Occupy Chicago Appeal Brief Filed

On Monday, September 30, a legal team from the National Lawyers Guild (NLG), including lawyers from People’s Law Office, filed a brief arguing that the mass arrests and prosecutions of Occupy Chicago activists that occurred in October of 2011 when Occupy occupied Grant Park should be dismissed. In September of 2012, Cook County Circuit Judge Thomas Donnelly issued an opinion dismissing the charges against 92 of the activists who were arrested, on the grounds that the Chicago Park District curfew prohibiting congregating in the park after 11 p.m.was unconstitutional on its face and as applied to Occupy Chicago.

The City of Chicago appealed the Court’s decision. We have now filed our brief with the Illinois Appellate Court, arguing that the curfew ordinance violates the constitutional rights of the Occupy Chicago activists who were arrested.

Because of the importance of this issue, involving the rights of individuals to gather in a public place to demonstrate against the government, we are requesting an oral argument in the case, which will be open to the public. The date and location of the argument, should it be granted, along with other updates, will be posted on this site.

View the Occupy Chicago Appeal