In early May, Jeff and Sarah put up a banner that read IMPEACH Bush & Cheney - Liars! and an upside down American flag from an overpass in unincorporated DuPage County over Illinois I 355. A state trooper arrived, recognized their message & their right to spread their message, but suggested they look into laws regarding signs, and asked them to remove the banner. They complied.
As they were removing the banner, three DuPage Sheriff Police arrived, apparently one of these a veteran and upset with the situation. Allegedly he threatened the pair (that he'd see the state's attorney & hoped to see them again.) They were allowed to leave.
Three weeks later, Jeff was arrested at his home, and released on bail. The charge (if found guilty) could lead to 3 months in the county jail.
At the court, two additional charges were added, and they were told that if they pled guilty to the first charge, the others (which could each add a year's imprisonment) would be dropped.
Jeff and Sarah refused. Their jury trial begins October 15.
That's right, exercise free speech and you may be asked to take down your sign due to existing signage laws. Comply immediately and willingly and you may still be arrested three weeks later on trumped up charges because you've upset the DuPage Sheriff who doesn't agree with your views and has direct access to the Republican State's Attorney.
Action 1:
On October 11 at 12 noon, there will be a protest held in front of State's Attorney Joe Birkett's office located at 503 N. County Farm Road Wheaton, IL 60187
Action 2:
Take the time to contact the State's attorney:
Email: Joe Birkett
fax (630) 407-8151
phone (630) 407-8000.
Suggested talking points included:
-Urge support of the first amendment
-Dropping all charges against Jeff Zurawski and Sarah Hartfield.
For more information regarding supporting Jeff and Sarah, their legal defense fund needs, or how to contact them directly, see this post.
Update 8-25-07 From the Naperville Sun a while back. Even they get that this is politically motivated persecution prosecution:
While we agree that it is illegal to put something in view from a highway that can be a distraction to drivers, we would argue that distracting billboards and, indeed, traffic signs are placed legally all the time along highways and that these are no more or less distracting than the duo's illegal banner.
We also suspect that had the banner read "Support Bush and Cheney" instead of "Impeach Bush and Cheney - LIARS" the situation would have been viewed a little differently.
[...]
Frankly, we think this should have ended when Zurawski and Hartfield folded their banner and went to leave at the request of the trooper.
While we don't agree with the two's political views, we support their right to have them and think the action taken by the DuPage County state's attorney's office, in particular the upgrading of the charges, is overkill.
