From a News Release
CHICAGO, IL — More than 10,000 people have joined a popular campaign on Change.org calling on Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to drop proposed amendments to Chicago City Ordinance O2011-9743 and O2011-9742, commonly known as the "Sit Down and Shut Up" Ordinance, that critics claim would limit free speech rights in the city.
Occupy Rogers Park and Occupy the South Side, a coalition of Chicago activists, launched the campaign on Change.org in advance of today's city council meeting. The coalition has also hand-delivered petitions to all fifty Chicago aldermen and organized call-in days.
Proposed ordinance amendments include an increase in minimum fines for parade violations, a curfew in public spaces, a requirement to pre-register "attention getting devices" like signs and megaphones at least a week before an event, and an allowance for the mayor's office to sign no-bid contracts with security companies for increased security.
"We believe that this ordinance is a direct attack on anyone in this city who might ever walk a picket line, attend a rally, or stand in solidarity with others in support of a cause" said Occupy Rogers Park representative Kelly Hayes, who launched the campaign on Change.org . "This measure is a permanent attack on public protests in the City of Chicago. The consequences of this attack will be far-reaching and felt by protesters throughout the city."
"What these concerned citizens have accomplished in just a few days is remarkable," said Change.org Organizing Manager Emilia Gutierrez. "The campaign launched this weekend, and already, it's gathered more than 10,000 signatures."
On Tuesday morning, Mayor Emanuel retracted certain provisions of the proposal, citing concerns from various aldermen.
Live signature totals from Occupy Rogers Park and Occupy South Side's petition:
http://www.change.org/petitions/mayor-of-chicago-stop-restrictions-on-public-protests
For more information on Change.org, please visit:
http://www.change.org/about
Change.org is the world's fastest-growing platform for social change growing by more than 500,000 new members a month, and empowering millions of people to start, join, and win campaigns for social change in their community, city and country.