This is a pertinent part of an email I received from one of counter-recruiting participants at the Taste of chicago:

About 8 anti-war/counter recruitment protestors had gathered the first day of the Taste of Chicago before 12 noon on Friday, June 30. We stood holding a banner and signs and distributing a flyer across a driveway from the Army recruitment booth, which is located on the west side of Columbus Drive, between Jackson and Congress. About 1:30 pm the police arrived and told us we had to move from that location to one of two "designated free-speech areas" on Jackson Boulevard both of which would be out of sight of the recruitment booth. We showed the police a letter from the National Lawyers Guild dated June 16, 2006, and asked to speak to a Commander. About 10 minutes later Commander Keating arrived and emphatically told us that we could not hold signs or distribute the flyer in that location and if we continued to do so we would be escorted out of the Taste.

After some discussion among the protesters, we decided to put our signs down and tried for about 1 1/2 hours to contact a lawyer with the NLG. We were not able to talk to a lawyer who was in Chicago. We did talk to a legal worker at the NLG office and he said he would try to contact a lawyer. In the meantime, we stood in a line with our anti-war t-shirts and buttons and did attract a bit of attention. About 3:15 pm we were joined by 3 more protesters and most of the group felt that we were not effective so they decided to go to the "designated free-speech area" on Jackson Blvd., about half a block east of Columbus Drive.

I remained at the initial location as I felt that I did not want to recognize that the City could "designate free-speech areas" in a public place.

As I write this I have several concerns. By acquiescing to the cops' order, are we setting a precedent for future protests? One of the lower level cops said that the Taste of Chicago had leased the property from the Chicago Park District and since they had paid for the use of the space they could determine who could use the space. Many of the city festivals are on Park District property -- Blues Fest, Taste of Chicago, Soccer Tournament, Venetian Night, Tall Ships, Latin Music Festival, Jazz Fest (all of which are in the Grant Park area, I think) and the Air and Water Show at North Avenue Beach which I think is also Park District property. Also, at least one of the protesters who was present today had also been present at the Blues Fest when the police directed the protesters to the same location on Jackson Blvd. I don't know where the military recruitment booth was with respect to that location at that time Thus, we have acquiesced to the police's demands at least twice in the past month. Even though there was decent visibility at the Jackson location, I still think that we need to be near the military recruitment tent to be most effective.

Also, at least 2 companies (US Cellular and Brinks Home Security) were handing out cardboard fans which although not square in shape were about 8 inches x 8 inches and were held by a piece of wood that extended about 6 inches below the cardboard. So, some signs are allowed. Maybe we could make signs this size saying "No War" and "No to Military Recruitment" and use these to "fan" ourselves from above our heads. Also some individuals (a fortune teller, a clown, and a copper cowboy) were able to stand on the sidewalk, do their thing and accept donations.

An addendum from 'crazysane':

More on Chicago counter-recruiting

Several of us started bannering and leafleting at the Taste at noon, fairly near where the army had their recruitment tent and equipment set up. After about an hour the police, including Commander Keating, insisted that we stop our bannering and leafleting there and that we either move to where we were on Jackson and the Petrillo Music Shell entrance when we were at Blues Fest or we would be escorted out of the park.

We tried for a long while to contact various lawyers. And we also tried to vigil using the slogans on our t-shirts and hats, etc. and calling out to passersby, with a bit of success. But we decided after an hour or so to go over to the Jackson spot, on the curb for bannering and leafleting. I had to leave at 3.