[Peace-discuss] Fwd: [PDI] Taste of Chicago Seven

[Chuck Minne]

Ro2ert at aol.com wrote:  From: Ro2ert at aol.com
Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2006 17:36:20 EDT
To: CHicagoboys at yahoogroups.com
CC: chicago at worldcantwait.org, il4kucinich at yahoogroups.com,
feministahk at yahoo.com, PDI at illinoisprogressives.org, hbarrow at artic.edu
Subject: [PDI] Taste of Chicago Seven

+++++++Please Distribute Freely++++

Friends-

I responded to an e-mail sent by the AFSC on Saturday. It detailed 
harassment by the Chicago Police Department of Peace Activists that were trying to 
distribute a flyer entitled "Military Recruitment Leaves a Bad Taste." This 
flyer was Written by the Quakers and distributed by them and members of the 
Chicago Committee Opposing Militarization of Youth (CCOMY) and a Hispanic group 
called Chicanos Against the Militarization of Youth (CAMY).

The email requested people to bear witness against the CPD and to help in 
the distribution of flyer. Rachel, Spencer and I went to the Taste of Chicago 
to do that. We appeared briefly at the press conference and then on the 
street in front of the Army of One booth. What was two police quickly turned into 
several. After ten minutes there were enough police to completely block the 
public from the army's booth. 

After fifteen minutes three cops in white shirts showed, two seargents and 
one LT. The Commander quickly got on his blackberry. Now if you know the CPD 
command structure then you'll realize that there is one a few higher ranks 
than Commander. Assistant Superintendent and the Superintendent are only 
superceded by the orders of the Mayor. I told Rachel it was time to go and we did.

Soon after we left one of the CAMY youth was arrested for distributing the 
1/4 page leaflet. She was near the curb, not blocking the sidewalk, not 
interfering with commerce and yes, distributing a handbill. As I remember from my 
5th grade history it was such actions that helped spawn the American 
revolution.

In all there were 7 arrested, including one Legal Observer with the National 
Lawyers Guild. None of the arrestees blocked the sidewalk, stopped commerce 
or threatened to do so. One of the arrestees wasn't even distributing a 
leaflet.

What does this all mean? The CPD and police departments nationally have 
ramped up repression of those that disagree with the governments policies, 
whether it's the war in Iraq or the cuts in social service programs or the lose of 
civil liberties the government wants you to shut up. As this case winds it 
way through the court system do not be surprised as the cases are dropped. 
The last thing the government wants is a Supreme Court test case.

Don't stand for this repression. if you've been harassed follow through (the 
Chicago March 20th case is an example). Continue to exercise your freedom, 
there are two massive marches in October. Don't allow this to continue, throw 
some bucks at the Chicago NLG _http://www.nlgchicago.org/donate.shtml_ 
(http://www.nlgchicago.org/donate.shtml) the movements mouthpiece. Watch what went 
on yesterday at _http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwYI0kxGORU_ 
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwYI0kxGORU) . 

Write to WLS 7 at 
_http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=stationinfo&id=3354595_ (http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=stationinfo&id=3354595) to 
ask them why the only station with footage of the arrests didn't carry a story 
about them. Demand better, not an attempt to cover up the CPD trying to 
suppress free speech.

Write the Chicago Tribune 
_http://www.chicagotribune.com/about/custom/contact/_ (http://www.chicagotribune.com/about/custom/contact/) to ask them why the 
newspaper of record didn't bother to run the story of the Taste of Chicago 
Seven.

Of course you can show up tomorrow at the Evanston 4th of July parade (or 
one in your community) with your anti-war regalia and march against the war. And 
of course get working with a peace group near you. 
_http://www.chicagoworldcantwait.org/_ (http://www.chicagoworldcantwait.org/) 
_http://www.ilcpj.org/_ (http://www.ilcpj.org/) 

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or 
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of 
the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition 
the government for a redress of grievances.
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