Picketers want charges dropped against war protesters

[babylonsister]

Picketers want charges dropped against war protesters
By Christy Gutowski | Daily Herald Staff


The legal debate that arose after two anti-war activists were arrested in DuPage County spilled into the street Thursday when protesters called on prosecutors to drop the charges.

About two dozen sign-toting protesters rallied outside the county government complex along County Farm Road in Wheaton.

They argue the activists are being wrongly prosecuted and beseeched DuPage State's Attorney Joseph Birkett to dismiss the misdemeanor case.

Sarah Hartfield, of Naperville, and her friend, Jeff Zurawski, of Downers Grove, were accused of disorderly conduct after a May 6 demonstration along a highway overpass.

The two rode their bikes to a pedestrian bridge that spans I-355 near Glen Ellyn and unfurled a banner that read: "Impeach Bush and Cheney -- liars." They also displayed an upside-down American flag.

Weeks later, sheriff's deputies pursued criminal charges after they said a passing trucker complained. Initially, prosecutors accused them of tossing something onto the roadway, causing motorists to swerve, and illegally displaying a sign on a highway. Earlier this week, though, they dropped both allegations but persisted with a disorderly conduct charge for making a throwing "motion" toward motorists.

more...

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=55672

[reggie the dog]

1. I grew up

2 miles from the Dupage County line in Cook county. Dupage county is a heavily Republican heavily white suburban area outside of Chicago. It is a very close minded place.

[murielm99]

2. Birkett is one of the world's biggest jerks.

My son lives in Naperville. He is always griping about Birkett.

[Peace Patriot]

3. Wrongful charges--no kidding. At most, a jaywalking-type ticket might be

justifiable. But, really, on matters of political free speech, prosecutors, courts and cops SHOULD give wide latitude. The benefit of the doubt should always go to political free speech. This is ridiculous--not just a wanton waste of public officials' time and resources, but charges aimed at chilling free speech.

Have we no common sense any more?

[Peace Patriot]

4. Thanks for posting! K&R! n/t

[Richard Steele]

5. K&R

[Bozita]

6. "In France, the government is afraid of the people. In the US, the people are afraid of the govt."

Michael Moore is right.

[reggie the dog]

11. oui

Il a raison. Il doit se présenter comme représentative de l'état de Michigan.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. random detainent and release

[mopinko]

8. birkett has no problem prosecuting innocent people

like rolando cruz
scum. just scum.

[warren pease]

9. What's that about Pickett's Charge? Oh... nevermind n/t

[SalmonChantedEvening]

10. more than likely they were waving, but that's just a hunch.

Going to all the time and trouble to hang the banner, only to ruin the protest by scaring motorists?

I know, thinking logical again. WTH is wrong with me.