Petition seeks to make South Illinois 51st state

Sometime in the future, Carbondale could be the state capital of South Illinois. That is what a grassroots organization is working toward.

About 25 counties constitute Southern Illinois, but there is an ongoing campaign working toward a separation from Northern Illinois to become the 51st state of the nation.

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The recently formed committee to form South Illinois was launched by Rye Emerson, publisher for the non-profit monthly newspaper the Martinsville Observer. Emerson and Dana Tanner, the committee’s vice chairwoman, have begun circulating petitions and according to the campaign’s website, the committee is “getting hundreds of signatures a day.” The committee’s petition goal is 200,000 signatures from the community.

“Due to the course of current events, it has now become evident that in order for the people of South Illinois to guarantee for themselves and their progeny a society … dedicated to their health, education, safety and economic welfare, they must now form their own state,” the committee’s declaration says on its website.

The campaign’s website offers reasons, including implications that “Chicagoland” serves as the headquarters for two of the largest gang organizations, the north’s political corruption and the unfair state distribution of Southern taxpayers’ money.

Tanner said she is gathering information on Southern Illinois’ recreational and historical sites. The information will be used to promote the campaign.

“Southern Illinois is the most beautiful part of the state of Illinois, and many of us already consider ourselves in a state all its own,” she said.

As for the state capital, Tanner said most people she has talked with suggested Carbondale.

“People have been saying Carbondale because it’s pretty much the hub of Southern Illinois,” she said.

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While she senses a general community support for the campaign, Tanner said she has met some who are not willing to be actively involved with the campaign, even though they do not object to forming the state of South Illinois. The committee plans to speak with Glenn Poshard, SIUC vice chancellor for administration, and U.S. Rep. David Phelps about the campaign.

Carbondale Mayor Neil Dillard is skeptical about the campaign but agrees with some of the statehood issues the committee raises.

“It’s an interesting idea that has been discussed years past about the deep Southern Illinois and Northern Illinois and an interesting concept that, without changing the state borders, could be sometime in the next 100 years become a part of the other states,” Dillard said. “But as far as forming a separate state, I think the chances are practically slim to nonexistent.”

Tanner said some people are unaware of Southern Illinois’ qualities that enable the region to stand as its own state.

“I don’t see why we can’t be our own state. If we pull together for this, I think it’ll be wonderful,” Tanner said. “[Southern Illinois] has so much to offer as a state and many people don’t realize it.”

Reporter Jane Huh can be reached at [email protected]