From readers:
Critical Juncture in the Fight Against Persecution of Iggy and Alfredo—Arrested at 2014 Chicago Protest Against Murders by Police
July 24, 2017 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us
After two and a half years of totally unjust legal persecution and prosecution, the case of two people arrested in Chicago at one of the earliest national days of demonstrations against the police murders of Michael Brown and Eric Garner is coming to a crucial juncture. The two defendants—David “Iggy Flow” Rucker, who is well known for his association with the Revolution Club in Chicago, and Alfredo Reyes—have been dragged to court on an almost monthly basis since they were first arrested in December 2014 and charged with felonies for political protest.
Think about what has happened in that time. One after another, police who murdered people in cold blood have either not been indicted in the first place or allowed to walk free. In cases where there is video evidence of murder by police for the whole world to see, the outcome has been no different. We cannot sit by while they railroad people who were among those who righteously went into the streets against these police murders and as a result have been targeted for punishment. This persecution is intended to send a message beyond the two defendants—especially to Black and Brown young men: “You will pay a heavy price for standing up and speaking out.” All those who have been part of the outpourings of protest against police murder and brutality; all those who have come to see how racist and brutal and lying the Chicago Police Department is through the protests around the murder of Laquan McDonald; all those who refuse to allow the Black Lives Matter movement and the protests against police murder to be criminalized—YOU NEED TO SPEAK OUT.
Demand the charges be dropped against Iggy and Alfredo. Come out on Tuesday, July 25. Rally at 8:30 am outside Cook County Courthouse, 2650 S. California. Then come to courtroom 206 at 9:30 am for the hearing. Let everyone know about this case.
Iggy and Alfredo both face felony charges that carry up to seven years in prison. The charges and the ongoing prosecution are outrageous. What in fact happened was that a phalanx of police charged into a demonstration outside of a Nordstrom store on Chicago’s “Magnificent Mile” in the midst of the Christmas shopping season. A “die-in” had taken place inside the store, and a number of people were arrested (charges were later dropped). Outside there was a peaceful protest on the sidewalk until police attacked. They grabbed two young people, Iggy and Alfredo, who had been outside the whole time and piled on them! Their bail was set at $75,000 each. And since their release from custody, they have been confined to the state of Illinois the whole time unless they get special permission from a judge to travel.
Their lawyers, Joey Mogul and Molly Armour, have been tenacious in their efforts to get discovery from the city and the Chicago Police Department. In January 2017, the lawyers filed a major motion for supplemental discovery in an effort to get surveillance videos, photos, and memos regarding the defendants and groups connected to the December 2014 protest. They also requested information gathered by police cell-site simulators (Stingray devices). Stingray devices give the police the ability to monitor all cell phone traffic. Chicago police own such devices and are being sued for using them during protests.
The defense attorneys’ motion noted that previous materials received during discovery have been redacted (sections blacked out), and they are requesting these be un-redacted. They also requested information about whether any evidence in the government’s possession was obtained by confidential sources and asked for any and all surveillance photos and any internal police documents regarding the defendants. They sought documents authorizing the monitoring of the defendants and organizations they are connected to as well as any and all documents about the particular protest.
The city responded to this motion with a “motion to quash,” arguing there was no way they would release all this information because they claimed it was not necessary to do so.
At a hearing in June, the judge heard oral arguments about this motion. The lawyer for the city kept stonewalling, repeating that this is a “fishing expedition” and “over-broad.” He tried to claim that this is a simple case and the only issue is whether the defendants “assaulted” a police officer.
The lawyers for the defendants countered the prosecution argument vigorously. Supporters sitting in the courtroom reported that the lawyers argued that this was not a simple case but, in fact, their clients were exercising their First Amendment rights to protest. And they raised that even from the discovery they received so far, it was clear that the CPD was monitoring the protest and had informed the officers present that it was an “anti-police protest,” when in fact it was an anti-police brutality protest. They argued that the surveillance materials they were requesting were essential to their ability to defend their clients. At one point, one of the lawyers pointed out that in a previous political trial, when hundreds of people were arrested at a demonstration opposing the start of the Iraq War, they learned through discovery that even her law firm was under surveillance.
The judge set July 25 for ruling on whether or not the city is compelled to provide the materials requested in the defense attorneys’ motions. This is a critical juncture in the case.
Send statements in support of Iggy and Alfredo to revclub.chi@gmail.com
Come out Tuesday, July 25, Cook County Courthouse, 2650 S. California Ave.
Rally at 8:30 am
Hearing at 9:30 am in Courtroom 206
Call to demand that charges against Iggy and Alfredo be dropped:
Cook County State’s Attorney Kimberly M Foxx (312) 603-1880
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