City Wins, Cops Lose?

The court sided with the city over protestors, so now what?

• The legal battle over the protest path during Chicago’s Democratic National Convention could continue into the final days before the big event after leaders of high-profile demonstrations promised to appeal a federal judge’s ruling in favor of City Hall.

  U.S. District Judge Andrea Wood late Monday said she would not force the city to alter the path it offered to groups aiming to protest the Israel-Hamas war, finding that the city had satisfied the First Amendment while addressing significant security and safety concerns.

  The challenges made in court boil down to complaints that City Hall has “not offered the exact route” protesters desire, even though it “allows them to speak near their intended audience,” Wood concluded in her 24-page ruling.

Larritorious isn't tipping his hand. In fact, he isn't saying anything intelligent:

• Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling was asked during a separate event Tuesday how officers would handle protesters who slip out of the designated protest zones. He insisted officers would not arrest people who are obeying the law.

  “If everybody is doing exactly what’s expected of them and exercising their First Amendment rights, this is not an arrest situation,” Snelling said. “We want people to exercise their First Amendment rights. We will protect them while they’re doing it. But we will not guarantee someone that we’re not going to make arrests if they act violently or start to commit crimes.”
  

All well and good Larry. Thanks for stating the obvious.

What happens if the alleged twenty-five-thousand protestors decide, "Screw it, we're marching closer to the United Center so make sure the delegates hear us."

CPD couldn't stop twenty-five-thousand.

What if it's 10% of that? Twenty-five-hundred, who figure the barricades are mere suggestions to their intended route?

CPD probably couldn't stop twenty-five-hundred if all of them wanted to make an issue of it.

How about 1%? Two-hundred-fifty dedicated assholes armed with frozen water bottles, sharpened two-by-fours, laser pointers and bear spray.

It would be a bloody mess, and Larritorious better hope the FBI and DHS agents on the inner perimeter are ready to pick up the slack.

Legal rulings only mean something when all parties abide by them, and with blue-state $hitholes not prosecuting and imprisoning protestors, rioters and criminals over the past few years, we aren't exactly confident how this is going to turn out.