RUSH COMES TO DEFENSE OF MOTHER OF EIGHT ACCUSED OF NEGLECT

CHICAGO – Congressman Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) today came to the defense of a single mother of eight children who were put in Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) custody after being accused of living in squalor and leaving her children unattended. Mary Steele, 29, lives in the legislator's district and resides only a few blocks from his Bronzeville home.

Steele's children range from age 3 months to 11 years old. The father of her two youngest children was fatally wounded by police in mid-July, according to the woman. Reportedly, the family's three-bedroom residence at 3817 S. Calumet had been vandalized by scavengers who stole copper pipes, light fixtures and other possessions before trashing the home shortly after she moved into it a few weeks ago. The mother said she moved into the unit at the encouragement of her father.

Rush spent four hours today with Steele at the Cook County Juvenile Court, 1100 S. Hamilton, where she appeared for a preliminary hearing to determine if she would regain custody of her children. The congressman intervened after interviewing Steele, the woman's family members and others familiar with the case. He indicated that Steele's arrest may have been an "over reaction" by authorities and said the depiction of her case borders on the use of negative stereotypes.

"I am disturbed at how this young mother has been portrayed in the media," Rush said. "Her household has been depicted as one of squalor and as unlivable, however, this appears to be misleading and an exaggeration of facts. Such characterizations only feed negative stereotypes about poor women of color.

"We want those children healthy, happy and whole—and when possible we must work to keep families together," he said. "The system should not be about condemnation but compassion. This does not appear to be a case of rampant neglect and abuse as it has been portrayed, but a case of poor judgment and poverty. In any case, Chicago should step up to help this family rather than step on them."

According to Steele, she drove to a nearby Walgreens to purchase baby formula and was gone for about 15 minutes when she returned to find police waiting for her. She said after she let authoriteis in her home she was told she was under arrest for child neglect and that her children would be taken from her.

"They are trying to make me out to be a bad mother that don't care about her kids," a teary eyed Steele told Rush, "and that is not true. Someone broke in and stole my stuff when we moved there and then I got a notice saying the house was in foreclosure—so were trying to figure out where to move. My children have clean clothes and they eat three times a day and I love my kids.

"I was holding my baby and I asked if I could change her diaper because she had (soiled herself) I was told to hand over my baby to a lady so I could be put in handcuffs," she said. "Then they said in the report the police had to clean my baby up. They said my kids were sleeping on the floor—we had three bedrooms and they have bunk beds. I regret ever leaving them alone and I wouldn't do it again—not even for one second."

Rush said he was compelled to act after hearing her stand up for her parental rights on the news. He said Steele's plight in some ways reminded him of his own childhood. "I see in Mary Steele—a mother who loves her children, who's not made the best of choices, but at the same time should not be condemned."

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