Speak-Out Against University of Chicago Arrest of Revolution Club Member for Being Part of the 11 Minutes of Silence for Immigrants

March 2, 2018 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us

Revcom.us receive the following press release dated March 1:

Action: Press Conference to Speak Out Against University of Chicago Arrest of Participant in 11 Minutes of Silence for Immigrants and Demand All Charges be Dropped
Day and Time: Friday, March 2, at 12:30pm
Location: In front of Reynolds Club student center, University of Chicago Campus, 5706 S. University Ave.
Contact: Revolution Club Chicago, 312.804.9121, @revclubchi

On Thursday, March 1, a member of the Revolution Club Chicago was arrested by University of Chicago police after participating in a nationwide action of 11 minutes of silence for 11 million undocumented immigrants. She is outrageously and unjustifiably being charged with felony aggravated battery on a police officer and resisting arrest. The arrest of this person standing in silence for immigrants was carried out in the midst of University of Chicago loudly proclaiming itself as a beacon of free speech as it gives a major platform to known white supremacist and xenophobe Steve Bannon by inviting him to speak there.

In the dining hall in Reynolds Club student center, four Revolution club members stood silently holding signs that read, “March 1, 11 Minutes of Silence for 11 Million Undocumented Immigrants, #ImmigrantsStayTrumpPenceMustGo.” They stood silent for 11 minutes, while diners noticed the signs and most also went silent for 11 minutes.

At the end, those in the dining hall were thanked for their participation and informed about the escalation of attacks on immigrants, including the 150 immigrants rounded up in the San Francisco Bay Area over the weekend, as part of targeting of sanctuary cities by the Trump/Pence regime. Diners were also informed how students and faculty could gather with others throughout the day and hold 11 minutes of silence, and invited to attend the March 2 screening at Connect Gallery in Hyde Park of the film of the speech by Bob Avakian, THE TRUMP/PENCE REGIME MUST GO! In the Name of Humanity, We REFUSE To Accept a Fascist America, A Better World IS Possible.

This is all that happened before the Revolution Club members attempted to leave the dining hall, only to find University of Chicago police had blocked the exit, preventing them from leaving. After University Police appeared to relent and allow the Revolution Club members to leave, one of the women was grabbed and yanked out of the dining hall. Instead of allowing her to leave, UCPD violently grabbed her, pulling her down and dragging her out of the building.

See RefuseFascism.org for national coverage of the day of 11 minutes of silence for 11 million undocumented immigrants.

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