Lawyers for the Chicago Police Department filed a motion last week in U.S. District Court that could have a "chilling effect" on the approximately 800 members of a class-action lawsuit, attorneys for the group of protesters say.
Attorneys from the People's Law Office filed a lawsuit against the police department, accusing officers of falsely arresting and detaining at least 800 individuals March 20, 2003, after a large peace march held the night the Iraq war began. Thousands hit the streets in protest.
Witnesses say police officers initially helped marchers by guiding them onto Lake Shore Drive but later marchers and bystanders were blocked in an area on Chicago Avenue between Michigan Avenue and inner Lake Shore Drive, preventing them from leaving. Hundreds were arrested, including the reporter of this story.
The lawsuit - which was granted class-action status in 2006 - stems from the arrests.
For this update story:
http://chicagotalks.org/wiki/city-s-move-may-chill-lawsuit-filed-by-protesters-lawyers-say
For a detailed story on the arrests and lawsuit: http://chicagocatalyst.blogspot.com/2007/08/public-peace-violation.html
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