Occupy Chicago Denied Permanent Grant Park Base After Meeting With City (PHOTOS)

Occupy Chicago protesters on Thursday met for the first time with city representatives and were denied their request to find a permanent demonstration base at the city's Grant Park.

Fox Chicago reports that Occupy Chicago further requested for all pending charges be dropped against the more than 300 demonstrators that have been arrested in recent weeks -- a request which was also denied.

A city Law Department spokesman described the meeting was cordial but noted that the city must enforce its laws, even as it respects protesters' First Amendment rights to free expression, according to the Associated Press.

"This movement is about building community, and for that to happen, we need a home," Occupy Chicago organizers said in a statement announcing the meeting. "We’re creating a forum for discussion, where grievances can be aired, engaging in the kind of constructive debate that no longer takes place in politics, or in the media."

Following the meeting, Occupy Chicago demonstrators dedicated a candlelight vigil during their general assembly to Scott Olsen, the former Marine who fractured his skull at the Occupy Oakland demonstration this week, an injury organizers claim police caused.

The demonstrators then appear to have attempted to occupy the Thompson Center, but were thwarted by state police who, according to the protesters' Twitter account, told protesters they would be arrested if they advanced beyond the sidewalk toward the building after being told to leave the premises. No arrests were reported.

"There is no where to practice free speech in Chicago," Occupy Chicago tweeted after they were asked to leave the Thompson Center.

On Wednesday afternoon, approximately 150 Occupy Chicago protesters, along with representatives from Coalition Against NATO/G8 War & Poverty Agenda, headed to City Hall to deliver a petition to Mayor Rahm Emanuel's office. A mayoral aide, not Emanuel, accepted the petition, which had been signed by more than 12,500 people asking that the demonstrators be granted a permanent base, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Earlier this week, Emanuel commented on the "Occupy" arrests and stated, "There's a balancing act. ... People have their first amendment right. It's protected and they're expressing their views. And I've expressed my understanding of those economic hardships while making sure the law is enforced." According to NBC Chicago, he has no intention of dropping charges against the protesters.

 

 

Comments

[f777982]

03:16 PM on 10/31/2011

I gotta laugh, not only at Rahm, but at most cities and elected officials who allow some very minor city ordinance to get in the way and actually over power a citizens right to free speech and assembly.

I have saw nothing in the Constitution which says a citizen can only speak out till 11:00 pm.
I have never read where free speech and assembly is subject to any safety code premised on the notion about what might happen, ie; a heater causing a fire or a generator being misused as in New York.

Think of the political conventions that will be happening next summer and the lengths elected officials will go to keep demonstrators blocks away in the official caged off areas so no notice is given to these citizens by media or elected officials?.

Presently, even if citizens wanted protest and speak out at private areas, the forces that be can stop them for being on the public right of way without a permit just getting to these private areas.

Is there not a judge out there who believes in our Constitution's right to free speech and sees that, beyond the prohibitions against making laws against free speech, that free speech rights are now a permitted activity, one that elected officials are now regulating.

[Anonymous85635]

06:06 PM on 10/30/2011

Since asking nicely did not work, time for more civil disobedience. It is an american tradition.

[gregory57]

02:12 AM on 10/30/2011

The republicans should support the "occupiers".

They could start complaining that the homeless and jobless are living in tents in the park because they can't afford their rent. I'm waiting for them to start calling them "obamavilles" kind of like they called people camping in the park during the 30's "Hoovervilles"

Maybe that'd be enough to get the occupiers off the steets!

[chrispychilla28]

10:42 PM on 10/30/2011

The problem is that most of the problems we are protesting happened well before Obama took office, AND it is CONGRESS who has stonewalled almost every piece of legislation Obama has tried to pass.

Most Americans are smart enough to realize that very little of the mess we are in is 100% Obama's fault.

That's we are protesting the source. the top 1%

[gregory57]

07:49 PM on 10/31/2011

The problem isn't really one of Dems vs. GOP.

The problem is the fact that both parties are only beholding to the "corporate persons" who fund them. Democrats are just as guilty as republicans. Your beef isn't with the 1% much as you may think it is. Your beef is with the system and the process that make the 1% so much more important than the remainder.

Think: Campaign Finance Reform.

[Shaddup]

06:08 PM on 10/31/2011

Yes, if we lived in some sort of imaginary world where past events had no result on the present day.

[bitsy79]

07:07 PM on 10/29/2011

Payday must be coming up for the trolls.

[corwin]

07:11 PM on 10/29/2011

"Winter is coming."

