"AURORA FOR CHANGE is not just about a local recall campaign. It is about whether Aurora and its public institutions can be used to advance a political project connected to a broader national network of billionaire-funded right-wing organizations, think tanks, and political operatives that seek to reshape American government from the local level up."

We, the undersigned residents and community members, write to express serious concern regarding the AURORA FOR CHANGE  CAMPAIGN, including its Day of Action currently scheduled to take place at the West Branch Public Library on May 23 and 24.

WE urge the AURORA PUBLIC LIBRARY and Aurora residents to REJECT Aurora for Change or the use of public facilities for PARTISAN RECALL CAMPAIGNING AND POLITICALLY DIVISIVE ORGANIZING. 

AURORA PUBLIC LIBRARY / AURORA RESIDENTS: 

Public libraries are among the few remaining civic spaces intended to serve ALL members of the community equally, regardless of affiliation, ideology, race, religion, gender, or class. They should remain welcoming, neutral, and community-centered institutions, not staging grounds for partisan political operations or recall campaigns targeting elected officials. Regrettably, Aurora for Change,  spearheaded by the disgraced Republican and former mayor Richard Irvin, allegedly under federal investigation for corruption, is also being championed by Danny Souri, Val Ojeda, Jayden Badillo and others connected to organizations and political networks aligned with the Republican Party, the Heritage Foundation, Project 2025, and the broader MAGA movement. 
Disturbingly, there exist longstanding public allegations, accusations, and controversies surrounding some of these figures, including accusations and instances involving racism, gender violence, intimidation, political violence, and the sexual harm of minors. These concerns deserve transparency and scrutiny, not political amplification.

Danny Souri has been credibly accused of fraud, sexual misconduct involving minors, and has openly, alongside Senator Marsha Blackburn, called for immigrants to be deported and protesters to be shot and killed. Danny Souri has also espoused white nationalist beliefs: his latest podcast recently teamed up with the founder of the American Reich.  Richard Irvin's ties to Donald Trump, MAGA, and far right billionaire Ken Griffin are well documented. As for Val Ojeda, he has routinely issued death threats, including threats of lethal force against high schoolers earlier this year. We cannot and should not platform or normalize far-right political violence or its personalities, not in our streets, homes, or libraries. Richard Irvin, MAGA, and the Aurora for Change campaign have chosen to politically align themselves with operatives who have openly called for violence, including death threats, upon activists and elected officials. Indeed, the Aurora Public Library and Aurora residents at large now face a similar choice. 

The aims of Aurora for Change and its political operatives reflect a national political strategy that seeks to reshape local politics, weaken public institutions and the democratic process, concentrate political power, weaken democratic guardrails, and advance a governance model designed by well-funded far-right ideological organizations rather than local communities.

At a time when communities across the country are grappling with extremism, political polarization, attacks on public institutions, and declining public trust, the Aurora Public Library should not risk appearing to endorse or legitimize partisan political operations by hosting extremists or events closely tied to active recall organizing efforts.

We therefore respectfully urge Aurora residents to research, investigate, and reject the Aurora for Change campaign and for the Aurora Public Library to:

1. Cancel the “Aurora for Change” Day of Action event currently scheduled at library facilities;
2. Clarify and publicly disclose the library’s policies regarding political organizing, campaigning, petition distribution, and recall-related activities on public library property;
3. Issue a public statement reaffirming the library’s commitment to neutrality, inclusion, transparency, and community trust;
4. Establish clearer safeguards to ensure public facilities are not used in ways that create the appearance of institutional endorsement of partisan political campaigns.

We believe the City of Aurora should not become the vehicle for advancing the agenda of billionaire-funded political networks or national ideological campaigns. Local government should remain accountable to Aurora residents, not outside organizations, political operatives, or national movements seeking to leverage local grievances for broader political objectives.

Sincerely,

[NAME]
[WARD / NEIGHBORHOOD]
[SIGNATURE]

NEXT AURORA PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD MEETING:
Wednesday, May 27
6:00 PM
Santori Library

Library Phone:
(630) 264-4117

Contact Form:
https://www.aurorapubliclibrary.org/Contactus

Staff Directory:
https://www.aurorapubliclibrary.org/Staff

SOURCES / PUBLIC REFERENCES

AURORA FOR CHANGE / RECALL CAMPAIGN
• Aurora Beacon-News coverage of Aurora for Change recall initiative:
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/20/aurora-for-change-recall-referendum/

RICHARD IRVIN / MAGA / GOP CONNECTIONS / POLITICAL CORRUPTION
• Richard Irvin 2022 Illinois Republican gubernatorial campaign:
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/richard-irvin-running-for-governor-aurora-mayor-republican-primary/

• Chicago Sun-Times coverage of Irvin’s GOP campaign and Ken Griffin support:
https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2022/5/23/23138789/republican-richard-irvin-ken-griffin-pritzker-bailey-trump-rabine-sullivan-schimpf-solomon-primary
•35 Stories That Support Calling Mayor Richard Irvin "Corrupt" (Extended Version)
https://uncoveraurora.substack.com/p/35-stories-that-support-calling-mayor-cefy

AURORA TOWNSHIP REPUBLICANS / DANNY SOURI / JAYDEN BADILLO 

• Aurora Township Republicans leadership page:
https://www.gopaurora.org/leadership

• Aurora Township Republicans official website:
https://www.gopaurora.org/

HERITAGE FOUNDATION / PROJECT 2025 
• Heritage Foundation:
https://www.heritage.org/

• Project 2025 overview:
https://www.project2025.org/

DISCLAIMER: 
The concerns raised in this petition reflect political & public commentary / community concerns regarding AURORA FOR CHANGE and the use of public facilities for partisan political organizing. References to allegations or controversies refer to publicly discussed accusations and political criticism, not necessarily criminal convictions, judicial findings, or ongoing investigations.