East Central Reporter

Republican state Sen. Darren Bailey had an eye-opening experience after recently spending a night with Pastor Corey Brooks' organization on the rooftop of a South Side Chicago neighborhood.

“For 100 days Pastor Brooks and others are camping out on this rooftop,” Brooks said at a Nov. 29 news conference on the issue of surging violence across the city. “Friends, listen, Jose and I were camping out in a tent on the end of this platform last night. At 2 o’clock in the morning, heard gun shots. I’m laying there and these gunshots are just right over — just less than 100 yards over, just the next block over.  About 15 minutes later, I hear a female voice screaming, ‘He’s been shot. He’s been shot’ ... 2:20 in the morning. It was freezing outside. What on earth is going on in the city of Chicago and why isn’t this being addressed?”

Now seeking the GOP nomination for governor, after joining with Brooks’ Project H.O.O.D. organization, Bailey insists he’s seen enough.

“Why are our police officers so stifled in their work?” he added. “All night long, fire trucks, police cars, ambulances strolled up and down King Drive. Why? This has been going on for far too long, friends. Every Monday morning we get up and we look forward to the headlines, unfortunately, to see how many shootings and how many deaths have taken place here in Chicago."

With the violence now spreading across much of the state, including three killings and another 23 shootings that took place in the city over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, according to ABC 7, Bailey insists he’s committed to bringing about across-the-board change.

“In the near future I’ll be putting together a plan to bring law and order not just to Chicago but to the state of Illinois,” he added. “None of this is being talked about. Another problem we are facing is the crisis with our education.”

Again, Bailey said he’s convinced Brooks can make a difference.

“He’s got a vision,” he said. “He's got a dream.”