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#BlackLivesMatter protests, die-ins, marches sweep Chicago
Locality:
Chicagoans have taken to the streets to protest the effective acquittal of police officers in Ferguson, Missouri (in the Michael Brown case) and New York City (the Eric Garner case).On November 24, 2014, after the grand jury formally declined to indict police in the death of Michael Brown, protesters took to the streets across America. In Chicago, activists marched from Chicago police headquarters to downtown Chicago taking over Lake Shore Drive en route. On November 25, activists occupied City Hall. Then when mass arrests appeared imminent, the occupiers abruptly left to march to Tribune Plaza.
On December 4, 2014, another grand jury declined to indict police in the recorded choking death of Eric Garner, resulting in another wave of protests across America. In Chicago, activists launched waves of sit-in protests and blocked traffic on Lake Shore Drive in both directions.
The protests continued on December 13, 2014, with another wave of protest called MillionsMarch that saw considerable numbers. The Chicago protest -- MillionsMarchChi -- took over downtown Chicago with marches and die-ins; police repression followed, with about two dozen arrests -- including two on felony charges.
The protests are poised to continue and even escalate, with a number already scheduled for the week of December 15, 2014. Commentators are noting that the protests have put the national police apparatus in a crisis of legitimacy, which in a historic "critical juncture" may lay the groundwork for dramatic changes.
Chicago Independent Television marks 100 episodes, 10 years
Locality:
September, 1, 2014 marks Labor Day in the United States, and it also marks the debut of the 100th episode of Chicago Independent Television, the monthly TV program of Chicago Indymedia. The 100th episode debuts at 11PM on September 1, 2014 on CAN TV Chicago cable channel 19, with subsequent broadcasts on Free Speech TV on both national satellite networks (Dish Network channel 9415, DirecTV channel 375).Since its debut in January 2004, Chicago Independent Television has sought to offer a tangible alternative to mainstream corporate media pabulum, Chicago Independent Television is a video version of Chicago Indymedia — a venue for uncovered and undercovered Chicago-area events, expressions, and social movements, particularly those focusing on positive social change. In recent years, Chicago Indymedia has partnered with Chicago MultiKulti to continue and expand the work of Chicago Independent Television.
Additional Links: Chicago Independent Television: Archive 1 | Chicago Independent Television: Archive 2 | Chicago Independent Television on YouTube
The Chicago Tribune’s War On Dissent: Activists Respond
Locality:
On February 10, the influential Chicago Tribune published a lengthy and extraordinary editorial embracing police spying, entrapment and law enforcement tactics grounded in the billy club and the agent provocateur. The paper's beef? A jury had found three defendants innocent days earlier of bogus state terrorism charges in the NATO 3 case. The defendants' ‘crime’ -- assembling four primitive Molotov cocktails on the eve of protests to oppose the May 2012 gathering of NATO officials in Chicago -- was wholly initiated, incited and put into motion by two undercover cops, whose bosses admitted they colluded with federal authorities to create the case.
The Tribune's op ed was stripped, for all intents and purposes, from States’ Attorney Anita Alvarez’ vitriolic defense of her political prosecution of the NATO 3. Dozens of respected activists and groups came together to rebut the Tribune’s endorsement of state-sponsored spying, entrapment and the use of undercover police agent provocateurs to wage war on dissent -- a response that the Tribune has refused to publish. Instead, that full response is published here.
Beginning January 21: Support The NATO Defendants!
Locality:
After 20 months in jail, three NATO defendants -- Brian Jacob Church, Jared Chase and Brent Betterly -- finally go to trial in the coming days on trumped-up, politically motivated accusations and a ‘crime’ wholly created and instigated by undercover cops engaged in police entrapment. In the run-up to the May 2012 NATO meeting in Chicago, officials militarized the city and clamped down on the freedom to protest. A linchpin in officials' justification of that state repression was the arrest and demonization of the NATO defendants, just days before the biggest purveyors of violence in the world -- NATO officials -- gathered in the Windy City. Opening arguments reportedly scheduled now for January 21. Read more... Is Facebook working with Chicago cops to block you from posting about protests?
Locality:
From the newswire - The blog of the website Privacy SOS featured a blogpost headlined "Is Facebook going to let cops block you from posting about protests?", with a particular focus on the Chicago police. Quoting from the post:"Independent journalist Kenneth Lipp attended the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference [the week of October 24, 2013] in [Philadelphia]. Among the disturbing things he learned there is that Facebook is apparently teaming up with the Chicago Police Department to block people from posting to the social media website. More disturbing still is that this was disclosed in the context of a panel on law enforcement's response to "mass gatherings spurred by social media.""
Additional Links: Privacy SOS: "Is Facebook going to let cops block you from posting about protests?" | Kenneth Lipp: "Police Departments Works to Expand Capability to 'Shut Down' Social Media"
NEIU Professor's Court Victory Blocks Anti-Activist Use of Illinois Law
Locality:
In a victory for free speech, activism, and education rights, an Illinois appellate court supported the free speech rights of a Chicago professor after her university tried to slander her using an Illinois law intended to shield citizens from powerful interests.Loretta Capeheart, a professor of justice studies at Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU), defended two NEIU students who were arrested for antiwar organizing on campus. Capeheart was singled out for her activism, and was sued by NEIU officials using the Illinois Citizens Participation Act (ICPA). The ICPA was intended to protect citizens from being sued by powerful interests to force their silence, but NEIU sued Capeheart claiming the ICPA as its defense, thus threatening the very core of the law.
