By The Beachwood Occupation Affairs Desk
“It never fails. The G8 or some similar international summit comes to town and local officials invoke something akin to martial law. They call out massive officer brigades, engage in surveillance and covert acts, and cordon off public spaces where protest is permitted so that attendees can be kept safe from the rabble. Now came Mayor Rahm Emanuel,” writes Timothy Zick, author of Speech Out of Doors: Preserving First Amendment Liberties in Public Places.
“[Rahm’s new protest ordinance instates] an increased number of surveillance cameras; closing of parks and beaches until 6 a.m.; parade restrictions and higher fees for parades and protests. The police supt. is also empowered to ‘deputize’ out-of-state law enforcement personnel experienced in handling civil unrest. If the past is a reliable guide (and I’m betting it is), these and other measures will lead to substantial limits on public protest, many lawsuits, and settlement liability imposed on the City of Chicago.
“This is not the 1968 DNC. It’s too bad we have progressed so little in terms of how we often characterize, and how officials treat, lawful protest activity. Before the first parade has hit the streets, the Mayor is seeking emergency powers and police are preparing to do battle with boots on the ground. It’s true that mass protests come with some threat to public safety. So do state fairs, holiday parades, and large conventions. But the act of public protest is not itself a threat. Chicago officials would do well to keep that in mind as they prepare for May.”
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Posted on January 20, 2012
