CHICAGO - Neither Governor Pat Quinn nor his Muslim American Advisory Council have commented on, or condemned, ISIS' beheading of American journalist James Foley.
Quinn's Muslim American Advisory Council is the only religious group to which the governor has reached out. Although the 500,000 Muslims in Illinois make the state home to the largest Muslim population in America, Catholics are the largest religious group, and unaffiliated evangelicals are the second largest.
No advisory councils or committees representing those two religious groups are listed among the 58 commissions Quinn has created. He does list a "Holocaust and Genocide Commission," although not directly linked to those in Illinois Jewish Community.
In the past, Quinn has issued statements condemning attacks on mosques in Illinois, but did not comment on Foley's death, or ISIS' slaughter of Christians.
Foley spent several years in Illinois before becoming a freelance war correspondent. He obtained a master's degree from Chicago's Medill School of Journalism, and taught language arts for four years at the Cook County Sheriff's Boot Camp.
The Muslim American Advisory Council has issued three semi-annual reports to the Governor, with public policy recommendations such as offering more job opportunities for youth, treating elderly prisoners in state facilities with more passion, and stopping the expansion of gambling in Illinois.
The Council congratulated Governor Quinn in their Third Semi Annual report, saying,
No Governor has done more for the Illinois Muslim American community. You have named Muslim Americans to state jobs and commissions, and issued a cultural sensitivity guide so that all state employees may better understand and respect our faith and traditions. You truly believe that ethnic and religious diversity makes our State and its people better. And for that, we are grateful.
Quinn did, however, proclaim August 20th "Water Bucket Challenge Day" in Illinois.
