Last month, the City Council passed an ordinance that requires anti-abortion activists to stay at least 50 feet from clinics and medical facilities that perform abortions, and 8 feet from anyone entering the clinics. In the 8 foot protective "bubble zone" anyone passing out materials, displaying signs, protesting or attempting to counsel someone without their consent could be fined $500.
On Sunday, The American Bankers Association begins a four day long convention that hopes to “rebuild our future, community by community.” The conference features a who’s who of financial celebrities including FDIC Chair Sheila C Blair along with conservative political columnist George Will and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. With plenty of power breakfasts, optional tours and fancy receptions, this year’s $1600+ convention is a must attend for anyone interested in hobnobbing with bailout beneficiaries.
As we listed in yesterday's "Extra Extra," seven protesters were arrested yesterday in the sales office of Cigna Insurance at 525 W Monroe. Participants of a nationwide campaign for single-payer health care called Patients Not Profits formed a small picket line outside of the office. Seven picketers then entered the building and demanded to speak with Cigna's CEO. When denied, they sat down in the lobby and chanted “patients not profits” and "Cigna is the real death panel" until they were escorted out by police.
And the funny thing is, the protesters are pro-gay. In reaction to news that President Obama will deliver the keynote address for LGBT org Human Right Campaign's fundraising gala Saturday, the Chicago-based Gay Liberation Network are planning to picket the event. They say "the time for talking is over" and want to see a little less conversation, a little more action on LGBT rights from the President.
Almost 200 people picketed City Hall last night to voice their opposition to the 2016 Olympic games in Chicago. Protesters hoped to send a message to Copenhagen - Chicago just can't afford it. “We're spending more money than we have. The city is spending millions while leaving workers out in the cold” said one demonstrator. Another protester, speaking from a megaphone, said “we're spending hundreds of millions of dollars on public displays of wealth that we can't access.” The boisterous crowd petered out around 7:00pm, leaving only a few stragglers behind. Later, six people were arrested for the banner burning, but, again, authorities have said they believe those six were not involved with the main protest.
Close to 200 union and hospitality workers were arrested on Thursday in front of the Park Hyatt Hotel while demonstrating their support for labor negotiations with major downtown hotels, and also showing solidarity for fired hotel employees in Boston. Those that were arrested decided to sit in the middle of Chicago Avenue as an act of civil disobedience. Almost 900 members of Unite Here Local1 participated in the protest, speaking up for the 6,000 downtown hotel workers that have worked without contracts since Aug. 31.
Some folks have had enough of the red light cameras that have grown across the area lately. Several dozen people gathered last night in Lombard at the location of RedSpeed-Illinois, one of the state's biggest red light camera providers, to protest these red light cameras.
A sit-in protest by Centro Communitario Juan Diego on the South Side this morning - protesting the installation of new parking meter pay boxes - led to a pair of arrests. Two women plopped themselves right on top of the site where LAZ Parking was trying to install the box and earned themselves each a pair of cuffs. The Parking Ticket Geek has the details and pictures.
Governor Quinn and Treasurer Alexi Giannoulis were among the democratic leaders at Federal Plaza Tuesday pumping up organized labor and liberal advocacy groups in support of President Obama’s health care reform proposal. Hundreds attended to unite against the current insurance system and build momentum for the president’s proposal. As no good rally is without counter-protestors, conservative activists like Eric Odom also made a showing, he told Chicago Breaking News: “We basically feel the legislation being pushed through (is) very dangerous”, and “We are really pushing for everybody to take a deep breath and really look at what we’re getting into and not just jump into something…that’s going to cost us for years to come”.
Amid the ongoing game of political football that has defined negotiations over how to close the gap in the city's looming budget hole, one voice has been remarkably absent: city workers who would bear the brunt of the mayor's economic sanctions. That silence was broken yesterday as SEIU Local 73 members descended on the city council meeting to vent their anger at both the city and the union. Workers are angry at the city for forcing layoffs on them, and at their union for not accepting furlough days. “We will take the [furlough] days. We will make the adjustments. But somehow people are demanding something that we haven’t demanded,” detention aide John Joynter told the Sun-Times. “We are not being represented by either the city or the union. We have not had a voice in any of this. It’s like we’re pushed aside.”
The international news of the last week has been filled with images and descriptions of the post-election turmoil within Iran. As tens of thousands of people in Tehran and around the nation filled the streets to protest what they believe is a stolen election, the American president has been remarkably mum on the whole affair. "The last thing that I want to do is to have the United States be a foil for those forces inside Iran who would love nothing better than to make this an argument about the United States," Obama said in an interview recorded Friday. "We shouldn't be playing into that."
312 Dining Diva is reporting that the parents of Grocery Bistro (804 W. Washington) Chef Andre Christopher have staged a boycott of the West Loop restaurant in their van outside the restaurant this morning.
Some good news for the Iranian-Americans hoping to protest in Chicago today. The City finally approved their permit and the rally will be held downtown in Federal Plaza at 4:30 p.m. this afternoon, according to CBS 2. Similar protests are happening in other cities today as well. We'll have pictures tomorrow, but be sure to follow along on Twitter using the "#iranelections" tag and our pals at @windycitizen for constant updates. [via Windy Citizen]
Yesterday, we mentioned a group Iranian-Americans who planned to protest the recent controversial election (which is being understated about it) with a rally downtown. But this morning comes a report from CBS 2 that the group had a parade permit denied by the city. No reason was given for the denial. The New York Times has a good running update on the situation in Iran.
