The city of Chicago awarded the first protest permits for the upcoming G8 and NATO conferences to demonstrators today. However, there are some serious strings attached. The city is now claiming that the parameters and regulations of the permit are ultimately determined by the federal government. The lead organizer of the NATO/G8 Working Group in Chicago, Joe Iosbaker, has reported that the permit application process will be scrutinized by the Secret Service and that they may allow a protest in the location and a march on the route approved by the city….or they may not. It all depends on the “security perimeter” that is assembled around McCormick Place Convention Center. Also, there is a second “security perimeter” set up around five major hotels on Michigan Avenue where many officials and heads of state are expected to stay.
“If they establish something egregious like a one mile perimeter around each of those [places], that would eliminate protest from 31st St to North Ave,” says Iosbaker. “I don’t want to say that is what is going to happen but we fear they are going to use their national security event status to suspend the Constitution.”
The permit that was given allows for a rally at Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago on Saturday May, 19th at 1:30 pm, a march from the plaza to McCormick Place and, according to Iosbaker, a “30-minute closing rally on a dead end street adjacent to the back entrance to one of the buildings at McCormick Place.”
In addition, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has proposed that two new ordinances be put in place, both of which would put significant restrictions on any First Amendment activities. The changes, if approved by a vote in the City Council, will impose draconian-like limitations regarding how you are “allowed” to demonstrate your freedom of speech and peaceful protest. Since December of last year, the groups protesting the G8/NATO presence in Chicago have been rallying major opposition to Emanuel’s ordinances. So much opposition, in fact, that the mayor was forced to “revise” the language used in the ordinances. But of course, if you look at the revised text, much of the same language exists.
“Every march application would require “a description of any recording equipment, sound amplification equipment, banners, signs, or other attention-getting devices to be used in connection with the parade.” So march organizers would have to accurately describe every sign, banner, bullhorn – months in advance – or be subject to fines under the new ordinance.
The minimum fine in the new proposal would “only” quadruple, from $50 to $200, as opposed to increasing 20-fold in Rahm’s original proposal. The maximum fine would remain at $1000, with a possible 10 days jail time as well.
All of the odious anti-”public assembly” provisions remain in the new version of the ordinance, so once again, Occupy Chicago meetings, union pickets and other sidewalk activities could be punishable if Rahm’s revised ordinance proposals go through.”
The new document would also go on to designate “virtually every march in the downtown area” as a “large march,” which basically means that protest organizers would be required to have $1 million in insurance to cover any costs of city services that may be used to contain, control or suppress the protest. “No permit shall be issued until the parade organizer provides proof of the insurance,” and later in the ordinance, “At least one week prior to the scheduled parade, the parade organizer shall furnish to the commissioner documents demonstrating compliance with the insurance requirement.”
Also stated in the ordinance, if “a sufficient number of on-duty police officers, or other city employees authorized to regulate traffic” are not available, a permit can be “nixed” or nullified. Further required is for organizers to provide the city with “a description of any recording equipment, sound amplification equipment, banners, signs, or other attention-getting devices to be used in connection with the parade at least one week in advance of the march.” And, protest organizers would have to additionally “report contingents in the march and the order in which they would appear would have to be registered at least a week in advance with the City.” If not registered properly, protest organizers could be fined up to $1000. This means, as Iosbaker says, “forgetting to say the Workers’ World Party is coming could cost you” big time.
The ordinance would then require “one [parade] marshal for every 100 participants.”
Finally, as if it weren’t draconian enough, the rewrite of the parade ordinance includes a provision that grants the city’s Department of Transportation the power to propose rules and implement them.
The two ordinances are scheduled for markup in two City Council committees on Tuesday, January 17th. The Committee on Special Events, Cultural Affairs and Recreation is in charge of overseeing the ordinance that would set requirements for parade permits and public assemblies. The Committee on Budget and Government Operations will be covering a second ordinance that would allow no-bid contracts, the deputizing of “law enforcement,” and increase the fines for “resisting arrest.” The ordinances are then likely to come up for a vote on Wednesday, January 18th.
I will continue to post updates as they come in. Follow the Coalition Against the NATO and G8 War & Poverty Agenda (CANG8) for further information on the protest.
