Charges pit free speech against highway safety

[EthanAllen]

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/downersgrovesun/news/482924,6_1_NA26_DSPROTEST_S1.article#

Attorney to work pro bono on pair's defense

July 26, 2007
By Jennifer Golz Staff writer

A Downers Grove man believes he is being prosecuted for his political views - and an area attorney has taken his case pro bono.

Jeff Zurawski, 39, of Downers Grove and Sarah M. Hartfield, 45, of Naperville were initially charged with disorderly conduct for displaying a banner that read "Impeach Bush and Cheney - LIARS" on May 6 on the Great Western Trail above Interstate 355.
» Click to enlarge image
Jeff Zurawski of Downers Grove and Sarah Hartfield of Naperville write and sort thank-you notes they're sending to people who have contributed to their legal aid fund. They face charges for placing an anti-Bush sign above Interstate 355.
(Kate Szrom/Staff photographer)

» Click to enlarge image
Jeff Zurawski and Sarah Hartfield face a year in county jail for reckless conduct and unauthorized display of sign charges after displaying a banner that read "Impeach Bush and Cheney – LIARS" on May 6 on Great Western Trail above Interstate 355.
(Kate Szrom/Staff photographer)

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• Update: Trial date set for protesters

But more charges were brought against the two war protesters last week in DuPage County Circuit Court in Wheaton: reckless conduct and unauthorized display of a sign in viewing of a highway, both misdemeanors.

The new charges each carry a penalty of up to one year imprisonment, while the original charge was up to a three-month sentence in the county jail.

"This is political prosecution," said environmental rights attorney Shawn Collins, who has taken on Zurawski and Hartfield's case pro bono.

Paul Darrah, a spokesman for the state's attorney's office, said the charges are not for the content of Zurawski and Hartfield's banner but for the location.

"If you're driving along the highway at 55 mph, you need to pay attention to what's going on on the road, not necessarily above the road," Darrah said.

Alongside the banner hung an upside-down American flag, "to signal to our neighbors that we are in trouble because our leaders have lied to us," Zurawski said. "They have betrayed us."

Zurawski and Hartfield said they were leading a peaceful protest and were respectful when an Illinois State Trooper asked the two to take down the banner because it posed as a potential distraction.
Opposing ideologies
The trouble allegedly began when three DuPage County sheriff's deputies arrived on the scene as Zurawski and Hartfield were packing up their signs.

One of the deputies said a call was received that items were being thrown from the bridge, which both Zurawski and Hartfield deny.

"That would be senseless endangerment and destruction of innocent lives," Hartfield said. "I'm a peace activist, and anyone who knows me knows I would never throw anything over the overpass, endangering someone's life."

During their conversation with the deputies, one deputy allegedly took personal offense at the protest, citing his war veteran status and that of his son, who is serving in Afghanistan.

After providing their personal information to the deputies, Zurawski and Hartfield left without a citation. It was three weeks later that arrest warrants were issued for each on the charge of disorderly conduct.

Now, a month later, the charges have been upgraded.

Collins has asked for a jury trial for his clients.

"The people of DuPage County will see this for what it is," he said. "Even if they disagree with what Jeff and Sarah believe, they want this to be a county and a country where Jeff and Sarah are free to express their beliefs."

Zurawski and Hartfield are due in court July 30, when a trial date is expected to be set.

[Bald Eagle]

Right,

and how many people have been charged for putting signs and flags on overpasses after 9/11 or on its anniversary?

How distracting are reflective road signs, or those damn new LED-strobes on police cars?  It's like trying to drive past a quasar, and anywhere in the vicinity you're instantly night blinded.

It would be better if on every overpass were hanging officious jerkoffs in nooses.

[lildog]

Right,

and how many people have been charged for putting signs and flags on overpasses after 9/11 or on its anniversary?

After reading the story I had that same question.  I just can't see them charging someone for putting up a Welcome Home Soldier sign.