Seven Chicago protesters are being charged with criminal trespass following a civil disobedience action for same-sex marriage rights. They were arrested Feb. 14, when 300 protesters gathered in front of the Cook County Marriage License Bureau in downtown Chicago to protest the state of Illinois’ refusal to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Following an hour-long rally and picket line in front of the bureau, the highly spirited crowd turned militant when the protesters were blocked from entering into the marriage license bureau. After protesters tried a second route and were again blocked by the Chicago police, chanting erupted: “They say get back, we say fight back!” Now more resolute than ever, protesters succeeded in entering the bureau through a connected building across the street. Met again by the Chicago police and Cook County officials, demonstrators continued to chant in the hallways of the subterranean complex until the office closed at noon. Protesters were then ordered to leave, but continued their protest where they had started. Despite the police operation, seven protesters succeeded in entering the licensing office. After being refused a marriage license, they sat down in a display of civil disobedience for four hours before being arrested. In a show of solidarity, more than 50 demonstrators marched a mile up the street to join teachers, students and their parents in front of the “Rock and Roll” McDonald’s and an adjacent Walgreens. Their protest denounced the support offered by both companies to the Chicago Renaissance 2010 program. Renaissance 2010 uses private funds received from Chicago-area area businesses to replace underfunded and understaffed Chicago public schools with charter schools—while still passing the bulk of education costs on to workers.
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