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Benefit to rally support + funds for Chicago RTS arrestees |
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by RTS collective
Email: rtstreets (nospam) onebox.com (unverified!)
Phone: 630-536-2701 ext. 3858 |
28 Nov 2001
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This Sunday's benefit in Chicago will support arrestees at the RTS-Naperville action, a street party/protest held last July in solidarity with the Genoa G8 protests. 17 defendants – including three minors – have been (falsely) charged with a variety of felonies and misdemeanors – and the DuPage County prosecutor and local cops are out for blood. |
Support the arrestees of this summer’s RTS-Naperville action, a street party/protest held in solidarity with the g8 demonstrations in Genoa last July. 17 defendants – including three minors – have been (falsely) charged with a variety of felonies and misdemeanors – and the DuPage County prosecutor and local cops are out for blood.
Benefit Café for the Reclaim the Streets Legal Defense Fund!
SUNDAY, December 2, 5 to 8 PM
A-Zone, 2129 N. Milwaukee, Chicago (Blue Line to Western, walk north on Western to Milwaukee, and turn left on Milwaukee. The A-Zone is about 4 blocks north next to the Congress Theater.)
Sunday’s benefit includes an all-you-can-eat buffet of vegetarian and vegan food, only $4 a plate, plus screenings of activist videos.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, please call 630-536-2701 ext. 3858.
To donate to the Reclaim the Streets Legal Defense Fund, email rtstreets (at) onebox.com or write to Reclaim the Streets Legal Defense Fund, PO Box 3272, Aurora, IL 60504-0272.
BACKGROUND: WHAT HAPPENED?
Friday, July 20: Reclaim the Streets, an activist tactic of blocking a street both to protest and to celebrate the culture of resistance, made an appearance in Naperville, IL. The party was intended to empower youth while protesting in solidarity with the g8 summit demonstrations in Genoa on the same day.
The party began with a festive atmosphere. But as the party progressed, so did police violence. Partygoers brought a twister board. Police brought pepper spray, paddy wagons, and a SWAT team. The party quickly turned into all out protest when the police threatened the group with pepper-spray and arrests for standing in the street. Police exercised selective enforcement, never gave an order to disperse and prevented the group from moving freely in public space.
Within one hours of blockading the protesters, the cops began to make random arrests: first a seventeen-year-old, then a legal observer, then a medic. Fourteen adults and three minors were arrested over the course of three hours. Many arrestees were pepper sprayed before and some after handcuffing. Two arrestees were hospitalized after their arrest for injuries inflicted by police. Arrestees allege suffering strangling, sexual molestation, insults, threats, and other abuse at the hands of police.
Defendants face charges ranging from misdemeanor “mob action” and resisting arrest, to felony charges of aggravated battery, even though this street party was a peaceful assembly. One defendant faces a bench warrant with a $20,000 bail attached the next time she appears in court… due to the legal system’s clerical error. Legal bills may go over $15,000, and the Reclaim the Streets collective must scramble for cash to defend themselves.
WHAT NOW?
Support the RTS Legal Defense Fund by attending their benefit café on Sunday, December 2, from 5 to 8 PM, at the A-Zone, 2129 N. Milwaukee. We’ll also be showing activist videos. (To get there on the el, take the blue line to Western, walk north on Western to Milwaukee, and turn left on Milwaukee. The A-Zone is about four blocks north next to the Congress Theater.)
FOR MORE INFORMATION: please call 630-536-2701 ext. 3858. To donate to the Reclaim the Streets Legal Defense Fund, email rtstreets (at) onebox.com or write to Reclaim the Streets Legal Defense Fund, PO Box 3272, Aurora, IL 60504-0272. |
