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Illinois
Political repression plays out state by state — shaped by local institutions, prosecutors, and movements for defense. These are the documented political prisoners and cases the census holds for Illinois.
718Documented
6In custody
382Released
Eras of repression in Illinois
Where Illinois’s entries fall across the census’s historical eras.
1920s 169
1930s 134
1960s 70
1910s 69
2020s 64
1970s 61
Recent dashboard entries from Illinois
The newest published events and reporting located in Illinois, updated automatically from the live dashboard.
Other
Marimar Martinez sues federal government over Border Patrol shooting
Prosecution
Immigration judge finds Salah Sarsour deportable; his lawyers plan an appeal
Prosecution
Broadview Six prosecutor resigns, alleging U.S. attorney directed the failed felony prosecution
Protest
Federal agents mace 10 protesters outside the Broadview ICE facility; two are hospitalized
Prosecution
Broadview 6 grand jury transcripts released, showing alleged prosecutorial misconduct
Prosecution
Now-cleared ‘Broadview 6’ immigration protesters seek evidence of White House pressure to indict
Protest
Hundreds rally in Morris against a proposed hyperscale data center
Prosecution
Charges dropped against four Broadview ICE protesters over misconduct
Documented cases
718 entries in the census — every one stays in the record, whether the case is open or closed.
A
Anne Tabor
Anne Tabor was arrested and initially released after an August 9, 1984 anti-nuclear prayer and ashes action at...
C
Chuck Trapkus
Chuck Trapkus was physically brought in and held on cash bond after returning to Rock Island Arsenal to pray J...
C
Chuck Quilty
The January 23, 1985 update individually reports that Chuck Quilty finally served three actual months in jail...
A
Arnold May
Released
Arnold May was jailed in Chicago on July 2, 1934 while picketing the German Consulate with signs demanding the...
E
Elizabeth May
Released
Elizabeth May was jailed in Chicago on July 2, 1934 while picketing the German Consulate with signs demanding...
R
Robert Solley
Released
Robert Solley was jailed in Chicago on July 2, 1934 while picketing the German Consulate with signs demanding...
F
Fantl
Fantl was arrested during the August 12, 1930 meeting of the Unemployed Council at 900 South Paulina Street, C...
F
Foss (Communist section organizer, 1930)
Foss was named among eighteen people arrested at a Springfield unemployment demonstration in the July 3 dispat...
G
Gray (Springfield YCL organizer, 1930)
Gray was named among eighteen people arrested at a Springfield unemployment demonstration in the July 3 dispat...
H
Hershey (Springfield miners’ organizer, 1930)
Hershey was named among eighteen people arrested at a Springfield unemployment demonstration in the July 3 dis...
S
Stevens (St. Louis Communist organizer, 1930)
Stevens was named among eighteen people arrested at a Springfield unemployment demonstration in the July 3 dis...
Z
Ziad Abu Ein
Ziad Abu Ein, recorded by U.S. courts as Ziyad Abu Eain, was held in Chicago during contested extradition proc...
A
Anthony J. Adams
Released
Anthony J. Adams was a Jehovah's Witnesses conscientious objector from Illinois imprisoned during World War I....
A
Aiman (Illinois syndicalism defendant, 1931)
Aiman is named in the November 25 Chicago dispatch among seven indicted by the Franklin County grand jury for...
S
Spartacio Alo
Released
Spartacio Alo was identified as a Steel Workers Organizing Committee lodge president during the 1937 Little St...
B
Ben Altman
Ben Altman was an Amalgamated Clothing Workers strike picket employed by the International Tailoring Company i...
S
Sam Amari
Sam Amari was an Amalgamated Clothing Workers strike picket employed by the International Tailoring Company in...
B
Blair Anderson
Released
Wounded survivor of the Dec. 4, 1969 police raid on Fred Hampton's Chicago apartment; The Black Panther Vol. 1...
L
Louis Angelo
Louis Angelo was an Amalgamated Clothing Workers strike picket employed by the International Tailoring Company...
R
Ruth Anslow
Ruth Anslow was an Amalgamated Clothing Workers strike picket employed by the International Tailoring Company...
N
Nick Arlando
Nick Arlando was an Amalgamated Clothing Workers strike picket employed by the International Tailoring Company...
F
Frederick Aviles
Released
Frederick Aviles, also identified as Fred Aviles, was a Puerto Rican LADO organizer and draft counselor who re...
R
Raziel Azuara
Released
Raziel Azuara was arrested during protests against the NATO summit in Chicago on May 20, 2012. Police accused...
D
Dennis Banks (Journey of Reconciliation)
Released
Dennis Banks was a Black musician from Chicago who participated in the 1947 Journey of Reconciliation. Arreste...
Institutions in Illinois
Prisons, jails, and detention centers in Illinois that appear in the census’s case files.
Cook County JailChicago, Illinois
58 cases
Chicago police lockupChicago, Illinois
9 cases
MCC ChicagoChicago , Illinois
8 cases
Woodstock Jail (McHenry County)
7 cases
Southern Illinois Penitentiary, ChesterChester, Illinois
6 cases
FCI Pekin Satellite CampPekin, Illinois
5 cases
USP MarionMarion, Illinois
5 cases
FCI PekinPekin, Illinois
4 cases