The six were formerly charged with a misdemeanor city disorderly conduct violation; subsection D, failure to disperse. Under the law, if the defendants are found guilty, the maximum penalty for the charges is a $500 fine each and a minimum of $5 each, no jail time required in either case.

After almost a month of waiting, much to the surprise of the arrestees and the large community of supporters behind them (groups such as the National Lawyers Guild, ChicagOTRA, Code Pink, Partisans Defense, AFSC, Students for Social Justice, and Pacific Islander Asian American Ministries for the United Church of Christ have been rallying steadfastly beside them), they city has decided to move the charges to trial.

Initially unsure of what to expect, the picture became much more clear after lawyers for the city’s Corporation Counsel approached the defendants and their legal team -- Melinda Power, Robert Ludemann, and Jeffery Frank of the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) -- with a plea bargain offering them three months supervision and a fine of $25 each.

The defendants, after conferring with their lawyers, came to the conclusion that they would plead not guilty and asked the judge, Circuit court judge for Cook County Judge Marvin Luckman, to proceed to trial, opting for a jury trial rather than a bench trial.

“There was no question that we were going to plead not guilty. There is nothing that we are guilty of. If anything, the city is guilty for disregarding our constitutional rights and furthering harassing us in an effort to prove that they are right when they know they are wrong. So wrong,” passionately details defendant Crystal Wilson, a 22 year old Chicago native.

Under Chicago law, if the defendants in question do not face jail time if convicted guilty, the city will not provide a free jury trial, only a free bench trial. Despite the whopping $250 that each defendant will ultimately have to pay (many times on that same day) to go to a jury trial, the defendants decided collectively to bring their case to a jury.

“We decided to move to jury because we believe that this pertinent issue should be entrusted to the people of the city to decide. We do not trust the city, or anyone appointed by the city, to look at this case with a fair eye. The political significance of this case is huge, despite how minor the charges may appear. We are determined to fight for justice,” remarked one defendant who did not wished to be named.

“This fight is not just a fight for our freedom of speech, but the heart of the issue is that the Army and their puppets, the CPD, are abusing their already corrupt sense of power, by arbitrarily designating the law where they deem fit. I hope that the public does not loose sight over the fact that this is still an issue against recruitment and the military’s shameful abuse of power and their dirty, underhanded techniques of recruiting our youth.”

Asked why the city is pursing these charges with such a gung-ho attitude, Jeffery Frank responded, “I could only speculate why the city is pursuing these charges, but I do know that they have more than passing interest in it.”

Some believe that this case is only proof of the government’s ‘big brother’ attitude and could possibly set a precedent for future cases of similar circumstances.

Despite the speculations, most agree, the city’s case is ridiculous. “I cannot comprehend how the city justifies arresting a legal observer who was not even participating in the leafleting,” defendant and legal observer for the NLG, Don Goldhamer, who contends that he was arrested for merely standing there observing and taking notes.

As for the seventh arrestee, a young woman who works for an Environmental group in Little Village, her charges of two counts of misdemeanor battery were dropped because the complaining witness failed to show at the Aug 2 court appearance.

The Tasty Seven, as they are being dubbed, are fundraising for their trial. They have a week to produce $1500 between the six of them. Their money is due by their next court appearance, Tuesday August 8. If you are interested in making a donation or sending your well wishes and support, please contact:

American Friends Service Committee
637 S Dearborn Suite # 3
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 427-2533

Or

Email: ChicagoTastySeven2006 (at) hotmail.com