Evanston City Council Dumps Assisted Suicide Resolution

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Evanston City Council members last night ducked a resolution in support of assisted suicide after a large turnout of advocates on both sides of the issue.

Disability rights activists from Chicagoland organizations Access Living, Chicago ADAPT and Progress Center for Independent Living showed up to tell of the dangers of assisted suicide, while individuals representing national advocacy group Compassion and Choices  pushed the so-called “safety” of the process.

Just as the council was set to take up the resolution, Evanston resident Fay Clayton, wearing a yellow Compassion and Choices T-shirt, asked for the resolution to be withdrawn. Evanston Mayor Stephen Hagerty agreed, but allowed attendees to make short comments about the proposal. When the comments ended, council members struck the resolution from its agenda, saying more public discussion was needed.

The proposal is expected to resurface in the future at the city council.

No legislation legalizing assisted suicide has yet to be introduced in the Illinois Legislature.

Watch this CBS-2 Chicago story on the issue in which reporter Vince Gerasole interviews Amber Smock, advocacy director of Access Living. Read more about last night’s council meeting in this article from the Daily Northwestern.