JUSTICE FOR THE RECLAIM THE STREETS DEFENDANTS!

Statement by Chicago's October 22nd Coalition to Stop

Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of

a Generation--12/22/01

July 20, 2001, NAPERVILLE, IL-300 youth from all around

the country gathered for a RECLAIM THE STREETS

party/protest. The event aimed to create a space for

self-statement of youth who feel stifled by a

repressive suburban culture of consumerism and

uniformity. Organizers planned the event for July 20th

to show solidarity wth the thousands of

anti-globalization protesters who took to the streets

in Genoa, Italy against the "G-8" summit. That day,

23-year-old CARLO GIULIANI's life was stolen when

Italian police shot him in the head.

YOUTH BROUGHT A "TWISTER" BOARD,

POLICE BROUGHT PEPPER SPRAY

A youthful, festive atmosphere with frisbees, costumes

and games turned into one of police terror and

repression as night fell and the protesters moved away

from a crowded shopping area. Several protesters were

tackled, beaten, and pepper sprayed by police. Of the

17 arrested, 2 were hospitalized due to injuries or

asthma attacks caused by the police and pepper spray. A

young woman's breasts were fondled by a male cop during

her arrest. Videotapes show the defendants NOT

resisting arrest and NOT assaulting the police. It was

clearly the police who did the assaulting!

Suburban media have published vitriolic attacks on RTS.

A recent editorial ended with a blatant call for more

police brutality:

... if I heard there was going to be a Reclaim the

Streets rally next summer, I'd suggest the cops

stop the protesters at the city limits, WHACK THEM

ON THE SIDE OF THE HEAD, tell them about what's

important and DROP KICK THEM OUT OF TOWN. ... (from

"No More Time Now for Foolishness" by TIM WEST, Sun

Publications )

The chief of Naperville's police made a special

presentation to the local ROTARY CLUB spreading lies

and disinformation about the RTS event and its

participants. Many of the defandants face a year in

jail; one young woman faces 4 to 6 years. Local media

and police are working hand-in-hand to influence public

opinion and create a climate where rebellious youth are

considered criminals. They are attempting to punish the

RTS defendants and declare that youth should be seen

and not heard. They are saying that youth who take a

strong political stand on issues that affect the

present and future of all humanity will not be

tolerated.

We say: BEING YOUNG AND REFUSING TO GO ALONG WITH THE

STATUS QUO IS NOT A CRIME!

As the Call for the 6th National Day of Protest to Stop

Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of

a Generation on October 22nd, 2001 said:

* In Black and Latino communities cops stop and

frisk, beat up, jail or even murder youth for

nothing more than being young and dressed in the

style popular among urban youth. This brutality

also spills over into the suburbs where police

harass youth who don't "fit in''. BEING YOUNG AND

NOT GOING ALONG WITH THE STATUS QUO IS NOT A CRIME!

* Law Enforcement has met anti-globalization

protests in DC, Detroit, Quebec, San Diego, Seattle

and elsewhere, with beatings, "plastic'' bullets,

bean bags, tear gas and pepper spray. ... False

charges, denial of bail and hiding the location of

people arrested has become common.

The October 22nd Coalition joins with many others to

demand that all charges be dropped on the RTS

defendants. We urge people to help pack the courtroom

and let the powers-that-be know that we won't let them

quietly sweep this outrage under the rug. Nor will we

forget the outrageous deeds of the police at this and

many other protests. Brutal cops who attack peaceful

protesters should be the ones on trial!

* Contact RTS at rtstreets@onebox.com or

(773)250-3699 for carpooling to court dates, to

sign a statement of support, or for other

information.

* Donations to the RTS Legal Defense Fund may be

sent to: Aurora ARA, P.O. Box 3272, Aurora, IL

60504-0272 ... Checks should be made payable to The

Azone (memo line: "RTS Legal Defense Fund").

* Send letters demanding that the charges be dropped

to the DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett:

505 N. County Farm Rd., Wheaton, IL 60187 ... phone

(630)682-7050.

OCTOBER 22nd COALITION to STOP POLICE BRUTALITY,

REPRESSION, and the CRIMINALIZATION of a GENERATION!

773-528-1701

Chicago@October22.ORG

http://www.October22.ORG/

Fax: 773-528-3270

Stolen Lives, c/o Wellington Church, 615 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago, IL 60657

National Office: 1-888-NO-BRUTALITY or 212-477-8062

If you need the printable PDF version

(for a nice one-sided leaflet of this statement)

and didn't get it, please contact Chicago@October22.ORG

and we will send it to you ASAP.