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OFFICE OF THE STATE'S ATTORNEY
LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
MICHAEL G. NERHEIM
STATE'S ATTORNEY
CITY OF WAUKEGAN, ILLINOIS
WAUKEGAN POLICE DEPARTMENT
January 2. 2020
For Immediate Release
Contact: Lee Filas
(847) 377-3141 – office
(847) 707-6479 – cell
lfilas@lakecountyil.gov
Interfaith forum scheduled for January 10 at Genessee Theater
(Lake County, IL) In light of recent hate crimes across the United States, the City of Waukegan, the Waukegan Police Department, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the United States Department of Justice Community Relations Service will be hosting an interfaith forum entitled “Protecting Places of Worship” on Jan. 10, from 1 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the Genesee Theater, 203 N. Genesee Street in Waukegan.
The event is open to all faith-based leaders and community members, and will primarily focus on ways to prevent and respond to hate crimes against places of worship. The forum will include an overview of religious hate crimes, how to fortify and emergency plan for places of worship, and how to prevent and respond to active shooter situations.
The forum takes place on the heels of several religious hate crimes that have topped news headlines recently. Most recently, a man stormed a Hanukkah celebration at a rabbi’s home in Monsey, New York, and a gunman killed two in the West Freeway Church of Christ in Texas. Closer to home, hate speech and swastikas were spray painted onto an exterior wall at Seth Paine Elementary School in Lake Zurich.
“Unfortunately, incidents of hate crime appear to be increasing across our country,” said Lake County State’s Attorney Michael Nerheim. “This forum is a perfect way for Lake County law enforcement and faith leaders to work together and get in front of these tragic incidents, and make sure everything is being done to prevent this from occurring here, in our county.”
Speakers at the forum will include State’s Attorney Nerheim, Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham, Waukegan Police Chief Wayne Walles, Jim Elliot from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Department of Homeland Security, Assistant U.S. Attorney Georgia Alexis, Joseph Holzman of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, James Paine of Homeland Security, and a panel discussion led by Pastor Rick Harris.
Waukegan Police Chief Wayne Walles said, “It is an honor to partner with the Department of Justice and the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office to bring this program to Lake County. In light of recent events and disturbing trends, "Protecting Places of Worship" is more timely than ever. It is our intent to partner with the faith-based community, regardless of denomination, to preserve the right to worship in a safe and secure manner.”
To RSVP or receive more information for the event, please contact Jackie Quinn of the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office at jquinn@lakecountyil.gov, Maria Borjon from the City of Waukegan at maria.borjon@waukeganil.gov, or Kenith Bergeron at kenith.bergeron@usdoi.gov. People are urged to RSVP for the event by Jan. 6. There is no cost to attend the forum.
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Lake County State's Attorney's Office 18 N. County Street Waukegan, IL 60085 Phone: (847) 377-3000
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