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> The City of Chicago has notified Coalition to March on the DNC organizers that they are permitted to assemble and march with the tens of thousands preparing to join next week's protests outside the DNC, but has attached outrageous conditions that make it impossible for their messages about ending U.S. aid for Israel and stopping the Biden, Harris, and Democratic Party-supported Israeli genocide against the Palestinian people of Gaza to be heard.
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> A letter sent to organizers Wednesday says, in part, “Your requests to use Park 578 and the Field at Union Park for rallies on August 19 and August 22, 2024, as described in your applications to the Park District, are granted, subject to the following conditions: no stages or platforms, portable restrooms or toilets, tents or canopies, or sound equipment may be installed by your organization.”
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> Many of these restrictions, but especially “no sound equipment,” is an unvarnished attempt to silence dissenting voices, in violation of the right to free speech. Tens of thousands are expected to march, and amplified sound is critical not only to making sure their message is heard, but also to giving clear direction to the crowd about when and where to march.
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> The City routinely allows the restricted items in Union Park and other public venues, including at dozens of concerts per year, but claims that sound equipment, tents, canopies, and portable toilets present a safety concern next week. They do not. Instead, the City is placing special and unreasonable restrictions on the freedom of speech of those protesting the Democratic National Convention.
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> “Again, the City of Chicago has blindsided us and restricted our rights,” said Hatem Abudayyeh, a spokesperson for the Coalition, and National Chair of one of its leading organizations, the U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN). “We don’t believe that any of the previous restrictions are content-based, but this one clearly is. Someone doesn’t want us to talk about Palestine, about Genocide Joe and Killer Kamala’s support of genocide, and this is an egregious violation of our rights.”
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> Coalition attorney Chris Williams will file an emergency injunction to stop the City from imposing these restrictions, and will make arguments at a motion (previously status) hearing, Thursday, August 15th, at 1:30 PM. Members of the public and media may call in to listen to the hearing. The call-in number is 888.557.8511, and the access code is 3547847.

The City claims some of the restrictions are needed because multiple organizations want to rally or protest during the DNC. This excuse falls apart next to the fact that through the permit process, the City identifies exactly when the permitted group’s access to a space begins and ends.

Finally, Coalition organizers continue to be concerned about a short march route that federal judge Andrea Wood upheld Monday night. The route proposed by the City is not adequate for the large number of protesters expected.