The younger son of the former governor is calling attention to the homeless and domestic violence victims in his hike from Rock Island to Chicago.
By Michael Sneed Aug 10, 2019, 5:07am CDT
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Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, left, walks with sons Patrick Jr., center, and David to his polling place at Galewood Community Church to vote in Chicago, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010. AP/Paul BeatyThe long walk . . .
Former Gov. Patrick Quinn’s eldest son, Patrick Jr., is now following in his father’s footsteps.
• Translation: The younger Quinn, 36, is following dad’s populist path and plans to start walking Sunday the 190 miles from the Centennial Bridge in Rock Island over the Mississippi River to Chicago — raising awareness for shelters for the homeless and survivors of domestic violence.
• Backstory: Gov. Quinn walked the same route in 2001 in support of decent health care for everybody with Dr. Quentin Young.
“Change can happen even via a humble act like a walk,” said the junior Quinn, a cross country runner majoring in art and activism at Rensselaer Polytechnic in New York — who plans to end his walk Aug. 18.
“On the last Day of the walk, Dad will join me from Oak Park to Chicago through the city’s West Side,” he said. “And you can bet he’ll be two steps ahead of me if the TV cameras are there,” he chuckled.
“Walking is kind of a poetic way to make change,” he said. “I’ll be visiting shelters in towns along the way and hopefully raise money for a group called Housing Forward, which is located in Oak Park and primarily serves Chicago and Western suburbs.”
• Backshot: The walking boots don’t fall far from the tree. Gov. Quinn once worked for the late Gov. Dan Walker, who walked 1,197 miles across the state wearing a red bandanna around his neck while campaigning for office. He claimed his legacy in Illinois was “The Walk.”
“The great singer Mahalia Jackson said she always sang for free for the walking people, and that’s a great legacy to leave behind,” said the elder Quinn.
Walking produces great changes. Pat Sr. Was a great governor, lt gov, state treasurer and Cook County Commissioner. Formerly if Oak Park, Pat Sr lives in the delightful Galewood community.
ReplyDeleteQuinn had allot of support from certain aspects of the 19th ward when he ran for governor against Dan Hynes. In fact their efforts put hi9m over the top and Hynes went down in defeat. Their thanks..........their leader got screwed by Quinn.
ReplyDeleteSomething tells me that leader is lying in wait for another Quinn to run.
Quinn was a political hack
ReplyDeleteQuinn is better than Hynes.
ReplyDeletehe is walking in the wrong direction, he should be walking out of Illinios
ReplyDeleteI always thought of Quinn as a political Gadfly. In my opinion he was a perenial candidate. Ps. 36 seems a little old to still be in college. What has he been doing for the past 18 years?
ReplyDeleteSimons..Doesn't get any more right on than them.
ReplyDelete