Lake County Gazette

Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim has used her Facebook page to promote the “No Kings” protest movement, which is organizing more than 1,500 demonstrations nationwide—including three in Lake County.

Kim posted earlier this week. 

“Organizers with the ‘No Kings’ movement are planning some 1,500 demonstrations across the country. There are 3 in Lake County: Buffalo Grove, Gurnee, Highland Park. To find details or other locations, visit: https://www.nokings.org/#map.”

Her post drew immediate backlash from Michael Scornavacco, Republican Committeeman for Antioch 6, who issued a public statement accusing Kim of misusing her official position for political activism. 

“Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim has crossed the line,” Scornavacco said in the statement.  “Rather than focusing on the duties of her office—managing taxpayer money and maintaining fiscal accountability—Kim has used her official government platform to promote a national protest movement called ‘No Kings,’ which is staging more than 1,500 coordinated demonstrations across the country, including three right here in Lake County.” 

Scornavacco went on to describe “No Kings” as a group rooted in “divisive ideology and radical political messaging.”

“This is not a case of personal opinion,” he said. “This is an elected public official using the authority of her title and office to amplify a movement rooted in divisive ideology and radical political messaging.” 

Scornavacco argued that the movement Kim promoted goes far beyond civic engagement and carries an extreme political agenda.

“‘No Kings’ is not about peaceful discourse. It is a rebranded platform for: anti-American messaging, anti-capitalist rhetoric, anti-police sentiment, and hardline, far-left ideology,” Scornavacco said. “That’s not speculation. That’s taken straight from the group’s own materials.” 

Scornavacco questioned whether Kim’s promotion of the movement involved the use of government resources and called for greater scrutiny from other elected officials. 

“It raises serious questions: Are county staff or resources being used in coordination with these events?” he said. “Is this an isolated lapse in judgment, or part of a deeper ideological alignment? And most importantly—why is no one else calling this out?” 

Calling Kim “unethical and unfit for office,” he urged Lake County voters to demand accountability.

“This is not leadership,” he said. “This is opportunism wrapped in activism, and it has no place in county government.” 

Scornavacco concluded his statement with a call to action. 

“I’m calling for a full and public condemnation of this behavior from all Lake County elected officials, an investigation into any misuse of office or government property, and a serious, qualified Republican challenger to step forward and run to replace Holly Kim,” he said. 

Framing the issue as part of a larger concern, Scornavacco warned that Kim’s actions reflect a deeper threat to the integrity of local government.

“This isn’t just about one protest,” he said. “It’s about the direction of our county. It’s about who we trust with authority. And it’s about whether or not we allow partisan activism to infect every corner of government without resistance.” 

The “No Kings” protests follow an anti-ICE demonstration in Chicago on June 10 that sparked violence and property destruction, including vandalized police cars, a Tesla defaced with swastikas, damaged monuments, and multiple assaults.

Demonstrators also vandalized public property and assaulted police officers.

Seventeen protesters were arrested amid chaotic clashes.

Witnesses warned that coordinated groups used tactics to overwhelm law enforcement and predicted even more destructive protests planned for June 14 in suburbs such as those in Lake County.

The results of the anti-ICE protests were akin to the 2020 BLM riots, which resulted in 15 deaths, an estimated $66 million in property damage, more than 2,100 businesses looted or vandalized, and 71 buildings set on fire.

Lake County also saw property destruction and looting in 2020, particularly in Waukegan and Beach Park. Businesses were burglarized, police vehicles were damaged, officers were attacked and hundreds of looters targeted stores,