a mailer promising to expose the “liberals” running in the race was received by the general public. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Beth Akeson’s Broken Windows Problem
02/23/2019 | At-Large City Councilperson Beth Akeson (who is running for reelection to Peoria City Council) has a problem, a problem specifically with Broken Windows. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
With Progressives Like This, Who Needs Conservatives: The Positionality of Beth Jensen
02/14/2019 | Since September 2013, At-Large City Councilwoman Beth Jensen has positioned herself as a champion of progressive causes on Peoria City Council…But, in her 5 ½ years of public service, what progressive change has been accomplished? Is Jensen the progressive she has positioned herself as? Or, did she waste the electoral capital from 4 years ago? (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
If Only They’d Come The Right Way…
02/08/2019 | A common refrain among the anti-immigrant crowd is “Well, if only they’d come the right way, they wouldn’t have these problems,” referring to the threat of deportation/removal by Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE). (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
