A young woman was set on fire aboard a CTA Blue Line train. She was doing what thousands of Chicagoans do every day—riding public transit. This attack was not random. It was the result of decades of systemic failure.

The man accused of this heinous act had been arrested at least 40 times over three decades. He had a documented history of severe mental illness and violence, including attacking a social worker just months ago. Our city’s criminal justice and mental health systems failed to intervene, and a young woman is now fighting for her life.

The $1.5 billion mass transit funding package passed by state lawmakers includes desperately needed money for safety, mental health, and homelessness services—but the CTA won’t receive those funds until late 2026. That timeline is unacceptable. Riders and transit workers need protection now.

We call on Governor J.B. Pritzker, The Illinois General Assembly, Mayor Brandon Johnson, and The CTA Board and Leadership to immediately expedite funding for public safety and crisis intervention on Chicago’s trains and buses. That means deploying trained mental health professionals, expanding emergency response teams, and providing housing alternatives for unhoused residents who currently rely on transit to survive.

Public transportation should never be a place of fear. Chicagoans deserve safe, reliable transit—and vulnerable people deserve care, not abandonment.

Sign this petition if you believe in urgent, compassionate, and immediate action. Let’s make sure nothing like this ever happens again.