[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYQfJcRNwqM&w=420&h=315]Results of the City Council Meeting
Uploaded by MiloWolf on Jan 17, 2012
An impressive coalition of organizations — unions, anti-war, human rights, churches and neighborhood groups — held a press conference today (Jan. 17, 2012) at Chicago’s City Hall. They were protesting the proposed new ordinances against demonstrations targeting the upcoming spring NATO/G8 meetings here, but now possibly to become permanent laws. The press conference took place right before two key City Council committees were to meet to consider whether to endorse the proposed new ordinances, prior to their going to a vote before the full City Council tomorrow.
In this excerpt from the press conference, speakers include Eric Ruder, Coalition Against NATO/G8’s War & Poverty Agenda; Erek Slater, ATU 241 member speaking for ATU International Vice Presidents; Talisa Hardin, National Nurses United; Wayne Lindwal, SEIU 73 Chicago Division Director; Jesse Sharkey, Vice President, Chicago Teachers Union. For more info on fight against ordinance: (http://bit.ly/AntiLibertyOrdinance).
Produced by Labor Beat. Labor Beat is a non-profit 501(c)(3) member of IBEW 1220. Views are those of the producer Labor Beat. For info: mail@laborbeat.org, www.laborbeat.org. 312-226-3330.
Results of the City Council Meeting
from Fight Back News
“Sit Down and Shut Up” ordinances passed in Chicago City Council
By Staff | January 18, 2012
Read more articles in NATO-G8 Summit 2012
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following joint statement from the Coalition Against NATO/G8 War & Poverty Agenda (CANG8) and Occupy Chicago on the Jan. 18 vote by the Chicago City Council.
Joint statement by Coalition Against NATO/G8 War & Poverty Agenda (CANG8) and Occupy Chicago
At 12:30 today, Rahm Emanuel officiated over the death of the Bill of Rights in the City Council chambers. Ordinances designed to severely restrict First Amendment rights of speech and assembly were presented on December 14th. The stated target was to prepare to repress protesters during the summits of NATO and the G8.
At first, aldermen and the media all agreed that no one would oppose Emanuel on this.
In response to mayor’s attack on civil liberties, the Coalition Against NATO/G8 War & Poverty Agenda (CANG8) joined together with Occupy Chicago and several unions to unite our efforts to defend of civil liberties in Chicago. By last week, aldermen had felt so much pressure from constituents that they had to speak out.
Emanuel then moved to withdraw first one, and then another, of the most criticized pieces. Protests continued to grow; Emanuel retreated further; the protests mounted, and he retreated even further.
Finally, a version was reached that the council opposition could vote for, hoping that the movement would not condemn them. The final version is still a significant attack on democratic rights; its passage is a defeat for our movement.
The mayor has not achieved his true objective, though. Emanuel looks at the new Chicago he has inherited, with protesters in so many places, and he wants to put the genie back in the bottle. It’s not possible.
We have the right to protest against war, austerity, and inequality. Mayor Emanuel, you’ll see us in the streets of Chicago: our streets.
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