Lawyer Sues Village Over Restrictive Protest Hours Near Immigration Facility, Seeks Injunction on Unconstitutional Time Limitations
A Chicago attorney is seeking a preliminary injunction to block a village's executive order limiting protests near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility to restricted hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., arguing that these time restrictions violate constitutional rights.
Attorney Robert Held, a board member of the Chicago Council of Lawyers, filed his lawsuit on October 27th, which includes a motion for a preliminary injunction. The suit claims that the village's measure is "arbitrary and capricious," as it restricts protests to certain zones and time frames while not providing reasonable alternatives for those with non-traditional work schedules.
Held emphasized during a recent media briefing outside the facility that the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech and assembly, does not have a built-in time limit. He believes that protesters should be able to express themselves freely at any time, rather than being confined to narrow hours when they may not be available due to work commitments.
The village has yet to respond to requests for comment on the filing of the preliminary injunction motion. Held also urged Governor JB Pritzker to join the protesters at the site, calling it a "defining moment for a generation." He argued that the governor's absence from this event is telling, highlighting the need for public figures to acknowledge and support these rights.
In a separate case, federal magistrate judges and plaintiff attorneys toured the facility on Thursday but left without speaking to media. The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois issued a statement expressing gratitude for the opportunity to inspect the facility and vowing to continue advocating for improved conditions and treatment of detainees.
The lawsuit filed by Held aims to overturn Mayor Katrina Thompson's executive order, which is seen as an attempt to restrict free speech and protest rights near the immigration facility. The judge has yet to make a ruling on the preliminary injunction motion, but it remains unclear whether the restrictions will be lifted or if alternative measures will be implemented.
As tensions surrounding the protests continue to escalate, Held stressed the importance of protesters being aware of their rights and standing up for them. He encouraged residents to engage in discussions with their neighbors, politicians, and federal agents about these issues, emphasizing that acquiescence would allow others to impose their own values on society.
A Chicago attorney is seeking a preliminary injunction to block a village's executive order limiting protests near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility to restricted hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., arguing that these time restrictions violate constitutional rights.
Attorney Robert Held, a board member of the Chicago Council of Lawyers, filed his lawsuit on October 27th, which includes a motion for a preliminary injunction. The suit claims that the village's measure is "arbitrary and capricious," as it restricts protests to certain zones and time frames while not providing reasonable alternatives for those with non-traditional work schedules.
Held emphasized during a recent media briefing outside the facility that the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech and assembly, does not have a built-in time limit. He believes that protesters should be able to express themselves freely at any time, rather than being confined to narrow hours when they may not be available due to work commitments.
The village has yet to respond to requests for comment on the filing of the preliminary injunction motion. Held also urged Governor JB Pritzker to join the protesters at the site, calling it a "defining moment for a generation." He argued that the governor's absence from this event is telling, highlighting the need for public figures to acknowledge and support these rights.
In a separate case, federal magistrate judges and plaintiff attorneys toured the facility on Thursday but left without speaking to media. The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois issued a statement expressing gratitude for the opportunity to inspect the facility and vowing to continue advocating for improved conditions and treatment of detainees.
The lawsuit filed by Held aims to overturn Mayor Katrina Thompson's executive order, which is seen as an attempt to restrict free speech and protest rights near the immigration facility. The judge has yet to make a ruling on the preliminary injunction motion, but it remains unclear whether the restrictions will be lifted or if alternative measures will be implemented.
As tensions surrounding the protests continue to escalate, Held stressed the importance of protesters being aware of their rights and standing up for them. He encouraged residents to engage in discussions with their neighbors, politicians, and federal agents about these issues, emphasizing that acquiescence would allow others to impose their own values on society.
. I mean, what even is the point of having protest hours? It's like they're saying "you can't just say whatever you want whenever you want, nope, we've got rules for that too" 
. And now the lawyer is all like "but what about people with non-traditional work schedules?" 
I get it, but can't we just make an exception for this one thing? It's not like it's going to affect anyone's life or anything. And what's with the governor being MIA? Like, is he really that afraid of a little protest? 
I'm not sure why people are making a big deal out of this. Can't protesters just show up whenever they feel like it? 
It's not like the government is telling them what to say or do, just where they can and can't stand. And honestly, if you're working non-traditional hours, maybe that's your own problem, not the village's. 
I mean, I get it, protests are important for free speech and all that, but come on, can't we just find a compromise? Like, let people protest during off-peak hours or something. It's not like the facility is going to be ruined by a few extra protesters showing up at 3 am 
#ProtestFreedomMatters. The village is being super restrictive and it's like they're trying to control the narrative 
#FreeSpeechForever. It's not just about the protesters, but also about our democracy and the values that we stand for 
#DemocracyInAction.
I remember back in the day when it was all about free speech and assembly, not some arbitrary schedule. What's next, restricting people from taking selfies during concerts? 
I'm glad someone is standing up for these protesters and demanding that their rights be respected. The gov shouldn't just sit there and let this happen – gotta show some support! 
like this executive order in Chicago. It's not just about people protesting near the immigration facility, it's about being able to express ourselves freely at any time 
. I mean, who gets to decide what time is reasonable for us? Not our politicians, that's for sure 
. And what about people with non-traditional work schedules or those who are on leave? Do they get to protest too? 
It's like, can't we just have a reasonable compromise here? Maybe 9 am to 6 pm is not too restrictive. I'm all for standing up for one's rights, but not at the expense of everyone else's quality of life 
️ It feels like they're trying to limit free speech and assembly, which is exactly what the First Amendment is meant for.
Maybe instead of restricting protests, the village should be working on finding ways to address the concerns and issues surrounding the facility in a more constructive way.
the village is trying to limit protests to like 9am-6pm?! that's soooo not cool 
they're basically saying that if you wanna speak out, you gotta do it during work hours... what about all the students and parents who have non-traditional schedules? 
he's got a point about the first amendment not having a time limit 
protesters should be free to speak their minds whenever, wherever... no more restrictions! 
. The village's restrictions on protests near the immigration facility are really unfair 
. I mean, who gets to decide when you can and can't express your opinion? It's like they're trying to silence people 
. And what's with the arbitrary time frame of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.? That just doesn't seem fair to me 
. It's making me realize how quickly we can get caught up in restrictions and rules that might not be serving us well 
. Maybe it's time for us to rethink what freedom means and make sure everyone has access to it 
. Fingers crossed that the judge makes a fair decision soon 
.
Oh man, this is like so frustrating... I mean, can't we just have the freedom to express ourselves without some arbitrary time limit? It's not like protesters are gonna show up at 3 am or anything... 
Let's hope the judge makes a fair ruling and these protests can continue without any issues. 
Can you believe this village is trying to limit protests near the immigration facility? It's like they're saying "Hey, we don't want any awkward conversations with our immigrant friends during happy hour" lol just kidding, it's serious but still kinda weird. I mean who needs a specific time frame for protesting, right? That sounds like something my grandma would do when she was trying to figure out how to use her new smartphone 
. Anyway, this lawyer dude is totally on point and I'm low-key rooting for him to win this thing. Let's hope the governor shows up to show some support for free speech... or at least a nice selfie with the protesters 
I don’t get why the village is trying to limit this, especially when there are people who might not even be available during those restricted hours because of their work schedules. It feels like they’re trying to silence people or impose some kind of control on what they can say or do. And, idk, I think it’s kinda telling that the governor isn’t showing up to support the protesters...