Chicago Mayor Rham Emanuel, or 'Mayor 1%', according to Occupy Chicago and longtime Chicago activist Andy Thayer, is getting low marks for his new proposed 'anti protest' legislation.
From Andy Thayer;
Last month, while introducing draconian amendments to sections of the Chicago code and a wholesale rewrite of the parade permit ordinance, he in effect said, "Don't worry, this is just for those 'bad people' coming to Chicago to disrupt the G8 and NATO summits. This won't affect the good people of Chicago. Go back to sleep."
The rewritten legislation was thought to be temporary, in response to the upcoming, Nato & G8 Summit in May. They include dramatically increased fines and a very 'Chicago' interpretation of resisting arrest.
And for in-town or out-of-town protesters not familiar with Chicago's fairly unique interpretation of what constitutes "resisting arrest," non-violent civil disobedience could now carry a $200-$1000 fine, up from $25-$500, in addition to more to other, more typical misdemeanor charges. Since at least 2005, Chicago, in contrast to most other areas of the country, has considered "going limp" in the face of arrest to be resisting, and has successfully prosecuted some of us on that score. To underscore this unique interpretation of resisting arrest, Emanuel's new ordinance language codifies it by stating that "'resist' shall mean passive as well as active resistance."
My emphasis.
http://chicago.indymedia.org/...
Here are details of the proposed legislation, that is scheduled for a vote before the City Council, January, 18th.
* Virtually every street protest in the downtown would be designated a "large parade" requiring $1 million liability insurance and for organizers to "agree to reimburse the city for any damage to the public way or to city property arising out of or caused by the parade";
* Large parade or not, organizers would be required to provide the city with "a description of any recording equipment, sound amplification equipment, banners, signs, or other attention-getting devices to be used in connection with the parade" at least a week in advance of the march;
* Every contingent in the march and the order in which they would appear would have to be registered at least a week in advance with the City;
* Demonstration organizers would be required to have one marshal for every 100 participants; and,
* Under a wholly new section of the municipal code (10-8-334), even gatherings on sidewalks, with no presence in the streets, would now be subject to demands that they get permits, giving the City extraordinary latitude to dictate what union and other pickets occur or get shut down by police action. Conceivably, each General Assembly meeting of Occupy Chicago would require a separate City permit, each with its $50 application fee, weeks' long application process, etc.
My emphasis.
The activist community, including Occupy Chicago, are protesting not only the new rules and fines but the fact that this legislation is not temporary, as promised.
From Occupy Chicago website;
Afraid of our power, afraid of our voices and the content of our speech Mayor Rahm ‘1%’ Emanuel again demonstrates his role as the goon of the 1% with his most recent despicable assault on our freedom of speech. To attack the freedom of speech is to attack democracy and thus Mayor 1% shows himself as an enemy of democracy. On December 14th, 2011 he proposed an ordinance amending various provisions of Chicago Municipal Code. While temporarily restricting our freedoms in the interest of silencing dissent is cause enough for a call to action, Emanuel later admitted that the ordinance was to be permanent
. My emphasis.
http://occupychi.org/...
From indymedia.org, Andy Thayer;
But then came the classic switch: when the actual language of the proposed legislation was produced, there were no sunset clauses in most of the proposed "temporary" measures.
A "mistake," said Rahm.
"He lied," I said at a Tuesday press conference.
My emhasis.
http://chicago.indymedia.org/...
Emanuel admitted, when confronted by Andy Thayer at an unrelated news conference that, in fact the new ordinances will be permanant.
From WBEZ.org
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel admitted Tuesday that he misspoke when he said that he extraordinary new powers he's seeking for the upcoming NATO and G-8 summits would be only temporary.
In fact, Emanuel said his proposal to dramatically increase fines for protesters who resist arrest - even passively - should be permanent.
"New Year's resolution: made a mistake," he said. "Real simple."
http://www.wbez.org/...
From the Chicago Tribune;
Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Tuesday admitted he erred last month when he said tighter protest rules and higher fines for thwarting police would be temporary measures designed just for a pair of spring meetings of international leaders in Chicago.
Instead, the crackdown that Emanuel is asking the City Council to approve in advance of G-8 and NATO meetings would be permanent.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/...
Excerpt of statement from Occupy Chicago website;
This ordinance consists of a host of bureaucratic tools created by and for the 1% to relegate, abridge, fine, arrest, and silence our speech. It is an attempt to bully and intimidate with increased police power and fines the brave working people who demand the ability to participate democratically in the organizing of our society. It is an attempt, by the 1%, to restrict and regulate the voice of the people when it upsets the structure that put them in power.
As such, Occupy Chicago is issuing Operation Roll Call: Demand that Your Aldermen Defend Your Rights.
http://occupychi.org/...
Occupy The South Side and Occupy Rogers Park sent a letter, on January 9th, to all 50 Alderman, who serve on the City Council and will vote on this proposed 'Sit Down and Shut Up" legislation.
As you are no doubt aware, Mayor Emanuel sponsored this ordinance and has promoted it in the media as a "temporary" measure aimed at controlling protesters during specified events taking place later this year. As you've surely read, the Mayor has since been forced to retract his claim that these changes were ever meant to be temporary. Another blatant inconsistency is that the ordinance applies to the entire city, while the NATO and G8 summits occur only downtown. Other inconsistencies in the presentation of this ordinance are similarly problematic.
Given what the ordinance actually says, it cannot be construed as an effort to protect the integrity of G8 and NATO conferences. This measure is a permanent attack on public protest in the City of Chicago. The consequences of this attack will be far reaching, and will be felt by protesters throughout the city, most of whom will never have any connection to the protests associated with these events.
As you are also aware, we celebrate the legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on January 16, 2012. Dr. King's legacy is not one of obedience to municipal authorities, but rather the inspiring story of a man who led a community that was willing to face down oppressive lawmakers by violating exactly the type of ordinance the Mayor is asking you to support.
It is difficult to overstate the contrast between celebrating the life and work of Dr. King on Monday, and codifying the suppression of dissent on Wednesday.
Occupy Chicago intends to keep the campaign up until January 18th, when the vote on the ordinances is scheduled.
http://www.facebook.com/...
From Andy Thayer:
What this all adds up to is that with the threat of onerous fines, insurance and marshaling personnel requirements, only the wealthiest non-governmental organizations and businesses will organize protests without a degree of trepidation. As with Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy's threats of thousands of riot-clad police ringing the summits, the net effect of the proposed ordinance challenges is to chill the free exercise of the 1st Amendment.
Since the proposed changes to Chicago's ordinances aren't only against those "bad" anti-G8/NATO protesters, but are permanent, they would directly affect anyone who may have a beef with city hall or private employers, whether it's over school closings, health clinic cutbacks, unfair working conditions, immigrant rights or what have you. In a country where the federal government has just officially nixed habeas corpus and the Magna Carta, G8/NATO is the excuse du jour to dramatically erode the 1st amendment in our city.
My emhasis.
http://chicago.indymedia.org/...
Well, there is not much for me to add. This is pretty straightforward information about what Mayor Emanuel intends to do and not a pretty picture for the citzens of Chicago.
Sorry about the long read. I thought it was important to try and tell the whole story.