(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — More than 130 additional former youth inmates are suing the state and Cook County over alleged sexual abuse at youth centers.
Attorney with Levy Konigsberg, Jerome Block says he's now filed lawsuits on behalf of 800 men and women who were sexually abused by staff members at state and Cook County youth centers as far back as the 1990s.
He said that this week more than 130 others sued Cook County and the State of Illinois for failing to protect them from "rampant sexual abuse."
"The state has to step up. The state has to do something and stop avoiding responsibility. We want the governor and we want the attorney general, to hear the voices of these survivors, listen to the voices of these survivors and take responsibility."
The lawsuits come as he says the state and Cook County have sought to dismiss these cases.
"We have heard nothing from the state asking to work with our survivors on a criminal investigation. We have no evidence this state is doing anything to investigate these, these employees, these former employees, and to bring them to justice," Block said.
Marcus Walker, 37, says during his time at Harrisburg Youth Center staff gave him drugs, alcohol, and sexually abused him.
"I have my first baby. He's 10 months old. And I mean, I deal with PTSD on a daily basis. I hardly get any sleep. And I fear that my baby, first child, can even potentially go through that it's crippling to me." Walker said.
He says now he's speaking up to prevent other youth from being abused.
"My abuser had the power to hurt me, but now we have the power to help all the kids who need us now."
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