Today’s quotable
Monday, Sep 8, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Rockford’s WTVO…
A new, temporary security fence erected around the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on Friday has drawn attention amid reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are deploying soon to the Chicago area. […]
In a statement to Eyewitness News, a spokesperson for the U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois said that temporary fencing has been installed near the Stanley J. Roszkowski Courthouse to help those who need to access the courthouse to do so safely.
“The Courthouse remains open and accessible. The District Court Clerk’s Office will be open during normal business hours, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, and in-person proceedings will continue as scheduled by the assigned judge. In Rockford, the designated Freedom of Speech and Expression area is the public space located at the corner of South Church and Cedar Streets. The General Services Administration maintains this area and may require special permitting.”
- HIya - Monday, Sep 8, 25 @ 10:48 am:
“designated Freedom of Speech and Expression area”: isn’t that supposed to be the whole country?
- Remember the Alamo II - Monday, Sep 8, 25 @ 10:53 am:
=== “designated Freedom of Speech and Expression area”: isn’t that supposed to be the whole country? ===
The government can establish time, place and manner restrictions on free speech so long as the restrictions are content neutral, the restrictions are narrowly tailored to serve that government interest, and the restrictions must leave open ample alternative channels for communicating the speaker’s message.
So no - you cannot exercise your free speech rights anywhere you want anytime you want.
- ChicagoVinny - Monday, Sep 8, 25 @ 10:55 am:
Saw one photo posted on socials that looked like they put up some kind of security fencing for the downtown Chicago courthouse as well.
This smells of Stephen Miller.
- JoanP - Monday, Sep 8, 25 @ 11:20 am:
2 HIya -
Time, place, and manner restrictions are constitutional.
- Confused.... - Monday, Sep 8, 25 @ 11:30 am:
All these unwanted plans to help Chicago with its crime problem while ignoring other cities with even larger ones.
Sounds similar to what happened in Portland, Oregon. Federal action was neither wanted there nor was it needed there. Trump and company didn’t care. They jumped in anyway. Here was their action plan:
1. Create a place for the problem to happen.
2. Attract people with inflammatory statements.
3. Send untrained people to “protect” citizens.
4. Dare the protesters to march.
How did it all work out?
Federal actions turned a one day protest into a nightly riot that went on for weeks. To avoid responsibility for creating this mess
5. Blame imaginary group (antifa)
6. Make demands for more “law and order”.
How many cities will Trump try to help this way? Who knows? Did any of it actually help? Of course not. The chaos is intentional.
- Last Year - Monday, Sep 8, 25 @ 11:34 am:
Similar fences were in place for the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
- JS Mill - Monday, Sep 8, 25 @ 1:59 pm:
=So no - you cannot exercise your free speech rights anywhere you want anytime you want.=
Does that apply to the 2nd Amendment as well?
Asking for a friend.
- 2nd Amendment Follower - Monday, Sep 8, 25 @ 2:24 pm:
===Does that apply to the 2nd Amendment as well?
Asking for a friend.===
I assume this is satire. If not, then you are shockingly uninformed on the current restrictions on the 2nd Amendment in Illinois.
- Blue Dog - Monday, Sep 8, 25 @ 2:42 pm:
2nd Amendment. Excellent
- JS Mill - Monday, Sep 8, 25 @ 4:13 pm:
=If not, then you are shockingly uninformed on the current restrictions on the 2nd Amendment in Illinois.=
The 2A folks don’t think so there should be restrictions. As evidence please see the state court dockets.
For the record, I am well versed on Illinois rules. My statement was actually a question to you (and 2A obsessed people) since you seem ok with court supported restriction to 1A, our first and most important amendment (in the opinion of those that wrote and approved the first 10 amendments).
- RNUG - Monday, Sep 8, 25 @ 10:06 pm:
== “designated Freedom of Speech and Expression area” ==
Recently visited Mt Rushmore. Like a lot of government sites, they had an area set aside specifically for free speech activities. Wasn’t fenced off or isolated, but it did have signage designating that area … and it was an area right on the pathway to the monument.