Emanuel's heavy-handed, planned "Sit Down and Shut Up" ordinance. [View all]

[AnotherMcIntosh]

In anticipation of protestors, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel introduced anti-protester legislation. He initially sought to soften the impact of the proposed ordinace by saying that the ordinance would be adopted temporarily for the upcoming NATO and G-8 summits in Chicago.

Then, during a radio interview, he clarified that his proposed increased in punishments to inhibit and restrict free speech was intended to be permanent and would not only exist just during the time of the summits.

As explained from the Occupy Chicago website:
"This ordinance consists of a host of bureaucratic tools created by and for the 1% to relegate, abridge, fine, arrest, and silence our speech. It is an attempt to bully and intimidate with increased police power and fines the brave working people who demand the ability to participate democratically in the organizing of our society. It is an attempt, by the 1%, to restrict and regulate the voice of the people when it upsets the structure that put them in power. The timing of the ordinance demonstrates that it has nothing to do with public safety but that its sole purpose is to stifle the voice and trample upon the constitutional liberties of all the people of Chicago. It is the blatant criminalizing of any public assembly that does not serve the interest of the 1%. It is the handcuffing of democracy. Occupy Chicago condemns this ordinance and demands that they be revoked. Those who are on the side of the democracy of the 99% will stand with us."
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/01/09-3