Chicago City Council gives Rahm authority to clamp down on free speech during G-8 and NATO summits

[marmar]

[font size="1"]Protesters shout "shame" outside City Council chambers Wednesday after aldermen approved Mayor Rahm Emanuel's proposals for May's G-8 and NATO summits[/font]


By Kristen Mack and Hal Dardick, Chicago Tribune reporters
9:23 p.m. CST, January 18, 2012


Mayor Rahm Emanuel easily won approval Wednesday for two measures that will tighten parade rules, increase fines for violating the restrictions and give him unfettered power to spend money on two international summits coming to Chicago in May.

Only a handful of the 50 aldermen voted against giving Emanuel the authority, citing concerns the new ordinances would stifle dissent.

Whether the city's tougher regulations and penalties will prove effective in the face of the hard-core anarchist protesters who have shown up at past G-8and NATO summits remains to be seen. It's been more than 30 years since a city has hosted the overlapping meetings of world leaders.

If the emotions displayed by demonstrators at City Hall are any indication of what the city can expect May 19-21, it may prove difficult to confine protesters to the new limits. The protesters who packed City Council chambers and dozens who were left to listen in the hallway said the mayor's new rules amount to telling them to "sit down and shut up." ...............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-city-council-g8-nato-0119-20120119,0,4109069.story

[Scuba]

1. And just where does the Chicago City Council think they got this authority that they gave away?

[KharmaTrain]

2. From The People Of Chicago...

as they are all elected officials and almost everyone is a Democrat.

There's concerns that Chicago could turn into a Seattle with outsiders coming to town to make trouble. Peacefull protests not only will be permitted but supported by many Chicagoans. Disruptions where traffic is snarled, store windows broken or other trouble, that's another story...that falls under matters of safety for Chicago citizens and this is what the city council is responsible for.

[Scuba]

3. The article refers to clamping down on free speech, not crime.

[KharmaTrain]

4. It's Dealing With Protests That Turn Violent...

That's a major concern...and should be. It's a matter of public safety...especially for people who are caught in the middle...people trying to do their jobs. Peaceful protests will be permitted and will happen. When your "free speech" turns into a rock through my store window or disrupts the lives of people who have no dog in this fight, then a line has been crossed.

I'm not in favor of this meeting taking place in my home town, but since it is, I want to see it as peaceful as possible.