Lawyer's Plea for Expanded Protest Rights at Chicago's ICE Facility Goes Unheard; Filing for Preliminary Injunction Still Pending.
A lawyer representing a group of individuals challenging the village of Broadview's restrictions on protests near the local Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility is urging federal judges to reconsider the current time limits imposed by Mayor Katrina Thompson's executive order. The order, which came into effect earlier this year, restricts public gatherings between 9 am and 6 pm.
"This is not a matter of individual rights; it's about exercising collective power," said Robert Held, a Chicago-based attorney who filed a motion for a preliminary injunction last week. "The first amendment isn't something that has a time clock." Held hopes that a federal judge will recognize the importance of allowing people to express themselves freely, outside of designated hours.
However, his plea seems to be falling on deaf ears as the village of Broadview remains silent on the matter. The Illinois-based American Civil Liberties Union is also keeping quiet about their involvement in the case, despite stating their intention to file detailed observations for future legal proceedings.
On Thursday, a group of lawyers from the Chicago Council of Lawyers visited the facility but declined to speak with media representatives. Instead, they toured the site without comment. Meanwhile, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's absence from the scene is sparking criticism from Held and fellow protesters, who see his inaction as a missed opportunity.
"We're at a defining moment for our generation," said Robert Held. "If we acquiesce to the status quo then we're left with a society that someone else has imposed upon us."
A lawyer representing a group of individuals challenging the village of Broadview's restrictions on protests near the local Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility is urging federal judges to reconsider the current time limits imposed by Mayor Katrina Thompson's executive order. The order, which came into effect earlier this year, restricts public gatherings between 9 am and 6 pm.
"This is not a matter of individual rights; it's about exercising collective power," said Robert Held, a Chicago-based attorney who filed a motion for a preliminary injunction last week. "The first amendment isn't something that has a time clock." Held hopes that a federal judge will recognize the importance of allowing people to express themselves freely, outside of designated hours.
However, his plea seems to be falling on deaf ears as the village of Broadview remains silent on the matter. The Illinois-based American Civil Liberties Union is also keeping quiet about their involvement in the case, despite stating their intention to file detailed observations for future legal proceedings.
On Thursday, a group of lawyers from the Chicago Council of Lawyers visited the facility but declined to speak with media representatives. Instead, they toured the site without comment. Meanwhile, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's absence from the scene is sparking criticism from Held and fellow protesters, who see his inaction as a missed opportunity.
"We're at a defining moment for our generation," said Robert Held. "If we acquiesce to the status quo then we're left with a society that someone else has imposed upon us."
I'm so sick of this 
situation! A lawyer is trying to fight for people's right to protest, and still nobody is listening 
. It's not just about one person's rights, it's about the whole community coming together to make a difference 
. And what really gets me is that the ACLU is MIA 
, which is like, totally unacceptable for an organization that claims to stand up for civil liberties 
.
while people are fighting for their rights. That's not leadership, that's just being a bystander 
. We can't let our voices be silenced by the powers that be 
. This is not just about free speech, it's about making sure our democracy works 
.
Like, in this case, the lawyer dude is literally asking for a chance to explain his point and the ACLU isn't jumping into it. Meanwhile, Mayor Thompson's got her rules in place and everyone else is just chillin' (or not). I mean, if you're really gonna restrict people's rights to protest, shouldn't there be some kinda public discussion about it? It seems like a pretty big deal, especially when people are saying stuff like 'we're at a defining moment for our generation'. Guess we'll just have to keep waiting to see what happens next... 
I mean, what's next? Are we gonna have curfews on our own homes too?! It's time for some real change, and this kind of thing needs to be called out ASAP 
. and what's up with the ACLU being all quiet about this? shouldn't they be speaking out against this blatant disregard for civil liberties? 
. we need more people like robert held who are willing to stand up for what's right, not just sitting around waiting for someone else to take action 
so like, why are people just letting it slide? shouldn't we be pushing back against this kind of restriction on free speech? 
The lawyer guy is saying that protests should be free from time limits, but at the same time, I think it's kinda reasonable for villages to have some restrictions. Like, what if there's a really loud protest that disrupts the whole community? Shouldn't there be some balance between freedom of speech and not being a total nuisance? 
no way. its about taking ownership of those actions and making them happen regardless of the risks involved.
... i mean, cant they just listen? 
robert held is saying this isnt about individual rights but its about people comin together and makin noise. like, what's the big deal 'bout a lil time limit on protests? 
The fact that the village of Broadview is just ignoring this lawyer's plea is not only disappointing, but it's also kinda infuriating 
.
.
.
! I mean, what even is the point of having free speech and protest rights if you can only do it within these super restrictive hours? 9 am to 6 pm? That's literally like being told when you can breathe 
. It feels like they're trying to control every aspect of people's lives and silence them when it's inconvenient.
. Meanwhile, Mayor Katrina Thompson's executive order feels like a thinly veiled attempt to suppress dissenting voices, which isn't exactly in line with democratic values 
. I mean, can't we have some freedom to express ourselves without being told what time it is? 
. This isn't right at all...