6 Anti-Olympic Protesters Charged With Mob Action

Sept. 30, 3009

CHICAGO (CBS) - Six people were charged Wednesday with mob action
for allegedly damaging property at an anti-Olympic protest in the Loop
Tuesday evening.

A group of protesters tried to snatch an Olympic decoration that was
supposed to go on the Picasso statue in Daley Plaza.

Jeremy Hammond, 24, of Chicago; his twin brother Jason Hammond of Glendale
Heights; Jeremy Sorkin, 21, of Chicago; Johnathan Clark, 21, of Rocky
Mount, North Carolina; and Anna Stafford, 20, of Wheatfield, Ind. have
each been charged with one count of mob action — a Class 4 felony,
according to Cook County State's Attorney's office spokeswoman Tandra
Simonton. The charges were approved at 1:05 p.m.

All six will appear for a bond hearing Thursday, Simonton said.

The six have also each been charged with criminal damage to property and
resisting and obstructing a peace officer, both classified as
misdemeanors, police said.

Police said Jason Hammond listed his occupation on a police report as a
self-employed rock star.

CBS 2's Anne State reports that the whole thing started as workers were
decorating Daley Plaza for the Olympics.

An oversized Olympic medal was being taken out of packaging as a group of
protesters nearby was beating drums chanting, "No Games."

Some of the protesters tried to grab the Olympic prop. They weren't able
to do so; they just pulled off the brown wrapping around it.

One protester hopped over the fence and burned the wrapping in the eternal
flame.

An officer was then seen grabbing one of the demonstrators as the rest of
them began running across Daley Plaza. That officer called for back-up and
got it in a hurry. Several police cars showed up.

"The great thing about this country is that we have a right to freedom of
speech. At the same time, there is a line that you cannot cross. And
unfortunately that line was crossed tonight," said Chicago Police Lt.
Charles Flynn.

Two witnesses claim police acted brutally.

Olympic opponent and witness Magda Ramirez said, "The police also did
damage to them. Grabbed the young people, threw them on the ground and had
them arrested."

Not all of the protesters at Daley Plaza Tuesday contributed to the
violence. Others may be taken into custody as the investigation continues.

Members of No Games Chicago, the group that organized the rally, headed to
Copenhagen Tuesday to tell the International Olympic Committee that
Chicago is in such financial straits it cannot afford the games and is
such a hotbed of political corruption it doesn't deserve them.

"We are bringing materials to back up our claim that Chicago is not fit to
host the games," said Tom Tresser, an organizer for the group.