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LOCAL News :: Civil & Human Rights

Lobby Daley For a Street Permit on March 20

While it's legal to march on the sidewalk, the March 20 Anti-War Organizing Coalition has asked the City of Chicago for a permit to march in the street. Mayor Daley says he opposes the permit because it will disrupt traffic -- even though the City shuts down Michigan Avenue every winter for a holiday lighting ceremony, and this month the City will close most of the Loop for the better part of a day for the annual St. Patrick's Day parade. Help us lobby Daley to change his mind.

March 20: Defend Civil Liberties & The Right to Dissent!

Tell Mayor Daley the sidewalk isn't good enough ... on 3/20, when we march against war and occupation -- approve our permit to march in the street! Email the Mayor at MayorDaley@cityofchicago.org, or see below for phone, fax and mail contact info.

On March 20, people from across the Midwest will march from Michigan and Pearson to the Federal Plaza to voice our opposition to war and occupation. That march will take us along one of the city's busiest corridors -- allowing us to get our call for peace out to as broad an audience as possible.

While it's legal to march on the sidewalk, the March 20 Anti-War Organizing Coalition has requested a permit from the City of Chicago for the street. Mayor Daley says he opposes the permit because it will disrupt traffic -- even though the City shuts down Michigan Avenue every winter for a holiday lighting ceremony, and this month the City will close most of the Loop for the better part of a day for the annual St. Patrick's Day parade.

Help us lobby Daley to change his mind!

The City of Chicago has passed two resolutions with Daley's support -- one opposing the war, and one opposing the PATRIOT Act, which stifles dissent and guts civil liberties. Yet opposing our street permit also stifles dissent, clearly privileges some forms of expression over others -- and comes in the wake of disturbing revelations about Chicago police spying on anti-war and social justice groups.

Last March 20, more than 15,000 peaceful protesters marched down Lake Shore Drive -- WITH police permission -- to oppose the beginning of the war on Iraq. But cops arrested over 700 protesters at Michigan and Chicago, deeply embarassing Mayor Daley and the City. Recent police spying has further tarnished the City's image. Mayor Daley should repudiate these wrongs by granting the people a permit to march in our streets.

Our goal this March 20 is to complete the march that the police derailed last year -- to highlight the importance of respecting dissent at a time when both the U.S. Government and local law enforcement agencies are undercutting our civil rights and basic liberties. We will march on the sidewalk if necessary -- although this will likely disrupt traffic even more, since it will take protesters much longer to reach Federal Plaza. But we're also calling on Mayor Daley to reverse his position and grant us the permit -- and ask that you join us in lobbying him..

Tell Mayor Daley to support civil liberties and freedom of speech. Call, write, fax and e-mail Mayor Daley to demand a permit for the March 20 protest. (See below for sample letter.)

City of Chicago - Office of the Mayor
Phone: 312-744-3300; Fax: 312-744-8045
Address: 121 N. LaSalle, Room 507, Chicago, IL 60602

Don't stop there. Contact your alderman and tell him/her to ask Daley to grant us our permit! Click here to find your Alderman or call City of Chicago Information by dialing '311' and ask them for contact information for your alderman.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: A PERMIT IS NOT NEEDED TO PROTEST!

It is legal for protesters to assemble and march on the sidewalk in Chicago. Chicago police have historically offered the street to protesters when numbers are large enough. The City's permit process for public assembly and marches is cumbersome and groups rarely seek permits to march, instead working out tactical logistics with the police on the day of the march. At a time when legitimate public protest is increasingly under attack, it is our right and our responsibility to deliver our message as broadly as we can, along the public corridor where our actions will be most visible.

Drop us a line at M20outreach@aol.com to let us know you've contacted the mayor and your alderman. We're including a draft for your letter, email or phone call below:

Your Name
Your Address

Date

Mayor Richard M. Daley
Office of the Mayor
121 N. LaSalle, Room 507
Chicago, IL 60602

Dear Mayor Daley,

I am writing to call on the City of Chicago to issue a permit for an anti-war rally and march beginning at noon at Michigan Avenue and Pearson on March 20, 2004.

At a time when legitimate public protest is increasingly under attack, it is our right and our responsibility to deliver our message as broadly as we can, along a public corridor where our actions will be visible. You have said a permit can't be issued for Michigan Avenue because it will disrupt traffic - but the City shuts down Michigan Avenue every winter for a holiday lighting ceremony, and the previous week the City will close most of the Loop for the better part of a day for the annual St. Patrick's Day parade. By refusing a permit for the March 20 march, the City is clearly privileging certain forms of public expression over others.

Chicago is an anti-war city. The City Council passed a resolution against the war before it began, and thousands of Chicagoans marched to protest the beginning of the war last March 20. Chicago is also on record as opposing the PATRIOT Act, which represses dissent and guts civil liberties. At the same time, the City was recently deeply embarrassed by revelations of Chicago police spying on peaceful anti-war and social justice groups. Support civil liberties and freedom of speech -- and grant the March 20 Anti-War Organizing Coalition a permit to protest this war.

Sincerely,

Your Name



Convened by the March 20 Anti-War Organizing Coalition. Get involved in organizing for March 20! For more information, email ccawr@aol.com, call 888-771-0874, check out 3-20 info at Chicago Indymedia, or check out our website (scheduled for full update 3/9/04).

Current March 20 Cosponsors: (list in formation) 8th Day Center for Justice; Action for Freedom; Adalberto Methodist Church; AFSCME Local 3506; AlbanyPark, NorthPark, & Mayfair Neighbors for Peace and Justice; Andersonville Neighbors for Peace; Bridgeport Neighbors for Peace; Campus Anti-War Network; Chicago Action Medical; Chicago ANSWER; Chicago Anti-Bashing Network; Chicago Coalition Against War & Racism; Chicago Committee to Free the Cuban 5; Chicago Islamic Center; Chicago Labor Against War; ChiRevNet (Chicago Revolutionary Network); Coalition for Justice in Palestine; Democratic Socialists of America; Evanston Neighbors for Peace; Free Palestine Alliance; Freedom Road Socialist Organization; Hammerhard Media Works; Healing Earth Bookstore; Hyde Park Committee Against War & Racism; Illinois Green Party; International Action Center; International Socialist Organization; International Solidarity Movement, Chicago Chapter; Islamic Association for Palestine; League of Revolutionaries for a New America; McHenry County Peace Group; National Boricua Human Rights Network; National Council of Arab Americans; Newtopia Magazine; Nicaragua Solidarity Committee; Northeastern Illinois University Anti-War Coalition; Northwest Suburban SUSTAIN; Not In My Name; Not In Our Name; Palestine Aid Society; Palestine Solidarity Group; Peace Pledge-Chicago; Peace Resource Project; People's Tribune/Tribuno del Pueblo; Prairie Fire Organizing Committee; Refuse & Resist!; Sangat-Chicago; Southsiders for Peace; Students for Social Justice.

 
 

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