Unprecedented Illinois Terrorism Indictments Expected Tuesday in NATO Protest Cases
State’s Attorney has yet to provide important evidence, like police reports, search warrant, and affidavit

Chicago, IL — Three young men arrested in a Chicago house raid in advance of last month’s NATO demonstrations are expected to be indicted this Tuesday in a highly controversial case involving infiltration and never-before-used Illinois state terrorism charges. The three defendants, Jared Chase, Brent Betterly, and Brian Jacob Church, were charged with material support for terrorism, possession of an incendiary device, and conspiracy, and have been held on $1.5 million bond for nearly a month as they await trial. The State’s Attorney has made numerous allegations, but has so far produced no physical evidence of criminal activity, not even the search warrant or affidavit of probable cause.

What: Expected indictment of so-called NATO 3

When: Tuesday, June 12th at 11:30am

Where: Cook County Courthouse, 2600 S. California, Room 101

“For the city to use such sensational charges in this way, before a national political demonstration, hiding the evidence and not indicting for a month after the arrests is indefensible,” said National Lawyers Guild (NLG) attorney James Fennerty. “These activists are sitting in jail on prohibitively high bonds while the state tries to piece together its case, keeping everyone in the dark.”

It was discovered shortly after the May 16th Bridgeport house raid, in which nine activists were arrested, that the City of Chicago had used infiltrators. Two individuals, who went by the names “Mo” and “Gloves,” had conducted a weeks-long investigation into Occupy Chicago, including being arrested themselves in April during a protest to keep the Woodlawn Mental Health Clinic open. The infiltrators were also arrested in the Bridgeport house raid, but they have not been seen since. Six of the nine arrested activists were released more than 24 hours later without any charges.

The Chicago chapter of the NLG is still compiling information, but has made an initial assessment of city’s reaction to the NATO demonstrations, which were overshadowed by police harassment and violence, serious injuries, high-level charges, and exceptionally high bonds. More than 90 people were charged with mostly ordinance violations and misdemeanors, including disorderly conduct, failure to disperse, trespassing, and resisting arrest, but 16 people were charged with felonies, including the explosives-related cases. Eight people remain in jail from the NATO demonstrations on bonds ranging from $100,000 to $1.5 million.

The NLG was disturbed to receive reports of more than 80 instances of police brutality, most of which occurred at the end of Sunday’s antiwar march at Michigan Avenue and Cermak Road. Most injuries were caused by baton blows to the body and many resulted in serious head injuries. More than two-dozen protesters were taken to Northwestern and Mercy Hospitals and treated for broken bones, knocked out teeth, concussions, and several open wounds requiring stitches or staples.

So far, only a handful of cases have been disposed of. Notably, two felony cases were dismissed and another felony defendant took a misdemeanor plea deal with no jail time. The Chicago chapter of the NLG, along with other volunteer attorneys, represented each of these defendants and will continue to represent people arrested during the week of NATO demonstrations, including those most seriously charged. Two more indictments are expected to be issued at 11:30am on Wednesday, June 13th against NATO protesters Sebastian Senakiewicz and Mark Neiweem at the Cook County Courthouse, 2600 S. California, Room 101.

National Lawyers Guild Condemns Continuing Police Brutality Against Protesters, Refutes Claims of Restraint
Laudatory City Council resolution comes as police brutally arrest 12 people demonstrating in solidarity with Quebec students

Chicago, IL — The Chicago chapter of the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) condemns the brutal arrest last night of 12 people demonstrating in solidarity with the months-long student strike currently underway in Quebec, Canada. Chicago police indiscriminately used batons last night, injuring several protesters and breaking one person’s finger. Eleven people were charged with either reckless conduct or resisting arrest, and one protester who was charged with a felony is still in jail on a $50,000 bond. The NLG notes that police crowd control tactics have been especially repressive and violent over the past few weeks.

“Once again, the Chicago police are relying on brute force to quell political protests,” said Sarah Gelsomino, with the People’s Law Office and the Chicago chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, whose attorneys will be representing the arrested protesters. “Contrary to claims of police restraint being made by certain public officials, the CPD is showing a lack of control in an effort to stop political demonstrations.”

Last night’s arrests come as the Chicago City Council passed a resolution Wednesday congratulating the police on a job well done during the NATO summit. However, the resolution stands in stark contrast to claims by the NLG that the police were exceptionally violent against protesters. While the number of people charged during the week of NATO demonstrations were fewer than a hundred, the police brutalized nearly the same number of people, mostly with baton blows, many of which resulted in head injuries. The NLG has so far received reports of more than 80 separate instances of police brutality in reaction to the NATO demonstrations.

The NLG also accuses the police of massive displays of force during the NATO summit, discouraging would-be protesters from coming out to demonstrate during a national political event. Activists claimed to be terrorized by police who swarmed several houses in the city where protesters were known to be staying; numerous people were questioned by the police and FBI as to their political beliefs; and several people were targeted and picked off of the street by multiple gun-wielding police officers.

“The police deliberately created a climate of fear that began long before the NATO summit, and which lasted throughout the week of political protests,” said Kris Hermes of the NLG. “The city also used sensational terrorism-related charges levied against 5 young men to undermine the protests, discredit the Occupy movement, and create hysteria in order to drive a wedge between the public and political activists in Chicago.”

