Trial begins for patients and advocates who occupied Woodlawn Mental Health Clinic
Denied right to “necessity defense,” Mental Health Movement holds press conference about why they occupied the clinic and continue to fight
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On April 12th, 2012, twenty-three mental health patients, nurses, therapists, caregivers and advocates were arrested at a sit-in at the Woodlawn Community Mental Health clinic. After years of other tactics, the sit-it group and its thousands of supporters sought to stop the closure of the City’s clinics and prevent the impending death, hospitalization, and incarceration of those who need them.
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Judge Chiampas has assured both sides the trial will take place today without any more continuances or pre-trial motions. Previously, Judge Chiampas denied the defense motion to present a “necessity defense” about the greater harm that protesters were trying to prevent when they barricaded themselves inside of the Woodlawn Mental Health Clinic. Due to the denial of this motion, the defense expects difficulty introducing evidence as to the disastrous consequences that have come about as a result of the closure of half the city’s mental health clinics. Nonetheless, witnesses will attempt to provide this explanation and the Mental Health Movement will be releasing a report on the consequences of the clinic closures at the City Council Progressive Caucus’s October 30th Budget Hearing,
The City administration responded to the peaceful sit-in with SWAT and other CPD armed with guns and chainsaws to
cut through barricades. All were arrested. On Monday 10/15 the arrestees who plead not-guilty to trespassing will stand trial for their actions.
“They’re killing us, without our clinics and therapists we have nowhere to turn,†said Helen Morley, who went to the now closed Beverly/Morgan Park Mental Health Clinic and passed away two months after the clinic’s closure.
Trial of Mental Health Movement members who occupied Woodlawn Mental Health Clinic to fight Rahm’s mental health clinic closures will be held today, October 15, 2012. A press conference will take place beforehand,Monday 10/15 – 8:30 a.m., in front of 2600 S. California at 8:30am, then 9am trial inside room 102, branch 46.
The trial will take place in front of Judge Chiampas Court Room 102 Branch 46.