On September 16, 2013, the Appellate Court of Illinois, First Judicial District, sided with Capeheart, affirming her right to free speech and absolving her of court fees approaching $80,000. Activists in Illinois can likewise claim a win, since a defeat would have set a chilling precedent against grassroots political activism. Read press release | Read court ruling
Additional coverage: Academe Blog | Inside Higher Ed | Z Magazine
Previous Chicago Indymedia coverage: From The Trenches radio interview with Loretta Capeheart | Ozzie Guillen, Free Speech, and the Case of Loretta Capeheart
Whittier School Supporters Continue Struggle Amid Surprise Library Demolition, Arrests
Locality:
On the evening of Friday, August 16th, the years'-long effort to save the La Casita library at Whittier Elementary School in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood took a turn for the worse. With no advance notice, Chicago Public Schools authorities brought demolition equipment and a demolition order to destroy the library. Parents and community members staged an emergency blockade, which forced crews to depart for the night. Library supporters maintained the blockade overnight.But on the morning of Saturday, August 17th, CPS and demolition crews returned, flanked by Chicago police. A bulldozer eluded the blockade by destroying part of the surrounding fence away from defenders, opening a direct path to the library. Defenders stormed the facility once the fence was broken, but all of the defenders present at the time -- about a dozen in all -- were placed under arrest while a bulldozer destroyed the library, to the heartbreaking screams of onlookers.
Despite the destruction, the community immediately vowed to redouble their efforts. Jail solidarity efforts were organized for those arrested in La Casita's defense, all of whom were released. Community members staged a vigil to mourn the destroyed fieldhouse, and called for a new center to replace La Casita. City officials claim that the demolition "had to happen" despite eyebrow-raising circumstances like an apparently invalid demolition permit and the sidestepping of standard procedure.
Additional Coverage: Mayoral Tutorial: The Whittier Lessons | The Real News coverage of La Casita defense | Gapers Block: La Casita Being Demolished | CTU Net: Whittier, La Casita News Roundup
Diverse Coalition Protests Notorious Group ALEC in Chicago
Locality:
The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) "brings together major U.S. corporations and right-wing legislators to craft and vote on 'model' bills behind closed doors. It has come under increasing scrutiny for its role in promoting 'stand your ground' gun laws, voter suppression bills, union-busting policies and other controversial legislation. Although billing itself as a 'nonpartisan public-private partnership,' ALEC is actually a national network of state politicians and powerful corporations principally concerned with increasing corporate profits without public scrutiny." [via]ALEC will hold its 40th anniversary conference in Chicago on August 8, which an assortment of activist and civil society groups have vowed to protest. Indeed, activists have already staged a direct-action lockdown of the hotel hosting the conference. See video.
More information: ALEC Exposed | ALEC Watch | ALEC ties reveal extensive lobbying behind U.S. gun laws | The United States of ALEC | Corporate exodus continues from ALEC as secretive right-wing group's policies come to light
Photo Galleries: Diatribe Media | Flickr
Newer articles: Chicago Muckrakers: How big is ALEC's footprint in Illinois? | Bill Moyers: An Exposed ALEC Faces Mass Protest | Gapers Block: Why Did Chicago Police Attack ALEC Protesters? | Think Progress: How A Powerful Group Of Corporations Quietly Tried To Roll Back Clean Energy Standards, And Failed Miserably
Police Officer Connected to "NATO 5" Still Spying on Chicago Protests
Locality:
Truthout broke the story that an undercover police officer posing as a street medic has infiltrated Chicago activist efforts and protest events, including the anti-NATO actions of 2012 and recent actions against Chicago public school closings.Quoting from the article: "On March 27, Chicago teachers and their supporters - including parents, students and community residents - rallied against the largest mass public school closure in US history. News of the mobilization sparked huge public interest before the demonstration - including from an undercover police officer calling himself 'Danny Edwards.'
'Danny' - who admitted to us on May 6 that he is, in fact, a Chicago police officer - could have saved himself the trouble and his department the expense. After all, organizers had already coordinated directly with top [Chicago Police] brass about their plans for the next day and widely promoted their intent to stage nonviolent civil disobedience.
His latest undercover sortie as a fake volunteer street medic bookends a hectic year for him." Read more
Additional Links: Chicago Action Medical press release | Chicago Action Medical public statement | Photos of undercover cop spying on dissent in Chicago
NATO5 Arrestee Pressured into Guilty Plea After 329 days in Jail
Locality:
From the newswire: "Mark Neiweem, a 28-year-old Chicago activist, pleaded guilty in Cook County Court yesterday [April 11, 2013] to felony charges brought on by interactions with undercover Chicago police officers who had infiltrated activist groups prior to last May's NATO protests. Neiweem pleaded guilty to a probation violation charge from a previous conviction and to solicitation and attempted possession of an explosive or incendiary device. Neiweem, who had spent 329 continuous days in the appalling conditions of Cook County Jail while awaiting trial, will now serve out the remainder of a 3-year sentence in a state prison. He is expected to receive credit for time served and other reductions in the duration of his incarceration for good behavior."The politically motivated prosecution and abuse Mark suffered in Cook County Jail point to a degree of coordinated state repression and coercion which was physically and psychologically unbearable," said Rachel Unterman of the NATO 5 Defense Committee. Read more | NATO5 Support Committee