A city of Chicago administrative hearing judge has upheld the denial of a march permit for NATO protesters.
The protesters, led by organzer Andy Thayer, had been given a permit for an identical march in the city for May 19, which was to be the first day of the G-8 summit. But after President Barack Obama moved G-8 to Camp David, Thayer's group sought to move its march to May 20 for the first day of the NATO talks.
Administrative Law Judge Raymond J. Prosser delivered his ruling late this afternoon, backing the city's claim that a parade through the heart of the Loop on the first day of the NATO summit would create an unnecessary public safety risk.
The city has proposed moving the parade start to Columbus Drive in Grant Park and skirting the Loop on its path south to McCormick Place, where members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will be meeting May 20-21.
Of course, this isn't the last word. Expect lawsuits at the federal level, who look upon local authorities' attempts to quash First Amendment issues with a jaundiced eye.