A long-time Bloomington-Normal activist and former Bloomington city council candidate was in Peoria and claimed to be working security for the Peoria Proud protesters who were protesting Ron DeSantis’ existence.
Student reporter and Cities host Kevin Phares, who attends Illinois State University, interviewed some protesters in Peoria who were protesting what “Ron DeSantis stands for” on Friday when the Florida Governor visited for a Lincoln Day Dinner hosted by the Tazwell and Peoria County Republicans.
“What, specifically, are you out here protesting?” asked Phares. In response Sonny Garcia said, “I’m here keeping people safe.”
“What out here would threaten the protesters, specifically?” asked Phares.
“AR-15s,” said Garcia.
Garcia wouldn’t answer what he meant. From what this publication can tell there were no guns on the premises or reports made that there were threats made against protesters.
Sonny Garcia ran for Bloomington city council in 2017 but dropped out after a criminal charge arose. In 2001, Garcia received a conviction due to driving on a revoked license, following a second drunk-driving conviction. Garcia is a known Bloomington-Normal activist with ties to government officials.
“For over a decade, I have dedicated myself to organizing, activism, and volunteerism in Bloomington,” Garcia said in 2017 when running.
Now Garcia is allegedly protecting people from AR-15s, not people who wield them, but just the rifles themselves. The AR in “AR-15” rifle stands for ArmaLite, after the company that developed it in the 1950s. The company ArmaLite, Inc., headquartered in Geneseo, Illinois
Phares was met with hostility and accusations like, “Are you a Proud Boy member? You hate gays in the military!” Phares remained calm and asked questions like: “Why are you here today, what specifically are you protesting?” Several protesters in attendance asked for Phares’ press pass for him to walk down a public side walk.
“We ask that you walk the other way,” said Peoria Proud Coalition president Cassie Lucchesi. Phares was met with several “boos” while walking in the crowd of protesters.
Garcia shoved an IPhone in Kevin Phares’ face, approximately 10 inches away, and shouted “Hail Satan” after Phares wished the protesters well after collecting interviews from multiple protesters.
![](https://media.socastsrm.com/wordpress/wp-content/blogs.dir/2133/files/2023/05/screenshot-20230515-101534-facebook-e1684176564175-300x142.jpg)
Krysle Able wishes Garcia “happy anniversary” in 2022
Garcia seems to be in a relationship with current McLean County Board member Kyrstle Able, who was not in attendance.
A lot of Peoria Proud Coalition members were in attendance the president Cassie Lucchesi said she was “standing in solidarity for minorities who face violence.” There were no LGBTQ members in a violent situation at the Peoria Civic Center, but Lucchesi clarified when asked for specific instances of hate demonstrated towards the LGBTQ community she referenced the stances of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and some laws he has passed.
“The ‘Don’t Say Gay Bill’ is atrocious,” said Gretchen Brandt, who is a part-time resident of Florida. “You can’t say ‘gay’ in kindergarten through high school. I don’t think it’s about teaching sexuality.”
The legislation she is referencing is called the Parental Rights in Education bill and it prohibits teachers from withholding information about the student from a parent or guardian. The law also says “it is the fundamental right of the parents to make decisions regarding the upbringing of their children.”
The law prohibits a school district from “encouraging classroom discussion about sexual orientation (heterosexual and homosexual) or gender identity of in primary grade levels” (K-5).
Governor JB Pritzker said in a tweet, “In Illinois, we reject the cruelty he espouses and stand firmly against his hateful agenda.”
Ron DeSantis said in response to JB Pritzker: “I’m a little disappointed your governor said I wasn’t welcome in Illinois. Because I seem to remember when he was locking down this state, he sent his family to live in my state and live in our freedom.”
Pritzker’s daughter can be seen in several social media posts in Florida.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker acknowledged his wife and daughter were in Florida before Illinois’ statewide stay-at-home order took effect in March 2020