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On the morning of August 29, 2008, a peaceful protest got underway at a Cook County Courthouse located at 555 W.
Harrison in Chicago, Illinois. I along with other protesters organized the protest to be a moving protest. They were
going to begin at the Cook County Courthouse on W. Harrison and then go near US Attorney Patrick
Fitzgerald's office at 219 S. Dearborn and go on to Noelle Brennan's office at 20 S. Clark. For those who do
not know who Noelle Brennan is, she is the City of Chicago's Shakman monitor appointed by federal judge Wayne
Andersen. At approximately 12:05 pm some of the gentlemen involved in the protest proceeded to go inside the
Courthouse. As they proceeded through the revolving doors, I sat down on a nearby bench inside the lobby area. Another
gentleman, was in the process of going through security. the man carries a briefcase with his paperwork in
it. The Cook County Sheriff deputies at security told to remove his belt, he in turn said that if he removes
his belt, then his pants would fall down. He then asked if he could get permission to go through with his belt. There was
nothing fancy or high tech about his belt. While he was waiting for an answer he was arrested, several deputies were present.
When asked why the man was being arrested, they were told that the man had a bomb. Now America, if this
man had a bomb, why wasn't the building evacuated, why wasn't SWAT called in, why was there no emergency personnel
called in to assist this "BOMB THREAT". Because there was no bomb. There was no threat. Court case continued
to be heard, motions continued to be filed, it was business as usual in the "Crook County" Courthouse.
The media was notified of this situation, but they do not care. The man as well as the other protesters have been
in the building many, many times before and have not had a problem, because they decide that they want to walk around outside
and pass out flyers, now they are looked at as a threat. One of the gentlemen who had accompanied the man inside, asked
one of the deputies how could he get the man out, and the deputy, a woman, said that she did not know what
the charge was. The gentleman then said that you were one of the ones who said that the man had a bomb. She acted
as if she wanted to arrest the gentleman for simply asking about his friend.
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