Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization

Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization is a statewide independent progressive organization in Illinois. It was founded more than 50 years ago.

Committees

Through its National Affairs, Legislative Action and Community Action committees, the organization drafts legislative proposals and lobbies for progressive legislation in Congress, the Illinois General Assembly, the Chicago City Council, and other governmental bodies.

Radical history

Independent Voters of Illinois was set up to campaign for endorsed candidates-especially "progressive" candidates.

The government took an interest in IVI as far back as 1944, over quite justified allegations of communist infiltration.

In 1944 the FBI prepared a more extensive intelligence report on an active political group, the Independent Voters of Illinois, apparently because it was the target of Communist "infiltration." The Independent Voters group was reported to have been formed;

"...for the purpose of developing neighborhood political units to help in the re-election of President Roosevelt and the election of progressive congressmen. Apparently, IVI endorsed or aided Democrats for the most part, although it was stated to be "independent."

Prominent IVI and later IVI-IPO activists included Communist Party USA member Milton Cohen, and Socialist Party USA members Timuel Black Saul Mendelson.

In July 2004 IVI-IPO celebrated its 60th anniversary. Members of the event committee included;

Democratic Socialists of America and Committees of Correspondence member Timuel Black, Socialist Party USA veteran Leon Despres DSA and Progressives for Obama member Betty Willhoite, David Orr, Carol Moseley Braun, one time Communist Party USA member David Canter and Barack Obama.

IVI-IPO and the Obamas

In 2003, both Michelle Obama and Barack Obama were members of Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization;

The organisation endorsed Obama during his 2004 U.S. Senate race

IVI-IPO 60th Anniversary

IVI-IPO's 2004, 60th Anniversary Independents’ Day Dinner Committee;

Co-Chairs

• Prof. Timuel Black
• Hon. Leon Despres
• Hon. Dick Simpson

Host Committee

• Hon. Clem Balanoff
• Bernice Bild
• Karen Boehning
• Lula Bronson
• Hon. Dorothy Brown
• Barbara Burchjolla
• David Canter
• Hon. Rey Colon
• Hon. John Cullerton
• Hon. Barbara Flynn Currie
• Lois Dobry
• Hon. Rahm Emanuel
• Hon. Sara Feigenholtz
• Hilda Frontany
• Hon. Leslie Hairston
• Connie Hall
• Marshall Holleb
• Hon. Jim Houlihan
• David Igasaki
• Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr.
• Keith Kelleher
• Kitty Kurth
• Kevin Lamm
• Hon. Lou Lang
• Norman Lasko
• C. Betty Magness
• Hon. Roberto Maldonado
• Hon. Bob Mann
• Hon. Iris Martinez
• James Masini
• Helen Miller
• Hon. Joe Moore
• Hon. Carol Moseley Braun
• Hon. Elaine Nekritz
• Hon. Dawn Clark Netsch
• Hon. Barack Obama
• Hon. David Orr
• Hon.Toni Preckwinkle
• Sue Purrington
• Hon. Michael Quigley
• James Shapiro
• Hon. Helen Shiller
• Hon. Sonia Silva
• Leslie Gryce Sturino
• Hon. Larry Suffredin
• Alice Tregay
• Hon. Tom Tunney
• Rich Whitehead
• Betty Willhoite
• Herb Ziegeldorf

Awardees

Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization 60th Anniversary Dinner was held Monday, July 19, 2004 6 pm—8 pm The Hot House 31 E. Balbo Chicago;

• Legal Eagle Award - Patricia Logue and Paul Smith
• Leon Despres Award - Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky
• Barbara Merrill-Rudy Lozano Labor Award - HERE Local #1— Henry Tamarin, President
• Harold Washington Award - Chicagoans Against War and Injustice, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights
• Kit Pfau Award - State Representative Robin Kelly
• Saul Mendelson Social Justice Award - Carol Steele

Raconteurs

Invited Raconteurs:

Studs Terkel, Leon Despres, Timuel Black, Abner Mikva, Dick Simpson and Elizabeth Brackett.

External links

• IVI-PO website