Illinois Gov. Pritzker calls for mass protests, says GOP ‘cannot know a moment of peace’

(The Hill) – Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) on Sunday called for mass protests against the Trump administration and blasted “do-nothing Democrats” who have failed to mount a stronger opposition to the Republicans in control of the federal government.

“Never before in my life have I called for mass protests, for mobilization, for disruption. But I am now,” Pritzker said in his keynote address at the New Hampshire Democratic Party’s McIntyre-Shaheen 100 Club Dinner.

“These Republicans cannot know a moment of peace,” he continued. “They have to understand that we will fight their cruelty with every megaphone and microphone that we have.”

“We must castigate them on the soapbox and then punish them at the ballot box,” he added.

Pritzker — who was rumored to be on the shortlist to be former Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate last year — issued a searing rebuke of the Trump administration in his address.

But he also criticized some members of his own party for listening to political pundits instead of everyday Americans, saying they are “flocking to podcasts and cable news shows to admonish fellow Democrats for not caring enough about the struggles of working families.”

“Those same do-nothing Democrats want to blame our losses on our defense of Black people, of trans kids, of immigrants, instead of their own lack of guts and gumption,” Pritzker said.

Pritzker drew a sharp line between his own party and the GOP, saying while Democrats “may need to fix our messaging and strategy, our values are exactly where they should be.”

“We will never join so many Republicans in the special place in hell reserved for quislings and cowards,” Pritzker added, as a number of national outlets reported. “We will relegate their portraits to the museum halls reserved for tyrants and traitors.”

The billionaire governor has not said whether he will run for reelection or whether he has ambitions for higher office. The keynote speaker at the McIntyre-Shaheen 100 Club Dinner last year was Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), who ran with Harris last year on the Democratic ticket.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.