FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kate Pearson

773-528-1701

"mailto:Chicago (at) October22.ORG">Chicago (at) October22.ORG

"http://www.October22.ORG/">http://www.October22.ORG

Free Speech Endangered by Fabricated Security Concerns,
Federal Plaza Rally was No Threat

October 22nd Coalition Calls on Feds to Rescind Permit
Ban

Following Monday's event at Federal Plaza, the October 22nd
Coalition to STOP Police Brutality is calling on the GSA
(General Services Administration) to immediately rescind the
permit ban, and will be requesting a meeting with the GSA to
discuss the issue.

The National Day of Protest rally in Chicago provided fresh
evidence that the GSA's "security" issues are a
smokescreen. The rally did not compromise the monitoring of
personnel entering the building by Federal marshals. The cement
barriers posed no problems for rally participants or to the
Chicago Police Department which was in charge of Plaza
security. No terrorists used the rally as cover to launch any
sort of attack. No one was infected with anthrax. There were no
arrests.

On the other hand, the day's events did prove that the
permit ban has put a chill on free speech. Many potential
participants in the rally, including victims of police
brutality, were intimidated out of attending because the event
had no permit. Thus the revocation of the permit did not mean
security was enhanced, but it did mean the right to free speech
was put in serious jeopardy.

A status hearing on the continuing lawsuit in federal court
challenging the GSA permit ban is set for 9am, Thursday,
October 25th in Judge Holderman's courtroom, #2141, Dirksen
Federal Building. In the aftermath of Oct. 22nd, plaintiffs
have withdrawn their demand for a preliminary injunction which
sought emergency relief in the form of a permit for the October
22nd rally. The lawsuit, however, continues to seek a court
ruling that the GSA permit ban in its entirety is
unconstitutional.

Co-plaintiffs in the lawsuit with October 22nd Coalition are
the Chicago Anti-Bashing Network, Chicago Committee to Free
Mumia Abu-Jamal and Refuse & Resist!-Chicago.

The National Day of Protest to STOP Police Brutality,
Repression, and the Criminalization of a Generation was an
overall success nationwide, with events held in over 40
cities.

###