We've spent the past few days marveling at the protests happening in Iran following the recent controversial presidential election. Now comes word that a local group of Iranians are planning to protest the controversy. From CLTV: "The Iran House of Greater Chicago says it doesn't necessarily care about the outcome, but just wants to make sure everyone's vote was properly accounted for Friday." No word on specifically what they have planned nor where the protest will happen. Click here for some amazing pictures of the protests. [via Windy Citizen]
We usually do something light-hearted for our daily diversion posts, but we'd be remiss in not acknowledging the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing. The total number of deaths has long been disputed with estimates ranging anywhere from 186 to 10,000, though the Chinese Government has officially said 241 died. Below is the iconic moment of the entire incident as well as one of the most lasting images of protest in history.
Since the Chicago Haymarket riot of 1886, May 1 has long been an internationally recognized day to celebrate and demand workers rights, with May Day demonstrators marching from Paris to Iraq to the U.S.
As hundreds of Chicago Police officers marched around City Hall in protest of the lack of progress in contract negotiations with the City, Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis addressed reporters on the protest and accusations of low morale within the department. Well, sort of. Weis said he supported the police union's right to protest but expressed disappointment with the timing: the protest happened on the same day members of the International Olympic Committee arrived to begin their on-site evaluation of Chicago as a potential host for the 2016 Olympics.
With the Fraternal Order of Police - the union that represents the Chicago Police Department - scheduling a very public protest over a contract dispute with Mayor Daley outside of City Hall the day the International Olympic Committee rolls into town, it was only a matter of time before Mayor Daley lashed out. Said Hizzonah:
Chicago's police union has made good on a threat to protest contract negotiations by picketing City Hall the day the International Olympic Committee comes to town for their final on-site visit for their 2016 evaluation. The Sun-Times is reporting that the Fraternal Order of Police will bus off-duty officers to City Hall for the 90 minute protest. FOP President Mark Donahue said, "[Hurting the city's Olympic chances is] not our problem. We’re trying to get the mayor’s attention." The Sun-Times compares the timing of this protest to a similar one in 2000 when police picketed City Hall four days before the U.S. presidential election; Mayor Daley's brother William headed candidate Al Gore's campaign in Illinois and the FOP had endorsed George W. Bush. [Sun-Times]
When the International Olympic Committee pays Chicago a visit in April, they'll be met by a large group of dignitaries and supporters of the Chicago 2016 Summer Olympic bid. But they'll also be met by a group of anti-Olympics protesters. No Games Chicago is saying they'll have a crowd of around 2,000 protesters for the 5 p.m. march from Federal Plaza to the Aon Center (home of Chicago 2016 HQ) on Thursday, April 2. Well, as along as they're granted a permit. One organizer, Bob Quellos, says he's received a permit to form in Federal Plaza already. Quellos voiced his opposition for the Games, saying, "We think it's the wrong priority for the city with the city crumbling." Chicago 2016 President Lori Healey didn't seemed to worried about the protests, saying, "While we respect the right to free speech, we have worked hard to ensure that our Games plan will have broad benefits for the city. Chicago's passion for sport has translated into strong public support for our bid." [Chicago Breaking News]
Hundreds turned up for yesterday's anti-war march to mark the sixth anniversary of the Iraq War. Demonstrators from more than 70 local organizations waved banners and flags calling for an end to the occupation of Iraq, opposing the deployment of more troops to Afghanistan, calling for peace in the West Bank and asking for an end to the "war" on immigrants at home.
Yesterday we brought you pictures of the Westboro Baptist Church protest at the University of Chicago and the University community's awesome counter-protest. Now comes some great video of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity holding a dance party as the Westboro protesters walk by their house. [via Videogum]
The infamous Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas hit up the Hyde Park campus of the University of Chicago yesterday, one of three protests the church had planned at the University. According to a report last month by Chi Town Daily News:
It wasn't that long ago that CNBC's Rick Santelli gave his memorable rant from the floor of the Chicago Board of Trade and asked for a Chicago Tea Party. In his rant, he called for the tea party in July, which makes sense as it's the sanest time of the year to go to the lake. But supporters of Santelli's position had another idea and last Friday gathered at the Federal Plaza downtown to protest the new economic stimulus package recently passed by the U.S. Congress and signed by President Obama. The divisive package has struck a nerve, particularly in terms of those opposed to the bail-out for mortgages. The protest, which happened this past Friday, was one of many across the nation including St. Louis, Atlanta, and Washington D.C. Below is video from Chicago's Tea Party.
STOP (Southside Together Organizing for Power) is holding a protest tomorrow morning to protest the closing of several mental health facilities and the city's 2016 Olympics bid. The organization is calling for the protest to begin at 10 a.m. in the lobby of the mayor's office (121 N. LaSalle - 5th Floor). According to STOP's website:
In what they claim is a move to improve academic performance, Chicago Public Schools have announced they'll be doing a major reshuffling of schools, including consolidating some and closing others altogether. A vote on the closings is expected January 28, though groups of angry parents are already planning a protest. WBEZ has the story here, as well as the break down of what's happening to which school after the jump.
For the third time in just a little over a week, a Pro-Palestine protest/march was held in downtown Chicago. Yesterday's protest began at Daley Plaza and then the march proceeded to the Israeli consulate on Wacker Drive. The protest was to show opposition to Israeli military action in the Gaza Strip. A counter-protest, supporting Israeli action and claiming any military strikes are aimed at Hamas, was held earlier Friday at the Federal Plaza.
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