Occupy Chicago to Join Nurses in City Hall Protest

Occupy Chicago on Monday will return the favor to a powerful ally.

 

The grassroots organization plans to picket at 10 a.m. alongside National Nurses United, the country’s largest registered nurses union, outside Chicago City Hall to demand misdemeanor trespassing charges be dropped against two nurses and all Occupy Chicago protesters arrested over the weekend.

 

Chicago Police arrested 130 people when Grant Park closed Saturday night and Occupy Chicago attempted for a second weekend in a row to set up a permanent camp there.

 

The nurses said they set up a first aid tent like other volunteers have in cities around the country, including San Francisco and New York.

 

The group’s executive director, RoseAnn DeMoro, told the Chicago Tribune police in those cities never arrested their members.

 

"It was the wrong move," she said. "We were there to make sure if the occupiers get harmed, they have first aid."

 

The organization is asking its membership to call Mayor Emanuel's office at 312-744-5000 to demand all charges be dropped, according to a release.