“Law and order” isn’t a political catchphrase; it’s the bedrock of a civilized society. When that foundation cracks, it’s the innocent who crumble first, regardless of their neighborhood – South Side, Rogers Park, or anywhere within the city we call home. Without it, community dissolves into fear and chaos, and justice yields to death and the cycle of revenge.
The news reached me on my journey across America – the senseless killing of Sheridan Gorman, an 18-year-old Loyola University freshman. She was gunned down, a life extinguished by a man accused of entering the country illegally. His prior arrests, dismissed with a troubling ease, allowed him back onto the streets, a consequence of policies prioritizing undocumented individuals over law-abiding citizens.
This tragedy echoes the death of Katie Abraham a year prior. She was a 20-year-old girl, a passenger in a car, struck by a driver also in the country illegally, traveling at a horrifying 80 miles per hour. For over a year, Katie’s father, Joe Abraham, tirelessly warned officials about the dangers of sanctuary policies, predicting more innocent lives would be lost.
His pleas were ignored. The governor ignored him. They all ignored him, seemingly valuing a perceived moral high ground over the safety of their constituents. They didn’t prioritize Katie’s life, and now Sheridan is gone. This isn’t an isolated incident; it’s a direct result of unchecked lawlessness allowed to take root.
For years, the South Side has endured this reality: open drug markets, playgrounds transformed into battlegrounds, and politicians offering platitudes about “equity” while the death toll climbs. Criminals were coddled, released, and shielded, while Black families striving for peace bore the heaviest burden. Now, that same decay is spreading, claiming lives across the city.
What began as a crisis confined to specific communities has become a citywide epidemic, a stark reminder that flawed policies recognize no boundaries. Every resident of Chicago deserves to live in a city where law enforcement is empowered, borders are respected, and criminals face consequences, not leniency.
That’s why I continue to walk these streets, dedicating my life to building Project H.O.P.E. on the South Side. This isn’t about creating another center for excuses or handouts; it’s about instilling in young people the inherent value of hard work, responsibility, and respect for the law. True American principles demand equal justice, not preferential treatment based on political expediency.
My heart aches for the families of Katie Abraham and Sheridan Gorman. I offer my prayers and unwavering support. And to those leaders who continue to defend these dangerous policies while our streets are stained with blood, I implore you: reconsider. Prioritize the safety of your citizens. Enforce the law without hesitation. Because until we do, any child, on any street, at any moment, could be the next victim.
