Community activists, including Ja’Mal Green and William Calloway, who were arrested inside the Dirksen Federal Building last week were ordered to stay away from the federal courthouse for 60 days and pay a $200 fine for their part in a protest demanding federal charges against former Chicago cop Jason Van Dyke.
The arrested protesters, who are calling themselves the “Laquan Nine” were at the federal courthouse to deliver a letter to U.S. Attorney John Lausch demanding he file federal charges against the disgraced officer who was released from prison last week after serving a little more than three years for killing 17-year-old Laquan McDonald.
The activists’ attorney, William Hardwicke, argued in U.S. District Court on Tuesday that his clients arrest were punishment enough. Hardwicke also pointed out that the protest was nonviolent and “in the best tradition of civil disobedience.”
U.S. District Court Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer disagreed, saying it was clear that Green and his fellow protesters wanted to be arrested. The protesters were also asked repeatedly to leave the building but refused, she said.
“It would have been a simple thing to do that,” Pallmeyer said.
Pallmeyer repeatedly told the organizers that they weren’t being punished for the contents of their speech or for delivering a letter to Lausch’s office — which they successfully did. Instead they were being penalized for ignoring U.S. Marshals’ order to leave the courthouse lobby for well over an hour.
Pallmeyer said the activists must stay away from the courthouse for the next 60 days unless there on official business.
The activists did not speak at Tuesday’s hearing, other than to say they appreciated the judge’s time.
Green later tweeted: “This morning a federal judge fined me $200 and banned me from the courthouse for 60 days for protesting for federal charges against Jason Van Dyke. This is our Injustice system! #JusticeForLaquanMcdonald.”
This morning a federal judge fined me $200 and banned me from the courthouse for 60 days for protesting for federal charges against Jason Van Dyke. This is our Injustice system! #JusticeForLaquanMcdonald
— Ja'Mal Green (@JaymalGreen) February 8, 2022
