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protesters
PI Original
by Ellyn Fortino
6:15pm
Wed May 8

During Chaotic City Council Meeting, Emanuel Introduces Parking Meter Deal Changes & LGBT Athlete Resolution Passes

Chicago City Council

Here's a look at some of the highlights from today's Chicago City Council meeting.

Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
3:01pm
Mon May 6

Protesters On Both Sides Of Marriage Equality Issue Converge At Rep. Sandack's Office (VIDEO)

State Rep. Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove), one of two Republicans in the Illinois House to publicly express support for same-sex marriage, defended his position Saturday in front of rival organizations demonstrating outside his office.

Activist groups from both sides of the issue gathered to condemn or cheer on Sandack, who in February declared his support for the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, SB 10.

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PI Original
by Ashlee Rezin
10:17pm
Wed May 1
1 comment

Thousands Attend Chicago May Day Rally, Push For Comprehensive Immigration Reform (VIDEO)

Labor

Thousands of protesters took part in Chicago's May Day events Wednesday to stand for workers’ rights, demand a simplified pathway to citizenship and call for the end of deportations while a new immigration law is being hashed out in Congress. Progress Illinois was there for the day's events.

PI Original
by Ashlee Rezin
10:34am
Thu Apr 25

Hundreds Strike For Higher Wages In Chicago's Fast Food And Retail Industries (VIDEO)

Economy

It’s impossible to survive on $8.75 per hour, says Latasha Anderson, 31, an employee of Macy’s on Michigan Ave. in downtown Chicago. She was one of three retail associates from her store to participate yesterday in a citywide fast food and retail workers’ strike that prompted hundreds of employees to walk off the job.

PI Original
by Ashlee Rezin
11:22pm
Wed Mar 27

Thousands Take To Downtown Chicago Streets In Protest Against CPS School Closures (VIDEO)

Education

More than 7,000 protesters descended upon downtown Chicago today in protest of school closures and related actions by the Chicago Public Schools system. Progress Illinois was there for the action.

Quick Hit
by
7:11pm
Fri Mar 15

Environmentalists At Argonne Demand Obama Honor Campaign Promises

The following was written by Jacob Swenson, a community activist and University of Chicago student.

Local environmental activists congregated outside of Argonne National Laboratories today, where President Obama was speaking about his plan to create a $2 Billion “Energy Security Fund" for alternative energy research.

In his speech, the President said that we must aim to move cars and trucks entirely off oil by developing cheaper batteries, biofuels, and vehicles that operate on natural gas. The research plan, which is consistent with the President’s “all-of-the-above” energy strategy, would be funded using royalties from offshore drilling.

Climate activists were only half-hearted by the President’s proposal.

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Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
2:35pm
Fri Mar 15

CTU Preps Parents, Activists For Upcoming Protests Surrounding School Actions (VIDEO)

Last night on Chicago’s West Side, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) hosted the first of two “Citywide Non-Violent Civil Disobedience Trainings” aimed to prepare education activists for upcoming protests and coach them through non-violent protest techniques, such as disruptions, occupations and demonstrations.

The CTU will host a rally and march in downtown Chicago on March 27, just a few days before Chicago Public Schools (CPS) CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett is set to meet her March 31 deadline to announce the final list of school actions.

Preparing for the worst, CTU is educating parents and activists on the proper practices of non-violent protests. Police arrested 10 protesters in November for rallying against school closings outside City Hall.  They were charged with violating a Chicago trespassing ordinance.

“It’s the willingness to engage in radical acts that are challenging the core of what’s going on,” said Lisa Fithian, a political activist and scholar, who, for decades, has worked as a community organizer on a range of issues. “We need to create conditions that allow for the transformation for us to be more liberated.”

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