Opinion ID: 619560
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Blanks’s Claims against Police Chief Biang

Text: Chris Blanks engaged in numerous protest activities against the Towing Ordinance, including attending the Belvidere Mall rally and speaking at city council meetings in July and August 2004. Biang was aware that Blanks was an outspoken critic of the Towing Ordinance. In August 2004, Blanks advertised a rally against the Towing Ordinance to be held September 4, 2004, in Bedrosian Park, which was owned by the Waukegan Park District. The Park District had its own permit rules, and the Assembly Ordinance did not apply to its property. After learning of the planned rally, Biang instructed his deputy chief, Artis Yancey, to check whether Blanks had a permit from the Park District and to “handle it.” Yancey learned that Blanks had no permit and told Neddenriep. On September 2, 2004, Neddenriep had a uniformed police officer deliver a letter to Blanks advising him that he was violating the Assembly Ordinance because he had not obtained a permit twenty days in advance. The letter told Blanks that failure to comply with the Assembly Ordinance would result in a violation. HowNo. 09-1165 7 ever, the letter did not advise Blanks that the Park District, rather than Waukegan, owned Bedrosian Park. Biang and the city prosecutor were copied on the letter. Blanks was the only person ever advised in writing in advance of an event that he was violating the Assembly Ordinance. Moreover, he and Carrasco were the only persons against whom the Assembly Ordinance was enforced. After receiving the letter Blanks canceled the September 4 rally.