G-8/NATO Ordinance
On Wednesday, January 18, the City Council voted to approve Mayor Emanuel's Parade and Public Assembly ordinance. I know this ordinance raised a lot of apprehension and I shared a good number of those concerns. I believe the Mayor's Office listened to those issues and compromised on some important concessions, including keeping the fines for resisting arrest at their current level. There has been some heated debate as of late to what the new parade ordinance means.
Click here for Facts about the Parade Ordinance:
Parade_Ordinance_Facts.pdf (157 KB)
As you can read, the ordinance will not take away anybody's right to protest peacefully on the public way nor does it require protestors to get City approval for signs, banners or sound equipment. With this ordinance, the City allows protest gatherings to change into a parade without an application, as long as the police commander is able to manage public safety. Ultimately, it makes some important clarifications and improvements to the existing ordinance in preparation for two large and important global events that are coming to our City.
Click below to read the amended ordinance: