PROTESTING THE MINUTEMAN PROJECT--Groups Firm Up Plans, Meet With Police
Plans continue for a counter protest to the MINUTEMAN PROJECT meeting at the HOLIDAY INN CRYSTAL LAKE on Saturday, August 25 from 12:30 to 4 pm. Joining the McHENRY COUNTY PEACE GROUP will be a sizable contingent of members and supporters of the CARPENTERSVILLE COMMUNITY ALLIANCE (CCA) and the LATINO COALITION.
The CCA is an association of largely Latino business people who have been prominent in the fight to oppose anti-immigrant ordinances in Carpentersville. The Minuteman Project probably selected Crystal Lake for the site of its meeting largely because of its proximity to the highly publicized battles in Carpentersville and what they perceive as a high level of anti-immigrant sentiment in the region in general.
The Latino Coalition is the leading advocacy and action organization on issues affecting the Latino community in McHenry County.
Preliminary discussions with the CRYSTAL LAKE POLICE indicate that the designated protest area will likely be at the intersection of THREE OAKS and SANDS ROADS. This site, while more visible from the hotel than the original proposed site at Three Oaks and Rt. 31, will be far less visible to the general public as it is more removed from heavily traveled Rt. 31. There will, however be more space there for what looks like a large turn-out.
Demonstrators will not be allowed on the hotel property and will not be able to park there. The nearest parking will probably be in the lot of the shopping center at Sands and Rt. 14 which has Home Depot and other stores.
Police say that banners and hand held signs only will be permitted-no sticks or poles on the signs.
Some individuals have bought tickets to the event and will attempt to raise questions inside. They will not be allowed to carry signs.
All of these details are subject to some changes. Members of all of the participating groups will be meeting with Crystal Lake Police officials on Wednesday morning to fine tune arrangements for a safe and peaceful protest.