The nine activists with the South Side trauma center campaign who were arrested Wednesday after staging a sit-in at a University of Chicago administrative building are appearing in bond court Friday morning, according to the Trauma Care Coalition.
The protesters who were arrested on Wednesday evening were calling for a meeting with U of C President Robert Zimmer to discuss their demands, including that the university re-open an adult trauma care facility. The nine activists were arrested after they reportedly shut themselves inside the university's administrative building and kept the doors shut with a bike lock. Firefighters had to forcibly enter the building with tools.
"Within hours of the group presenting their demands on Wednesday afternoon, the University of Chicago Police Department and firefighters cut through drywall with axes, broke through the windows of the administration building and forcibly removed and arrested the protestors," a release from the Trauma Care Coalition reads. "Since the arrests, allies and supporters have maintained a constant presence at the jail and have held a prayer vigil, where this petition was circulated in solidarity with the arrestees."
According to the news release, trauma care activists are demanding:
U of C file no charges against trauma care activists
U of C pursue no disciplinary action against arrested activists
In addition to re-stating the demands of the sit-in:
U of C open a level one adult trauma center now
U of C raise the age of the Level 1 pediatric trauma center care to 21
U of C President Zimmer set a meeting with the Trauma Care Coalition by the end of the week
U of C include community input in the current trauma center feasibility study
U of C agree to a comprehensive community benefits agreement on the Obama Library.
Check back with Progress Illinois as this story develops.
UPDATE (12:18 p.m.): According to the Trauma Care Coalition, all nine of the arrested activists, who are facing misdemeanor charges, will be released this afternoon. Eight of the arrested activists will be released on I-bonds and one of the arrestees will be released on $100 bail.
UPDATE (6:22 p.m.): The nine arrested trauma center protesters have officially been released from police custody, nearly 48 hours after being arrested on Wednesday, according to the Trauma Care Coalition.
"All nine are being charged with three misdemeanor charges: trespassing, mob action and resisting arrest," according to a news release. "Trauma Care Coalition activists will continue to contest the charges and continue to pressure the (U of C) to drop the charges."