Patterson's testimony in anti-war protest sought

December 6, 2004

BY NATASHA KORECKI Staff Reporter Advertisement

Former Death Row inmate turned community activist Aaron Patterson now has another legal matter on his plate besides his recent arrest on weapons and drug charges:

Chicago officials want to ask him about his role in an anti-war protest last year that shut down Lake Shore Drive -- a request Patterson's lawyer called "a fishing expedition."

The city is interested in Patterson because of a wrongful-arrest lawsuit filed by protesters against police. He was the last speaker during a rally at Federal Plaza on March 20, 2003, and told the crowd to start what city lawyer Richard T. Sikes called an "unpermitted march."

Shortly thereafter, hundreds of people marched through the Loop and shut down Lake Shore Drive for two hours during the mid-afternoon rush. Patterson was not arrested in the incident.

Still, "we think Aaron Patterson has relevant information," Sikes said. "We want to know why he gave those instructions. If someone told him to give those instructions, we want to know who that is."

Joey Mogul, who represents the protesters, accused city officials of wanting to harass Patterson because of his multimillion-dollar wrongful conviction lawsuit against fired police Cmdr. Jon Burge and the city. Patterson was pardoned in January 2003 after spending 17 years behind bars.

"Their motivation is to harass him and get two depositions out of Aaron Patterson," Mogul said. "I do think they want to repeatedly ask him about other incidents he's involved in, including his torture case."

After his release, Patterson became a community activist. He often spoke at rallies, took part in protests and even made a failed run for state representative.

But in August, Patterson was arrested on federal weapons and drug charges. He is being held pending trial in the Metropolitan Correctional Center downtown.

The protesters are claiming police were corralling hundreds of people and making hundreds of unwarranted arrests without warning. They say they were unlawfully detained without charges and mistreated while they were jailed.

Charges and countercharges
The city has filed a counter-claim, charging that protesters were aggressive and unruly, marched without a permit and cost the city money because of the additional police force necessary to control them.

Sikes said he is not laying the blame on Patterson for the march.

"I may someday blame Aaron Patterson for it," Sikes said. "But I'm not doing that now."