On April 17, United State District Court Judge Virginia Kendall granted class certification to a lawsuit filed more than three years ago on behalf of 800 peace protesters who were falsely arrested on March 20, 2003.

Cops arrested protesters in the wake of their police-sanctioned march down Lake Shore Drive as part of an emergency mobilization to oppose the beginning of the Iraq war. Police encircled more than 800 demonstrators, tourists, local workers and shoppers for hours, taking many of them into custody and charging many with crimes — which were later tossed out in court. Read More | Read the class certification (PDF)

More information: Critical information for detainees! | Video from Chicago Independent TV — Where We Stood Documentary: part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | Lawsuit Update from March 2004 | National Lawyers Guild — Chicago chapter