Susan Gaertner, prosecuting attourney for the RNC8, a group charged with the "crime" of helping to coordinate a demonstration against the Republican National Convention in 2008, received an award from the ABA in downtown Chicago. A group of RNC8 supporters were there to greet attendees with leaflets, information and discussion.
Update: RNC-8 Support - Susan Gaertner ABA Award Picket in Chicago
July 31, 2009 5-8pm
The picket against Susan Gaertner, the prosecutor of the RNC 8, was relatively successful. There were up to a dozen people at a time, with an attendance of 15 people total. Two of these were IMC videographers, and two were sympathetic attorneys.
Our banner read "Justice Means Drop The Charges on the RNC8." People also brought signs reading "Hands Off The RNC8", "Susan Gaertner, RNC8 is Everywhere", and "Susan Gaertner, Drop All Charges, RNC8."
Reaching and Talking to Attendees: This aspect of the demonstration went very well. About 60% of Susan Gaertner’s peers attending the award ceremony took fliers. We had many conversations, and generally the exchanges were pleasant and approachable. A few attendees expressed that they were friends with Gaertner, but were sympathetic with our side. We encouraged them to reason with their friend. One women came out several times for a smoke, and reported that Susan Gaertner was there with heavy security around her and had already received her award. Apparently, their fearful minds were expecting something different from us, and without good reason... what a surprise.
Cops and Fliers: The CPD posted two cops with us, and a lieutenant also visited a couple of times. When we got there, the cops wanted people to keep back from the entrance 20 feet in either direction. This would have forced demonstrators to have to shout to communicate with event attendees, and also restrained us from handing out our fliers. Several demonstrators negotiated with the cop on these maters. They pointed out that the first amendment is not limited to allowing us within sight and sound; it allows us to distribute handbills and converse with attendees on the sidewalk. The officer was was unwavering and began to threaten to end the demonstration altogether, though the visiting lieutenant was more accommodating. We were forced to offer fliers to vehicular arrival attendees from a distance, though many still took them. We also talked to those coming in on foot, as they had to pass through demonstrators to reach the entrance.
Chicago Protest of Susan Gaertner |