|
Comment on this article |
Email this Article
|
|
News :: Miscellaneous |
|
Police mum as group plans third rally |
Current rating: 0 |
by The RTS! Collective
Email: rtstreets (nospam) onebox.com (unverified!) |
03 Jun 2002
|
|
Naperville police are aware of the plans for a June 29 Reclaim the Streets gathering in the city but aren't discussing what they might do in response, Police Chief David Dial said. |
(From the Naperville Sun)
Naperville police are aware of the plans for a June 29 Reclaim the Streets gathering in the city but aren't discussing what they might do in response, Police Chief David Dial said.
"We're familiar with what's on the Web site and what's been said," he said.
This is the third year the group has planned an event in Naperville.
The first, in September 2000, drew a few dozen people on a wet afternoon.
On July 20, an estimated 200 people gathered on the downtown Riverwalk, starting about 6:30 p.m.
The evening was billed as a "street party" by organizers. As the crowd grew, some people played Twister on a homemade board, drummed, or passed out fliers on issues from animal testing to genetically modified organisms. Some held signs protesting the killing of a demonstrator by Italian police at the Group of Eight economic summit in Genoa, Italy, earlier that day.
Organizers said the group chose Naperville because the city ignores individual rights and is caught up in capitalism.
Police, using pepper spray, made 17 arrests: 14 adults and three juveniles. Most of the adults were charged with mob action and resisting arrest, both misdemeanors. One woman was later charged with battery.
Of the 14 adults arrested, eight were from the Chicago area, including three from Naperville.
Naperville police Sgt. David Hoffman said last year the arrests were because people didn't get out of the street when told by authorities.
Arrests occurred throughout the evening as the group moved back and forth on the Riverwalk, south on Main Street and eventually west on Aurora Avenue, stopping between the Municipal Center and Naper Settlement.
One of the people arrested was treated for a minor head injury at Edward Hospital, and another for an asthma attack. There was no reported damage to property.
Three or four of the court cases that stemmed from the July rally are still winding their way through the legal system. In some of the cases, the people charged were fined, ordered to perform community service and put on court supervision.
|
See also:
http://www.rtstreets.org
|
