Group Wants Illinois To Divorce Chicago, Form New State

PALOS HEIGHTS, IL — A grassroots organization that portrays itself as nonpartisan says it has a plan to split from Illinois and form a new state. New Illinois will lay out its vision for a 51st state at a free informational meeting from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Palos Heights Public Library, 12501 S. 71st Ave.

Instead of moving to Indiana to get away from Illinois corruption and high taxes, New Illinois supporters figure: Why should we have to move away? Why not stay where our homes and roots are, and just separate from Chicago?

“People often have the misunderstanding that we’re trying to build a Republican utopia,” New Illinois chair and founder G.H. Merritt said. “It’s not like we’re trying to kick Chicago out. We want to kick ourselves out and form a new state consisting of counties, townships and towns.”

Founded in 2018, the state secessionist group says it envisions a new state free from a tyrannical form of government, “where residents will be able to experience a government representing their constitutional rights.” The New Illinois plan follows Article IV, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution, which allows new states to be formed from existing ones with the permission of the state legislature and Congress. Mike Madigan and J.B. Pritzker are frequently mentioned.

“We’re educating Illinoisans about their right to representative government,” Merritt said. “Illinois is the most corrupt state in the United States, which is intertwined with fiscal catastrophe.”

Merritt says that out of the state’s 101 counties, New Illinois committees are working in 49 to lay the groundwork for a new infrastructure. When Illinois eventually becomes financially insolvent, they’ll be ready to spring into action.

“In Illinois, 40 percent of the population lives in Cook County,” Merritt said. “Chicago versus the rest of the state is very different. Laws get passed that may be in Chicago's best interests but not the rest of the state.”

Featured speakers Saturday’s will be state Rep. Brad Halbrook, a downstate Republican from Shelbyville,and chief sponsor of HR101, the resolution to create the 51st state; New Illinois Kane County Committee Chair Tom Kozik; Ted Dabrowski, president of Wirepoints; and Paul Preston, president of New California. Merritt also will show a PowerPoint presentation.

The name “New Illinois” is a placeholder for now. Merritt said that last year, the group took a survey for what to call the 51st state. "Lincoln," "Real Illinois" and "Southern Illinois" were the most popular.

“Being from Lake County, I would be happy to be from ‘Southern Illinois,’” Merritt said. “They could call it ‘Kraft Macaroni and Cheese,’ and I wouldn’t care.”

There is no cost to attend Saturday's event. More information is available by contacting info@NewIllinoisState.org.