Settlement Reached Over Police Spying On Antiwar Groups
CHICAGO (WBBM) -- The Daley Administration has reached a settlement with the American Civil Liberties Union and a Quaker peace group over a police spying case dating from 2002.
As WBBM Newsradio 780 Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports, that year, Chicago Police were investigating peace groups and potential protesters ahead of the big Trans-Atlantic Business Dialogue meeting in Chicago. The American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker group, sued over the investigation, as well as the publicizing of that investigation.
LISTEN: Newsradio 780 Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports
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City Law Department spokeswoman Jennifer Hoyle says the City has agreed to $12,500 in monetary compensation.
"The city and the ACLU agreed to issue a joint statement emphasizing that the Police Department did not uncover any wrongdoing on the part of the American Friends Service Committee," Hoyle said.
But Harvey Grossman, legal director of the ACLU, calls on Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel and his administration to set tighter controls on police spying, so peaceful, law abiding people are not targeted without reason.
"We have really lacked standards in Chicago to control or limit the Police Department from surveilling the lawful political activity of people," Grossman said.
A consent decree over the infamous Red Quad police spying case has expired.
