Template letter to the City of Chicago

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The Civil Liberties Defense Committee is working on a public campagin to build support around the case of those who were arrested in Grant Park with Occupy Chicago. 

This is a draft of a letter that can be modified to be from any citizen, union, politicans who want our support (you may not get it, but show us that we have yours!), and who and whatever else.

Any feedback will be welcomed.  This letter is a modified version of the CLDC General Statement, which was officially endorced by the OC General Assembly.

 

To the City of Chicago:

I (we) write to voice our solidarity with those members of Occupy Chicago who were arrested on October 16th and 23rd in Grant Park.

These persons were charged with violating a Chicago Parks ordinance.  I (we) do not believe these arrests to be in the interest of “public safety,” as the Chicago Police Department and Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office claim. These arrests were purely political. They demonstrate the mayor’s fear of dissent, his commitment to preserving the status quo and to limiting the First Amendment rights of all people to peaceably speak and assemble.

The implications if any citizens are convicted for exercising their first amendment rights would be widespread. I (We), as a United States citizen(s), refuse to allow constitutional rights to be denied.  What some may try to spin as an insignificant situation seems that it could be the beginning of something much more serious.

I (We) recognize that not only do these protesters have the right to voice their dissent in a peaceful manner in a public space, but that the money that has been and will be spent on these arrests and hearings is an inappropriate means of funds distribution.  This is especially true in regards to the dramatic slashing of public services that was recently approved as next years city budget as proposed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

First Amendment rights do not end at 11 pm.

In solidarity with Occupy Chicago,
YOUR NAME HERE
 

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