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Bicyclists save your rights - stop the anti-protest ordinances now!

Bicyclists save your rights - stop the anti-protester ordinances now!

Mayor Emanuel has proposed two ordinances to change the city code to pre-emptively impede protests at the G8 and NATO meetings coming this spring.  There are very good reasons every Chicagoan should oppose this set of ordinances - it's a violation of civil rights, it's unnecessary, lack of oversight, etc. - but for us cyclists there is a very specific one: it will turn lakefront bike riders into criminals/outlaws by forbidding us to right during certain periods during the meetings.

Now is the time to tell your alderman to OPPOSE these ordinances.  Committee meetings will be tomorrow (Tue, 1/17), and a full council vote is expected on Wednesday (Wed, 1/18).   Call or email now - do it TONIGHT!  For your convenience here are the north side rookie aldermen - if you recognize yours, contact him or her as soon as possible tell them to stand up for our rights:

Ward 1: Proco Joe Moreno, (773) 278-0101, ward01@cityofchicago.org
Ward 32: Scott Waguespack,(773) 248-1330, info@ward32.org, http://www.Ward32.org
Ward 36: Nicholas Sposato,(773) 836-0036, http://aldermansposato.com
Ward 43: Michele Smith, (773) 348-9500, yourvoice@ward43.org, http://www.ward43.org
Ward 45: John Arena, (773) 286-4545, ward45@cityofchicago.org, http://ward45.org
Ward 47: Ameya Pawar, (773) 868-4747, info@chicago47.org, http://www.chicago47.org
Ward 48: Harry Osterman, (773) 784-5277, harry@48thward.org, http://www.48thward.org
Ward 50: Debra L. Silverstein, (773) 262-1050, info@50thwardchicago.com, http://50thwardchicago.com

If you don't see your alderman listed, go here to the their contact info at: http://chicago.legistar.com/People.aspx.  

Don't know your alderman?  Go here: http://tinyurl.com/chiwardlkup

This article has more info including links the important committee webpages which have meeting details: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andy-thayer/why-emanuels-proposed-ant...

And here's some other coverage:
http://afsc.org/event/stop-rahm-emanuels-anti-protester-ordinances
http://chicago.indymedia.org/newswire/display/95586/index.php
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/9970412-418/city-local-taxpayers...

Power to the people!
Kevin Anderson

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I wrote my alderman (Arena) and received a response from his office this morning saying my comment would be included in his briefing materials for the meeting.   

Any updates on how it went?

Our rights are becoming a joke - you have the right to protest...but only if you can do it in less than two hours.

From an e-mail forward that crossed my inbox just now:

From: Keeanga Taylor a href="https://www.fastmail.fm/mail/?MLS=MR-**f5174364u320863*;MSS=;SMB-CF=5174364;SMR-PT=;SMR-UM=f5174364u320863;UDm=8770;Ust=d276e773.935b41a0;MSignal=MC-FN*U-1*keeangataylor2008%40u.northwestern.edu">keeangataylor2008@u.northwestern.edu>
Date: January 17, 2012 3:02:44 PM CST
To: Keeanga Yahmatta Taylor a href="https://www.fastmail.fm/mail/?MLS=MR-**f5174364u320863*;MSS=;SMB-CF=5174364;SMR-PT=;SMR-UM=f5174364u320863;UDm=8770;Ust=d276e773.935b41a0;MSignal=MC-FN*U-1*keeanga%40u.northwestern.edu">keeanga@u.northwestern.edu>
Subject: EMERGENCY CALL -- Tomorrow, STOP Rahm's "Sit Down & Shut Up Ordinances" – Please forward widely!

                                                                    *********Please forward widely!***********

EMERGENCY CALL -- Tomorrow, STOP Rahm's "Sit Down & Shut Up Ordinances"

7:30 AM, 121 N. LaSalle Street
 
Tomorrow the City Council is scheduled to vote on Mayor Rahm Emanuel's notorious anti-protester bills -- dubbed the sit-down-and-shut-up ordinances.  If passed, these ordinances would severely restrict the 1st Amendment in our city – virtually outlawing protest.
 
A huge ad hoc coalition of labor unions, community activists and others has risen up against these proposed ordinances, forcing Emanuel to put his spin machine into high gear, allegedly making major changes in the bills.
 
Don't believe the hype. 
 
The aldermen in both this morning's and afternoon's committee meetings were not allowed to read the text of that which they voted on.  The mayor has repeatedly misrepresented this legislation to the point where he has lost all credibility.
 
Schedule of Actions at City Hall (121 N LaSalle Street):
 
7:30 AM – Gather to pack the city council meeting (2nd floor) to make our voices heard before it's too late. (Overflow in 3rd floor viewing room, bring [concealed] signs!)
 
9:00 AM – Protest the proposed jail time for free speech with Occupy Chicago in the hallway.
 
Don't let Mayor 1% jam this anti-democratic, unconstitutional legislation down our throats!  Defend the 1st Amendment for the 99%, not just the 1%!

The ordinances passed both committees, but not without the mayor backing down some:  http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-emanuel-summits-201....  The changes weren't given to the aldermen to vote on until shortly before their vote, and it's unclear to me how much of an improvement it is.  The full council is expected vote for the ordinances today.

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