The trial of the "Springfield 5" starts on Wednesday, Aug. 29 in Springfield, Ill.
The "Springfield 5" are members of the 85% Coalition who were arrested May 9 for disrupting a Senate Executive Committee Hearing by marching to the front of the hearing room and chanting "No, no, we won't go, until we have equality. We're your daughters, we're your sons, pass House Bill 101" after the Committee Chair announced that the gay-rights bill would not be heard.
The "Springfield 5" have been charged with criminal trespass to state supported land. If convicted, the activists each face a maximum of 364 days in jail and a $2,500 fine.
To prove criminal trespass, the state must demonstrate that the activists were told verbally or in writing by the Secretary of State Police to leave the Committee Room and refused. Police officers are the state's witnesses.
"Their reports contain outright lies," the group said in a press release. "They say that we were asked to leave and didn't. The truth is, we were flanked by several officers while standing and chanting. The officers said nothing to us and they surrounded us. When they grabbed and tugged on our arms we willingly went with them."