Raoul issues guidance for protesters
As people in Chicago, Los Angeles and cities around the nation peacefully protest unlawful policies and orders issued by the Trump administration, Attorney General Kwame Raoul released guidance to help them do so safely.
Raoul's 'Know Your Rights Advisory: Safely Participating in Peaceful Protests in Illinois' is available on the Attorney General's website to help Illinois residents understand their rights and responsibilities while participating in protected First Amendment protests. Raoul also issued a guidance summary to ensure local law enforcement officials understand key provisions of the Illinois TRUST Act, which generally prohibits state and local law enforcement from participating in federal civil immigration enforcement.
'It is impossible to ignore the widespread injustice taking place around the nation at the direction of the Trump administration, and it is incumbent upon all of us to speak out and protest these egregious abuses of power. However, protesters have a responsibility to follow the law and express their views peacefully,' Raoul said.
'Acts of violence, destruction of property and obstruction of law enforcement are unacceptable, and local law enforcement is responsible for addressing such acts. Local law enforcement officers in Illinois have already shown that they are fully capable of protecting protesters, the public and free speech," he added.
Raoul encouraged citizens to know their rights.
"I encourage people to review the 'Know Your Rights Advisory' on my office's website before participating in a demonstration. This moment demands that we all use our voices in protest, but it is up to protesters and local law enforcement officers together to maintain public safety at such demonstrations,' he said.
The right to free speech and peaceable assembly protected by the First Amendment includes the right to participate in protests, marches and demonstrations. However, protesters are responsible for expressing their views peacefully and obeying orders issued by local law enforcement. Physical violence, destruction of property, criminal trespass onto private property or other criminal activities are not protected by the First Amendment. Local law enforcement officers may take appropriate crowd management and traffic control measures if needed.
Attorney General Raoul is also reminding demonstrators that it is a federal crime to assault, intimidate or interfere with an officer or employee of the U.S. government while performing official duties, or to obstruct or impede a federal civil immigration enforcement operation.
Illinois' TRUST Act generally prohibits local law enforcement from participating in civil immigration enforcement. Although the law does not prevent local law enforcement officers from taking action to maintain peace and ensure public safety in their jurisdictions, officers must respect the constitutional and civil rights of all individuals at all times. Local law enforcement officers may not stop, arrest or detain anyone based solely on citizenship or immigration status.
The Attorney General's 'Know Your Rights Advisory: Safely Participating in Peaceful Protests in Illinois' and 'Guidance Summary: Key Provisions of the Illinois TRUST Act' contain more information and are available to all on the Attorney General's website.
Raoul urges anyone who believes their rights or someone else's rights are being violated to remain calm, document all relevant information and do not use force or otherwise resist arrest. Individuals who need to report alleged civil rights violations or alleged violations of the TRUST Act by law enforcement should contact the Attorney General's Civil Rights Bureau by calling 1-877-581-3692 or by emailing civilrights@ilag.gov.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Portland ICE building being restored after riot, protests
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – After two days of , the block appears to be clear Monday afternoon. Several protesters camping outside of the ICE facility were ordered to move, and they are now set up down the street. Second man involved in Clackamas Town Center parking lot shooting gets 70-month sentence Meanwhile, the building itself is in the process of being restored with protective boards and the graffiti is being power washed away. Tensions were high over the weekend, with hundreds of people protesting outside the ICE building on Saturday. That number dwindled down to around a few dozen on Sunday. Portland police declared the protests a riot on Saturday night, saying they were going to make targeted arrests. That night, ICE agents also threw several rounds of tear gas into the crowd. KOIN 6 News reporters observed some of the protesters tossing the canisters back at the building along with water bottles and other materials. Crews also saw ICE agents use paintballs, rubber bullets and pepper bullets against protesters. Stabbing suspect at large after victim seriously injured in SW Portland Damage to the ICE building includes graffiti, smashed windows and doors, and trash. One protester, Blue, told KOIN 6 News there are greater things at stake than building damage. 'People are going to exercise their First Amendment right how they choose,' Blue said. 'It's a building. It has no rights. It has no importance to me. Compared to the human lives that are at stake here.' 'People are choosing to be in a location that they're not supposed to be, it seems like the protest is that's kind of, to begin with, their only crime. And then the police come out and get violent and then it becomes something else,' added a protestor named Casey. over the course of the weekend, and some face felony charges. Four appeared in court Monday. 'I grieve that there's the violent, or more demonstrative, type of stuff missing. I'll just making that statement about why this is what we're about,' said protestor Wayne Smith. 