Its Lennys Fault

Today (1/18/2012) the city of Chicago passed a new ordinance restricting protesters and parades within city limits under the guise of increasing public safety for the upcoming Nato / G8 summits. The truth is that Rahm Emanuel used a typical fear mongering tactic to push through a new law that he can use to gag the people of this city while he steals their public services, jobs, and livelihood. If you truly believe that this has anything to do with "public safety" you have clearly been drinking the kool-aid.

First of all, violent / dangerous protesters are just that violent and dangerous. There are plenty of laws in place to deal with people who hurt others or destroy property. The people willing to do illegal / harmful acts are not going to care in the least about an extra fine. If someone is willing to chance prison and felony conviction a city ordinance isn't going to have any impact on their choices. However, it will work to stifle the voices of peaceful protesters.

To be clear, I believe adding any red tape to the 1st amendment, which these ordinances clearly do, is an example of abridging the freedom of speech and as such wholly unconstitutional. As if that wasn't bad enough in itself, it is also abundantly clear that these ordinances have little to do with the Nato / G8 summits, regardless of what the mayor would like you to believe. The people protesting Nato / G8 still have 4 months to plan, acquire permits, etc before Nato / G8. I don't think the protesters that are “the reason for these ordinances” will have much trouble working within them (despite the fact that they shouldn't have to). However, everyday people who may want to protest, for example, a school closing, cutting funding for hospitals, job cuts, unfair worker treatment, etc will have a much harder time complying with these new ordinances.

Introducing an ordinance that stifles dissent at a time when the city is cutting funding to schools, medical facilities, the library, etc seems all too convenient. It is obvious to me that this ordinance targets primarily honest law abiding citizens who want to exercise their RIGHT to show their disapproval. Probably worst of all is the fact that these ordinances target people financially. This is a huge concern since the people of our poorest neighborhoods are the same people who are losing their schools, hospitals, and jobs. They are the same people who have the most reason to protest. Do you honestly believe that it is a coincidence that they are the ones most stifled by this new ordinance?