Activists sue Johnson administration over DNC protests, say Chicago isn't ready

CHICAGO — As protests surge across America just months before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, activists representing LGBTQ+ and women’s reproductive rights say Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration is violating their First Amendment rights and is unprepared for the onslaught of dissidents headed to the city this August.

The claims were made as Bodies Outside of Unjust Laws filed a federal lawsuit Thursday alleging the city wrongfully denied permits for the group to protest by the Water Tower on Michigan Avenue, an area where many Democratic delegates will be staying during the Aug. 19-22 convention.

Joined by the ACLU of Illinois, activists with the LGBTQ+ and women’s reproductive rights organization said that while they support the Democratic Party over Republicans it’s essential for protesters to be heard to ensure their perspectives are reflected by the party both during and after the convention.

“In this important election year, it’s vital that Democrats listen to the priorities of their supporters who are desperate for the protection of their health and safety and the ability to decide the direction of their own lives,” Anne Rumberger, an activist with the group, said after the lawsuit was filed.

With abortion access being one of the main issues Democrats hope will drive voters to the polls, Andy Thayer, another activist with the coalition, said the lawsuit is about “preserving democracy.”

“For half a century the Democrats allowed the constitutional right to abortion and other rights to be eroded bit by bit until we lost them,” he said. “That’s why we have to be in the streets, using the media attention on the DNC to force the Democrats to live up to their verbal promises.”

The lawsuit comes as several contentious issues continue to roil the nation and the Democratic Party, most notably the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas that has sparked protests on college campuses.

Ed Yohnka, a spokesman for the ACLU of Illinois, which filed Thursday’s lawsuit, warned that the city of Chicago was not prepared for the protests headed here.

“Despite suggestions by some Chicago officials that the city is prepared for the Democratic National Convention, we are here today because they are not,” Yohnka said. “Sadly, the city has not created a clear, transparent plan for welcoming those who want to come to demonstrate and express themselves on the issues of our day.”

DNC organizers have sought to downplay the disunity in the Democratic coalition while at the same time promising that protesters’ First Amendment rights will be protected. They’ve expressed confidence in the ability of the U.S. Secret Service, the Chicago Police Department and other law enforcement agencies to maintain order.

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