NWU Defends First Amendment: No Restrictions On Peaceful Public Communication, Assembly And Dissent

The Chicago Chapter of the National Writers Union, Local 1981 of the United Auto Workers, AFL-CIO, today issued a statement, demanding no restrictions on peaceful public communication, assembly and dissent.

"We are appalled at the efforts by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and his Administration, backed by the Chicago City Council, to limit the ability of people to speak truth to power, and to be able to  indicate the depth and intensity of their disgust at the on-going wars initiated around the world by NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and the U.S. Government, under control by both the Democrats and Republicans, who will soon be meeting in Chicago.  Support for these wars is at its lowest it has ever been.  Yet the Mayor's policies are intended to prevent our people from visibly demonstrating their opposition to this on-going violence overseas, and the accompanying militarization--with accompanying attacks on the First Amendment and our civil liberties--of our society at home.  We strongly demand that this misguided policy be repudiated, and that recognition of our First Amendment rights be made the priority of authorities here at home," said Kim Scipes, Chair of the Chicago Chapter of the National Writers Union.

We stand in solidarity with the National Nurses United and their struggle to protest peacefully on May 18.

See NWU Chicago press release here (Word.doc).