Press Conference
11 am, Monday, June 16
Law offices of Attorney James Fennerty
36 S. Wabash, 13th floor, Chicago

Monday to Mark Next Round in Legal Battle to
Protect Anti-war Protesters’ Constitutional Rights

City spends millions to defend illegal detention and arrest of more than 800 peaceful protesters and bystanders at Iraq war’s outbreak in 2003, while plaintiffs file for summary judgment in bid to vindicate protesters’ constitutional rights.

CHICAGO – Attorneys and plaintiffs in Vodak v. City of Chicago will hold a press conference on Monday, June 16 at 11AM to outline next steps in their class action lawsuit against the City of Chicago for illegally detaining and arresting more than 800 peaceful protesters and bystanders on March 20, 2003, the day the U.S. government went to war against Iraq. The press conference will be held at the law offices of James Fennerty, located on the 13th floor at 36 S. Wabash in the south Loop.

Attorneys will present and provide copies of videotape documenting the false arrests and civil rights violations, including previously unseen footage taken by Chicago Police. Lawyers will file Motions for Summary Judgment against the City and the Chicago Police Department on Monday.

On March 20, 2003, in the wake of news that the U.S. government had begun bombing Iraq, thousands of people gathered in downtown Chicago at the Federal Plaza to voice their opposition to the war. Chicago police escorted demonstrators along a march route that took protesters onto Lake Shore Drive. But later, after protesters had exited the Drive near Oak Street, police illegally detained and arrested more than 800 activists at Chicago and Michigan Avenues without warning or justification – along with passersby, joggers and even members of the media.

It is well established under the U.S. Constitution that people have a right to march and demonstrate to voice their opinions – a right Chicago police denied to hundreds of peaceful protesters on the night of March 20th, 2003, and have repeatedly sought to deny since then. Some arrestees were held in custody for up to 48 hours and forced to attend up to five court hearings, although the City ultimately dismissed all outstanding charges and Chicago City Council members convened a hearing to document the police misconduct.

Yet the City continues to deny in court that the arrests were illegal and without cause, and has instead spent millions of dollars to hire the same private law firm, Freeborn and Peters, that defended notorious police torturer Jon Burge to defend the Chicago Police Department’s actions. And in a blatant attempt to intimidate activists and force them to pay police for their right to dissent, the City filed a counterclaim that would require protesters to pay the wages of police officers and the costs of the malicious police decision to falsely arrest them. Police prepared false reports that Plaintiffs had committed criminal offenses. Further, the police prepared false reports stating that a retired police officer, a crossing guard and an off-duty police officer who were not even present at the demonstration made unlawful arrests.

This unprecedented claim has never been used in any recent mass arrests at demonstrations, including the 1999 anti-WTO protests in Seattle, the 2001 Anti World Bank and IMF demonstration in D.C., the 2003 anti-FTAA protests in Miami, and protests at the Republican National Convention in New York City in 2004. The Plaintiffs Motions for Summary Judgment ask the Court to rule that the City of Chicago cannot proceed with the counterclaim against the Plaintiffs and to rule that the arrests were false.

Video Highlights From March 20, 2003 Anti War Demonstration for Broadcast

youtube.com/watch