is this true?

[nonlinear]

Jason sent a message using the contact form at http://occupychi.org/contact.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-01-02/news/ct-met-emanuel-protest-permits-20120102_1_protest-rules-nato-and-g-8-future-demonstrations

[Bearhair]

Jason, are you asking if the news article is factual or is there something in particular within it that you doubt?

[Bearhair]

Jason responded:

The article itself. Can a protest really be classified as a parade? How doesn't this infringe on free speech and assembly if so?

According to the Municipal Code of Chicago, a parade is "any march, procession or other similar activity" regardless of reason.

The following is the exact wording:

"Section 10-8-330

(a) The following terms are defined for the purposes of this chapter, as follows:

(1) "Parade" means any march, procession or other similar activity consisting of persons, animals, vehicles or things, or combination thereof, upon any public street, sidewalk, alley or other public place, which requires a street closing or otherwise requires police officers to stop or reroute vehicular traffic because the marchers will not comply with normal and usual traffic regulations or controls. "Large parade" means any parade that is held in the "central business district", as defined in Section 9-4-010, and any parade that is anticipated to require city services exceeding $20,000.00 in value, to be adjusted for inflation in a manner specified by regulation.

(2) "Public assembly" means (i) a company of persons which is reasonably anticipated to obstruct the normal flow of traffic upon the public way and that is collected together in one place, or (ii) any organized march or procession of persons upon any public sidewalk that is reasonably anticipated to obstruct the normal flow of pedestrian traffic on the public way, but which does not meet the definition of parade set forth in this subsection."

AND

"Section 9-4-010

Whenever the following words and phrases are used in Chapter 9-4 through 9-103, they shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section: . . .

"Central Business District" means the district consisting of those streets or parts of streets within the area bounded by a line as follows: beginning at the easternmost point of Division Street extended to Lake Michigan; then west on Division Street to LaSalle Street; then south on LaSalle Street to Chicago Avenue; then west on Chicago Avenue to Halsted Street; then south on Halsted Street to Roosevelt Road; then east on Roosevelt Road to its easternmost point extended to Lake Michigan; including parking spaces on both sides of the above-mentioned streets."



Does this help?

Lora