Community activist Ja’Mal Green has been ordered to stay away from the downtown federal courthouse for 60 days and pay a $200 fine for his part in a protest last week demanding federal charges against former Chicago cop Jason Van Dyke.
Green and eight other protesters were arrested inside the Dirksen Federal Building after they refused to leave. They were there to deliver a letter to U.S. Attorney John Lausch calling for him to file federal charges against Van Dyke, who was released from prison last week after serving a little more than three years for killing Laquan McDonald.
Green’s attorney, William Hardwicke, argued in U.S. District Court on Tuesday that his client’s arrest was punishment enough. Hardwicke also pointed out that the protest was nonviolent and “in the best tradition of civil disobedience.”
U.S. District Court Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer disagreed, saying it was clear that Green and his fellow protesters wanted to be arrested. The protesters were also asked repeatedly to leave the building but refused, she said.
“It would have been a simple thing to do that,” Pallmeyer said.
Pallmeyer said Green must stay away from the courthouse for the next 60 days unless there on official business.
Green did not speak at Tuesday’s hearing, other than to say he appreciated the judge’s time. He later tweeted: “This morning a federal judge fined me $200 and banned me from the courthouse for 60 days for protesting for federal charges against Jason Van Dyke. This is our Injustice system! #JusticeForLaquanMcdonald.”
The other eight protesters were expected to appear before Pallmeyer later Tuesday.
This morning a federal judge fined me $200 and banned me from the courthouse for 60 days for protesting for federal charges against Jason Van Dyke. This is our Injustice system! #JusticeForLaquanMcdonald
— Ja’Mal Green (@JaymalGreen) February 8, 2022
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Around 100 protesters rally outside the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in downtown Chicago demanding that those arrested by U.S. Marshals be released, and Jason Van Dyke face federal charges for killing Laquan McDonald, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022.
Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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Around 100 protesters rally outside the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in downtown Chicago demanding that Jason Van Dyke face Federal Charges for killing Laquan McDonald, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022.
Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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Around 100 protesters rally outside the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in downtown Chicago demanding that Jason Van Dyke face Federal Charges for killing Laquan McDonald, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022.
Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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Around 100 protesters rally outside the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in downtown Chicago demanding that Jason Van Dyke face Federal Charges for killing Laquan McDonald, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022.
Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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U.S. Marshals begin to detain protesters who are refusing to leave the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in Downtown Chicago, included in the detentions are community activists Ja’mal Green, William Calloway, both community activists, Justin Blake, Jacob Blake’s Uncle, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. Tracey Hunter, Laquan McDonald’s grandmother also joined in the civil disobedience, but wasn’t detained by U.S. Marshals.
Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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A U.S. Marshal speaks to Tracey Hunter, Laquan McDonald’s grandmother, orange coat, as activists are being detained by Marshals for refusing to leave the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in downtown Chicago, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. Activists are demanding that Jason Van Dyke face Federal Charges for killing Laquan McDonald.
Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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Around 100 protesters rally outside the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in downtown Chicago demanding that those arrested by U.S. Marshals be released, and Jason Van Dyke face Federal Charges for killing Laquan McDonald, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022.
Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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Around 100 protesters rally outside the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in downtown Chicago demanding that those arrested by U.S. Marshals be released, and Jason Van Dyke face Federal Charges for killing Laquan McDonald, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022.
Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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Father Michael Pfleger speaks to reporters outside the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in downtown Chicago demanding that Jason Van Dyke face federal charges for killing Laquan McDonald, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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Father Michael Pfleger speaks to reporters outside the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in downtown Chicago demanding that Jason Van Dyke face federal charges for killing Laquan McDonald, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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Justin Black, Jacob Blake’s Uncle, joins around 100 protesters outside the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in downtown Chicago demanding that Jason Van Dyke face federal charges for killing Laquan McDonald, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022.
Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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Around 100 protesters rally outside the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in downtown Chicago demanding that Jason Van Dyke face federal charges for killing Laquan McDonald, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022.
Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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A group of protesters commit an act of civil disobedience by locking arms and chanting inside the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in Downtown Chicago are Ja’mal Green, William Calloway, both community activists, Justin Blake, Jacob Blakes Uncle, and Tracey Hunter, Laquan McDonald’s Grandmother, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022.
Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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A U.S. Marshal speaks to Tracey Hunter, Laquan McDonald’s grandmother, orange coat, as activists are being detained by Marshals for refusing to leave the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in downtown Chicago, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. Activists are demanding that Jason Van Dyke face Federal Charges for killing Laquan McDonald.
Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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A U.S. Marshal speaks to Tracey Hunter, Laquan McDonald’s grandmother, orange coat, as activists are being detained by Marshals for refusing to leave the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in downtown Chicago, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. Activists are demanding that Jason Van Dyke face Federal Charges for killing Laquan McDonald.
Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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U.S. Marshals begin to detain protesters who are refusing to leave the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in Downtown Chicago, included in the detentions are Ja’mal Green, William Calloway, both community activists, Justin Blake, Jacob Blakes Uncle, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. Tracey Hunter, Laquan McDonald’s grandmother also joined in the civil disobedience, but wasn’t detained by U.S. Marshals. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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Around 100 protesters rally outside the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in downtown Chicago demanding that those arrested by U.S. Marshals be released, and Jason Van Dyke face federal charges for killing Laquan McDonald, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022.
Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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Tracey Hunter, Laquan McDonald’s grandmother, orange coat, speaks to reporters outside the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in downtown Chicago demanding that Jason Van Dyke face federal charges for killing Laquan McDonald, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022.
Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
