This lawsuit was brought on June 25, 2020 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. This complaint was filed in response to police conduct amidst the protests that followed the killing of George Floyd in May of 2020. However, unlike most other cases in this collection, the conduct of the police in this case were aimed at the plaintiffs specifically. Plaintiffs were directors of an organization created by Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) called Chicago Freedom School and the institution itself. They were represented by attorneys from the People's Law Office and the Community Justice and Civil Rights Clinic at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. Defendants were the City of Chicago, the Superintendent of Chicago Police, investigators from the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) and several Chicago Police Department (CPD) officers.

The complaint alleged that, in an effort to aid protesters, the Chicago Freedom School announced that they would open their facility to people looking to take a break, charge their cell phones, and get refreshments and pizza. Later in the night, investigators from the BACP and a number of CPD officers parked outside the Chicago Freedom School, and began to tell the directors of the organization that they needed to inspect the building because they received reports that the School was housing and feeding people in violation of their business license. Defendants entered the building without a warrant and issued a cease and desist order, claiming that they were "preparing and serving food on the premises" without a proper license.

The complaint alleged violations of the First and Fourth Amendments, as well as several counts regarding violations of Illinois state law including the Illinois state constitution, the Illinois Civil Rights Act of 2003, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief in the form of a preliminary injunction, as well as monetary damages.

The case was assigned to the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin and Magistrate Judge Sunil R. Harjani.

While the docket does not say so, the Chicago Freedom School announced on July 3, 2020 that the CPD had rescinded the cease and desist letter. The cease and desist letter was rescinded as part of a larger settlement with the city, though we do not have access to the rest of the terms of that settlement.

On August 17, the plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed the case, and the case is now closed.

Jack Hibbard - 09/30/2020


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