Ja’Mal Green, William Calloway fined, ordered to stay away from federal courthouse after Van Dyke protest

Ja’ Mal Green on Tuesday was ordered to pay a $200 fine and to stay away from the Dirksen Federal Building for the next 60 days for his arrest there during a protest last week.

Several community activists, including Ja’Mal Green and William Calloway, were ordered Tuesday to stay away from the downtown federal courthouse for 60 days and to pay a $200 fine for their part in a protest demanding federal charges against former Chicago cop Jason Van Dyke.

The arrested protesters, who are calling themselves the “Laquan Nine,” were at the federal courthouse to deliver a letter to U.S. Attorney John Lausch demanding he file federal charges against the disgraced officer, who was released from prison last week after serving a little more than three years for killing 17-year-old Laquan McDonald.

The activists’ attorney, William Hardwicke, argued in U.S. District Court on Tuesday that the arrest of his clients was punishment enough. Hardwicke also pointed out that the protest was nonviolent and “in the best tradition of civil disobedience.”

Arrested protesters demanding federal charges against Jason Van Dyke say they have no plans to stop

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 repeatedly told the organizers that they weren’t being punished for the content of their speech or for delivering a letter to Lausch’s office — which they successfully did. Instead, they were being penalized for ignoring — for more than an hour — a U.S. Marshals’ order to leave the courthouse lobby.

Pallmeyer said the activists must stay away from the courthouse for the next 60 days unless there on official business.

Green did not speak at his hearing, other than to say he appreciated Pallmeyer’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.”

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

Protesters rallied Thursday outside the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in downtown Chicago, demanding that newly released Jason Van Dyke face federal civil rights charges for killing Laquan McDonald.

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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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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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.

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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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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

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