|
October 22: 3,000 March with
Occupy Chicago Another 130 people are arrested by the city for asserting the right to protest
The Rally included Hip-Hop collective Rebel Diaz, union members, students, anti-war activists and people fighting for equality from the immigrant and LGBT communities. Members from UNITE HERE, National Nurses United, SEIU, Teamsters, Chicago Teachers Union and other union members joined the action. The nurses set up a medical tent in solidarity, and declared during the rally: "We will be with you all night, sisters and brothers. This is our park, we are here to occupy and we are the 99 percent." In yet another attack on Occupy Chicago's right to protest, the CPD mass arrested 130 people, including the nurses, who refused to leave Grant Park. Jailed protesters were denied food, phone calls and medication while they were in jail and some where held in cells without a sink for 24 hours. The city also arrested 200 people on October 15. At 11 pm when the order to clear the park was issued, ANSWER Chicago used its mobile sound in coordination with other protesters to set up a militant picket of many hundreds of people on the sidewalk that rings the park. "Whose Park, Our Park!" and "We Stand United, the Occupation is Not Leaving!" were chanted in solidarity. When the police announced they would also arrest picketers on the sidewalk, despite the fact that the picket was entirely lawful, the mobile sound was moved across the street, turned up full blast and pointed at the park. Moving the sound was successful in keeping as many people as possible at the action, including those who moved to the other side of the street to avoid being arrested, but wanted to stay and chant and help keep the protest going. The sound was also moved across the street because Occupy Chicago organizers asked that the sound be moved so they could better communicate in the park during the arrests. While the cops surrounded and barricaded-in the 130 people who engaged in civil disobedience in Grant Park, the supporting protesters were able to hold both sidewalks during the duration of the arrests despite attempts by the CPD to drive people away. A month later, Occupy Chicago is still fighting despite all the attempts by the city to divide and repress the growing international movement against the Wall Street billionaires. Martese Chism, one of the nurses arrested told the Chicago Tribune that despite spending a night in a cold cell and having her mattress taken from her, she'd return for protests next weekend. NNU Executive Director RoseAnn DeMoro said in a statement: "These arrests are disgraceful and unconscionable, and will not deter our nurses from continuing this mission, setting up the station again, and continuing to support the protests." People over Profits! Support and Join Occupy Chicago! The People United, Will Never be Defeated! |
          INFORMATION: 773-463-0311 |