The so-called NATO 3 — the most seriously charged protesters from the NATO summit — are due to be indicted on Tuesday, June 12th at the Cook County Courthouse at 26th & California. Despite the sensational accusations made against the three young men almost a month ago, the state’s attorney has still provided no evidence of criminal activity, not even the search warrant used to raid the Bridgeport house where the arrests occurred, and has not yet brought any formal charges against them. The city has also failed to disclose any information on at least two infiltrators used in what appears to have been a months-long investigation into Occupy Chicago in advance of the NATO demonstrations.

 

PRESS RELEASE
Chicago Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild
For Immediate Release: May 19, 2012

National Lawyers Guild Decries Terrorism Charges Against Occupy Activists protesting NATO Summit
Preemptive raids and conspiracy charges are common characteristics of National Special Security Events

Chicago, IL — After holding NATO protesters for up to 48 hours, and releasing 6 out of 9 arrestees without any charges, the City of Chicago filed state charges last night against 3 Occupy activists from Florida, including possession of explosives or incendiary devices, material support for terrorism, and conspiracy. On Wednesday night at approximately 11:30pm, police raided a house in the Bridgeport neighborhood, detained several people in multiple apartments, and arrested 9 activists. Police broke down doors with guns drawn and searched residences without a warrant or consent.

“The National Lawyers Guild deplores the charges against Occupy activists in the strongest degree,” said Sarah Gelsomino with the NLG and the People’s Law Office. “It’s outrageous for the city to apply terrorism charges when it’s the police who have been terrorizing activists and threatening their right to protest.”

NLG attorneys are questioning why it took the city 48 hours, the limit on holding arrestees without a court hearing, to impose such serious charges. Although some accusations of Molotov cocktails have been made by police, they have provided no evidence of criminal intent or wrongdoing on the part of the activists. On Thursday, when asked about the raid at a press conference, Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy knew so little about the alleged terrorism investigation that he said he would have to gather further information before commenting.

The 3 activists charged are Jared Chase, Brent Beterly, and Brian Jacob Church. Last week, all three defendants were surrounded by several police squad cars outside of a CVS, detained for no apparent reason and asked questions about why they were in Chicago and what they planned to do during the NATO summit. One of the defendants recorded the encounter and posted an edited version on YouTube. When Superintendent McCarthy questioned the validity of the footage in the media, the entire video was quickly posted.

More than 20 people have been arrested so far in the lead up to the NATO summit, which begins tomorrow. At least 3 arrestees in addition to the ones charged tonight are still in custody. “Preemptive raids meant to intimidate and stifle dissent are all too common during National Special Security Events, such as the NATO summit,” said Gelsomino.

NLG attorneys will be representing the 3 defendants in their criminal cases and will be at their bond hearing tomorrow at 12pm at 2600 South California Ave.

 

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Chicago, IL — The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) condemns a preemptive police raid that took place at approximately 11:30pm Wednesday in the Bridgeport neighborhood, and instances of harassment on the street, in which Chicago police are unlawfully detaining, searching, and questioning NATO protesters. The Bridgeport raid was apparently conducted by the Organized Crime Division of the Chicago Police Department and resulted in as many as 8 arrests.

Read the full press release here: NLG Chicago Denounces Preemptive Raid

National Lawyers Guild to Provide Legal Support for Chicago NATO Demonstrations
Support effort to include recording police misconduct, staffing a legal hotline & criminal defense

Chicago, IL — The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) will be providing legal support to political protesters in Chicago this week as several demonstrations are set to occur in advance of and during the NATO summit on May 20th & 21st. The Guild has already been working with protest organizers to secure rally and march permits, and will extend those efforts to include: staffing a legal hotline, conducting Know Your Rights trainings, dispatching Legal Observers throughout the city to record police misconduct, and representing people who have been arrested and criminally charged.

The NATO summit has been designated as a National Special Security Event (NSSE) and the policing apparatus set up to respond to protest activity is under the authority of the U.S. Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Historically, NSSEs have led to widespread violations of people’s constitutional rights, including heavy surveillance and infiltration, preemptive raids by police and other administrative agencies, as well as harassment and intimidation used to chill political protest.

The city’s intolerance to political protest was brought into question after it refused to allow Occupy Chicago activists to demonstrate in Grant Park last October, arresting more than 300 people in the process. More than 90 of those cases are still being prosecuted. In February, the city settled an NLG-led class action lawsuit for $6.2 million, in which more than 700 anti-war protesters were wrongfully arrested in 2003.

“The police have again been harassing activists in the Occupy movement who came to Chicago to protest this week,” said Sarah Gelsomino with the NLG and the People’s Law Office. “The city should be on notice that the Guild will be vigilant in recording actions that are aimed at preventing political protest.”

The Guild is widely disseminating its legal hotline number, which is 312-913-0039, to provide activists with a way to contact legal support staff and for friends and loved ones to find out the status of people who have been arrested.

National Lawyers Guild media liaisons are available for interviews:
Kris Hermes 510-681-6361 or krishermes@earthlink.net
Sarah Gelsomino 773-520-8246 or sarahgelsomino@gmail.com

Other ways of getting information from the NLG include:
www.NLGChicago.org
www.Facebook.com/NLGChicago
Twitter: @NLGChicago