[dbrett480]

04:10 PM on 10/29/2011

It seems like the issue in Chicago (and other cities for that matter) isn't the protests, but the setting up of tent cities wherever the protesters feel like it. A compromise would be allowing people to protest wherever they want (within reason), but make them sleep elsewhere (like their homes).

[LiveMind]

10:39 PM on 10/28/2011

Sounds like Rahm is trying to bring back the authoritarian spirit of '68.

[rda1911a1]

07:50 PM on 10/28/2011

this OWS stuff is so last week can we move on to something less boring?

[LiveMind]

10:39 PM on 10/28/2011

no.

[bitsy79]

06:56 PM on 10/29/2011

For you, that would probably be reruns of "Full House."

[18pctofgdp]

02:11 PM on 10/28/2011

Bring them down to the military recruiting station and help them sign up for a hitch in a group that will allow them to transcend their immaturity.

[Paul Conrad]

03:12 PM on 10/28/2011

There are plenty of protesters who served in the military. You just won't see them getting interviewed on Fox News.

[corwin]

06:46 PM on 10/28/2011

The absence of data is not proof of data.Perhaps the best take on this is Fermi's Question. (Enrico Fermi was the supervisor of the first atomic pile. That's not a term for a very inflamed 'roid either But,you have managed to formulate a Conspiracy.Welcome to HP
"'Why,he thinks the boys are a passel of fools",Scarlett thought

[Philip DeVon]

03:50 PM on 10/28/2011

Tell that to the man who served two tours in Iraq only to come home and be put in critical condition by the oakland police for peaceful demonstration. Your a pig 18pcofcrp.

[williamina]

08:06 PM on 10/28/2011

Throwing rock and bottles at police is not a peaceful protest.

[artyman72]

01:40 PM on 10/28/2011

This really is kind of cool.......who would have known that Woodstock would spread like this?

[chrispychilla28]

03:48 PM on 10/28/2011

I'm pretty sure Woodstock was a music festival. Where the people of woodstock protesting against the 1%'s control of all legislation? I doubt it.

Where they fighting to get Glass-Steagall reinstated? No, because Glass-Steagall was working back then.

[artyman72]

05:37 PM on 10/28/2011

Good God almighty......you truly are brainwashed aren't you. Wish I could see you in about 10-20 years and see how your views have come 180.......you obviously haven't lived life much.

[clarkkentdlyplnt]

01:22 PM on 10/28/2011

During the Vietnam protest during the 60's we only had to face the government. These poor kids have to face the powers BEHIND the government. Good luck kids.

[artyman72]

01:42 PM on 10/28/2011

The government IS the problem......you are naive if you think otherwise. Not one single politician has to take a dime of influence...EVER. But we all know that isn't the case.......but since they are the last line of defense, don't you think it is foolish to focus only on the ones behind them?

[Philip DeVon]

03:51 PM on 10/28/2011

You make no sense. No politician will give a hoot what anyone says so long as the money tree is still growing in the backyard. OCcupy Wall Street!

[chrispychilla28]

03:52 PM on 10/28/2011

No, politicians are openly funded by hundreds of millions of dollars from campaign donors. It is then the duty of the politicians to "repay" those millions by passing legislation that favors those donars.

The 1% has controlled the legislation in the US for decades. 99% of the US public has no influence in writing legislation. Which is wrong since each person should have the EQUAL amount of influence.

POLITICIANS change over time, but those funding the politicians have remained the same, and thats why things have been going GREAT and uphill for the 1%, and the working class has been in a steady decline.

The FACTS speak for themselves. This downfall has been going on for 30 years, so how in the world can you find politicians to blame? What politician has been in power for 30 years?

[rda1911a1]

07:53 PM on 10/28/2011

yeah mom says look for a job if you can and she is glad you are off her couch

[LiveMind]

10:42 PM on 10/28/2011

You're projecting again.

[blake86303]

01:00 PM on 10/28/2011

Nothing to see here, folks..........pack it in, go home.

[Paul Kulon]

12:40 PM on 10/28/2011

OccupyChicago has now asserted itself against the State of Illinois! Last night Occupy was EVICTED from the THOMPSON CENTER which is state property! Does Quinn stand with 1% Rahm or with the 99%? Did GVNR QUINN order the ILLINOIS STATE POLICE to EVICT? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDUxons8GuY Follow one history of OccupyChi here --> occupythishert.tumblr.com

[PalaceOfWisdom]

01:24 PM on 10/28/2011

Quinn has already broken the state's contract with teacher unions by denying teachers agreed pay increases. I think he favors not waking any waves, which serves the 1% by default.