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LOCAL News :: Protest Activity

Two Arrests at Today's CTA Protest

Today's protest against CTA service cuts and rate hikes ended with the arrest of two local activists.
Today opponents of CTA service cuts and rate hikes gathered at Hollywood Park on the North West Side and planned to march to the house of Frank Kruesi, President of the CTA.

Members of the media and 25 protesters arrived at the 1 PM rally in the park and were told by Chicago Police that it is illegal to stage a protest march without a permit in a residential neighborhood. After a brief negotiation, the police changed their story and said marching in the neighborhood is legal, but no drums or banners can be used.

Then, without an additional order to disperse, two male protesters were arrested. The rest of the protesters then dispersed without marching to Kruesi's house.

The men are being held at the 17th district police station at Pulaski and Sunnyside. Police say they will be held for 4-6 hours and will not say what the men are being charged with.

If you would like to call and voice support for the arrestees, the station number is 312-744-8346 and the desk sergeant is Officer Grady.

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The Chicago Transit Authority is planning massive cuts to bus and "L" service as well as layoffs of over a thousand CTA workers. In December, under pressure from angry riders and workers, they agreed to delay the cuts for six months. The CTA claims that they need more money from the State government to continue operations, and are hoping to get that money when the new legislative session begins in Springfield. If they don't get the money, they have already said that they will go ahead and cut service, raise fares, and fire workers. They will dump their budget crisis on our backs.

At the same time that we'll be waiting longer and paying more for the bus, CTA and the city are spending billions of dollars on building the new Circle Line. When our night and weekend service is cut, we'll be wondering how to get to work, home from the bar, or from church, while Kruesi and company will be pouring money into the Block 37 superstation and express trains to O'Hare and Midway. While we're struggling to survive, the CTA board is increasing their own pensions and increasing spending on the office of President Frank Kruesi.

We can't stand around quietly at bus stops and train platforms wondering why the politicians and the union leaders aren't standing up for us. We've got to get together and fight for ourselves--at this point it's fight or walk!

NO CTA SERVICE CUTS!
NO LAYOFFS OR FIRINGS!
NO FARE HIKES FOR ANYONE!

www.midwestunrest.net/fightorwalk/index.html
 
 

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