CHICAGO'S NORTH SIDE (WBBM Newsradio) -- A Congressional candidate is sharing details of an encounter while out knocking doors that he says left him stunned.
State Sen. Mike Simmons, who's Black, is one of 15 candidates in the Democratic primary to succeed retiring Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-9th District).
In a video posted to social media, Sen. Simmons said he and his team were out knocking doors last Friday at a multi-unit building in the Buena Park neighborhood when he claimed a white woman came out of her unit, asked him to leave, and then called police.
"I tried to communicate to her that I am a state Senator representing her and a candidate for Congress and we're trying to reach our voters ... and she refused to talk to us," said Sen. Simmons (D-7th District).
The video also showed him explaining that it's a crime in Illinois to call police on people of color when there's no imminent threat to safety.
"I know 'cause I passed the law in 2021," he can be heard saying on the video.
Eventually, he left the building, telling the woman he was "disappointed" in how she handled the situation. "I would expect more from my neighbors," he can be heard saying.
"I was stunned," Sen. Simmons said in the aftermath video. "Canvassing while Black is not a crime."
A Chicago police spokesperson could not confirm the Senator's account to WBBM Newsradio Tuesday morning.