11/03/2022
Today City of Chicago police officers from the 25th district arrested me for circulating a petition for constituent nominations registered to vote in the 37th Ward. The security guard for the Washington Square Shopping Mall considered this "Freedom of Speech" activity Soliciting or a form of begging on private property. He subsequently called 911to report this State of Illinois and United States Constitutional right as Criminal activity.
When CPD unit 2533 arrived at the Food 4 Less, I was interacting with my fellow 37th ward residents collecting their signatures. Everyone was peaceful. There was no disturbance. I informed the responding officers that I would be over to them momentarily as they waited patiently inside of the patrol vehicle.
Within minutes I walked to the officers and related that I was circulating the above and that said activity was protected as free speech. Their response in short was basically that I had to leave the premise simply because the security guard, a Statewide Security Agency employee, said so. Regardless of the fact that there was no crime occuring. Apparently, my constitutionally protected freedom of speech activity was insignificant to a civilian's misunderstanding of nuisance solicitation.
Finally, I related to the officers and the civilian security guard that I was not leaving necause no crimes were being commited, and directed them to do what they feelis necessary. Said officers provided the guard a criminal complaint form to sign, asked me to submit to the arrest (whereby I complied), and transported me to the 25th Poluce District Station for processing.
In closing, this is only a temporary victory for the small minded security officer and ignorant of the law enforcement officers. In the end these neglectful of rights agents and all who are vicariously libel for their actions will be accountable for this injury caused by them. To becontinued!
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