'I think maintaining social order is the responsibility of the police.' Portland Mayor Keith Wilson with the following statement: 'An estimated 50,000 Portlanders marched together in solidarity and protest yesterday, joining demonstrations from across the nation. We celebrate all those who peacefully and powerfully raised their voices against Federal overreach, which are deeply held values in both Portland and our nation. Miles from the planned demonstration, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility was damaged by fireworks and other materials. The Incident Command team learned of one federal officer being injured and sent resources to assist, but learned he did not require medical treatment. Later in the evening, PPB was notified that two additional officers received minor injuries and they, too, did not require treatment. The Portland Police Bureau responded swiftly, arrested one person, and cleared a path for a medical evacuation, which was ultimately not required. Later in the evening, a small group of demonstrators remained at the facility and the majority were exercising their constitutional right to free speech while remaining law abiding. However, PPB did step in to make targeted arrests when they had probable cause of criminal behavior. Portland is a sanctuary city within a sanctuary state, and the Portland Police Bureau serves and protects our community. We affirm the right to free speech and expression while emphasizing that violence, destruction, and obstruction carry consequences. Portland complies with all applicable federal and state laws and will not obstruct lawful federal enforcement operations. Our officers will not be used as agents of ICE, but will intervene when criminal acts occur. Accordingly, our officers have maintained a presence at the facility during demonstrations. It is important to note that just because arrests are not made at the scene, when tensions are high, that does not mean that people are not being charged with crimes later. Even when arrests do not happen in the moment, PPB members will continue to conduct follow-up investigations, make arrests, and forward cases to the Multnomah County District Attorney for prosecution. Portland has not requested and does not require the intervention of the National Guard. Deploying military troops to the heart of an American city, as the administration has in Los Angeles, is an unwarranted, unprecedented, and unconstitutional action. If we witness federal abuse following this incident or any other pretext, we will bring it to light, take legal action, and take the fight to federal courts, where we will prevail.' KOIN 6 News reached out to ICE officials, but we have yet to receive a response. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Federal lawsuit looks to halt Arkansas' Educational Freedom Account program; claims it violates US Constitution
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Four Arkansans have filed a federal lawsuit against multiple state departments over the state's Educational Freedom Accounts, claiming it violates the United States Constitution. The lawsuit was filed in the Eastern District of Arkansas on June 13. The plaintiffs are Gwen Faulkenberry of Franklin County, Special Renee Sanders of Drew County, Anika Whitfield of Pulaski County and Kimberly Crutchfield of Pulaski County. The lawsuit names Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the Arkansas Department of Education, the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, Education Secretary Jacob Oliva, Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration Jim Hudson and the nine-member state Board of Education, who are represented by state Attorney General Tim Griffin's office. The plaintiffs said in the 108-page complaint that the Education Freedom Accounts, or 'the Voucher Program', violates the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, which prohibits the government from favoring one religion over others. Benton County employee fired after sexual misconduct investigation It also claims that the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment is violated, which mandates that people in similar circumstances receive the same treatment under the law. Article 2, Section 24 in the Arkansas Constitution is also reportedly violated. The article prohibits people from being compelled to attend any place of worship against their consent and bars the state from giving preference by law to religious establishments, denominations or modes of worship 'above any other.' 'The LEARNS Act is, through the use of public funds of the State of Arkansas, creating a separate and unequal dual school system of public and private schools, the latter of which, as a regular part of their curricula, teach the doctrines of particular religious, creeds and sects as a means of the establishment, encouragement, development and perpetuation of such religions, creeds and sects,' the complaint said. The plaintiffs say in the complaint that the EFA system 'denies the equal protection of the laws available and applicable to Arkansas school children based on economic, racial and physical characteristics and abilities.' It also allegedly creates a 'system of private schools that are not available to all school children in Arkansas because such private schools are not located in and accessible to school children in many rural areas' in the state. The Arkansas Department of Education's website reports that since the start of the 2023-24 school year, Arkansans have applied for more than 64,000 Education Freedom Accounts. Voucher recipients were given at least $6,856 each for the 2024-25 school year, and next year's will receive $6,864, the ADE previously told KNWA/FOX24. The EFA program was created by the LEARNS Act in 2023. It aims to provide state-funded accounts to approved families, helping them cover the costs of private school tuition, homeschooling, and other educational expenses. 5 Arkansas-based companies in Forbes' latest 'Global 2000' list A spokesperson for Governor Sanders' office gave the following statement to KNWA/FOX24 on Friday: 'This suit has no merit. More than 44,000 students have applied for EFAs for next school year and far-left activists are playing politics with those kids' futures to try and protect a failed status quo.' The Department of Finance and Administration said that as a policy, the department does not comment on any active litigation. 'The LEARNS Act has been a game-changer for Arkansas. Where previously there was stagnation, we now see progress. Where there was malaise, we now see hope. I have successfully defended the LEARNS Act and will eagerly do it again,' Attorney General Tim Griffin's office said in a statement. KNWA/FOX24 also reached out to the Arkansas Department of Education for comment, but has not heard back. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
2 hours ago
- CBS News
Four hospitalized after shooting at Compton park
Four people were hospitalized following a shooting at a park in Compton on Saturday. It happened a little before 5:30 p.m. in the 1300 block of W. El Segundo Boulevard near Compton Avenue, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Upon arrival, deputies found two people suffering from gunshot wounds to their upper bodies. They were both taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition. Two other victims self-transported to the hospital and are also said to be stable, according to deputies. There was no information provided on a suspect or motive in the incident.
