The Occupy Chicago arrests: Rahm Emanuel's 'dry run' for G8 and Nato?

[marmar]

The Occupy Chicago arrests: Rahm Emanuel's 'dry run' for G8 and Nato?
Never mind free speech, Chicago's mayor wanted to show protesters who was boss ahead of May's summits, says attorney

Bernard Harcourt
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 16 February 2012


The most interesting revelation from Wednesday's mass court hearing at the Daley Center in Chicago on the Occupy arrests – probably the single largest joined criminal case in the Chicago's history – was the suggestion that Rahm Emanuel may have personally ordered the arrests of the peaceful Occupy Chicago protesters back in Grant Park in October 2011. At least one of the affidavits submitted by Thomas Durkin, a lead attorney for the defendants, suggested that. As Durkin argued:

"This was Mayor Rahm Emanuel being Mr Tough Guy to show the world that they can come for G8 and Nato. It's as simple as that. There was no need to make mass arrests on this night. There was no need to show Mr Tough Guy. It was a show of force. It was stupid."

The evidence is starting to point that way. Shortly before 11pm, on Saturday 15 October, a police supervisor with rank told the Occupy protesters that they were going to be allowed to stay in Grant Park and protest, so long as they kept the volume down. It was actually an ironic moment when the "human microphone" started urging protesters, in its uniquely reiterative way, to be quiet so that guests in the neighboring hotels could sleep. It had a surreal element to it – but that fit nicely with the performative aspects of the Occupy movement.

It also matched the circumstances of the protest. The assembled group of about 700 protesters (down from 2,000 to 3,000 because of the looming fear of arrest) was entirely peaceful, well-dressed, and respectful. To any reasonable police professional, this did not call for mass arrests.

Protesters were surprised when, later, the Chicago Police Department announced that anyone who did not vacate Grant Park and walk across the street on Michigan Avenue (where the police appropriately exercised its discretion and allowed continued protest) would be arrested – which they were. They were then cuffed, booked, fingerprinted, detained in jail some for up to 17 hours, placed on bond with travel restrictions, and prosecuted in criminal court. ................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/feb/16/occupy-chicago-arrests-rahm-emanuels-dry-run

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. Durkin's a good guy and a very fine lawyer.

They chose well in picking him.

I suspect he will be busy after mid May.

[Bozita]

2. Chicago Buys New Riot and Aerial Surveillance Gear for NATO/G8

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002309982

[saras]

3. Damn, I miss sixties leftists