The South Chicago “Stop the Meters” protesters have brought their anti-parking meter message home. More specifically, to 10th Ward Alderman John Pope’s home.
Tuesday evening at 6 PM, a busload of protesters, along with another few car loads of people totaling 60-75 people, showed up on Ald. Pope’s doorstep.
Armed with signs and their anti-meter sentiments, they marched and protested for close to 45 minutes.
According to one of the organizers, Stephanie Puente, many of Pope’s neighbors came out to check out the action with a few neighbors verbally showing support for the protesters.
“All his neighbors came out to see what we were doing,” explained Puente. “Some people clapped to show their support and asked if they could sign a petition against the meters. All in all in was a pretty successful protest.”
However, at least one neighbor, unhappy with the protesters, voiced their feelings and called the police on the peaceful rally. Police showed up, but took no action.
When asked why they decided to bring the protest to Pope’s house, Puente said, “It’s been nearly three weeks since the first protest and we’ve been trying to reach out to the Alderman and Neil Bosanko (President of the South Chicago Chamber of Commerce) and they pretend like we don’t exist. So we took the protest to his doorstep.”
Puente says the “Stop the Meters” sit in, aimed at discouraging the new pay boxes from being installed, continues unabated and plans to continue for an indefinite period of time.
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Um. Where are the protesters over 18 years of age that can drive and pay city taxes. looks as if they gathered a class full of 7 graders to march.
Give me a break……
You know, I hope that they do get their way and they have to pay the city or the company that took the meters over a fee to keep the meters off their streets. Yeah I like it. Protest more and make your district pay to keep the meters out.
This is great! I like the children in the picture as it shows Daley and John Pope who is going to have to flip the cost of their 75 year deal! Pure genius! We need more people like this to step up and stop being scared to speak! STOP THE METERS!!!
East side resident. You like the children in the picture” Why? They don’t pay taxes now or will they ever pay taxes. We will take care of 95% of the children you see in this picture with welfare.
It is not pure genius. No of them drive or own cars.
“RAISE TAXES and that will move them to Indiana, I say keep all taxes high and only a few of us will be able to stay in Chicago”
Our children and there children will be paying for Richards 75 year deal. Whoever brought the children along knows more about what is going on and how it will effect our future then you Daley or Pope do. I think they are great and am happy to see their efforts.
Raise the taxes to move people out? Are you serious? I’ve lived on the east side my entire life and so did my parents. You think your going to kick us out you have another thing coming to you brother.
After reading about this march I called up John and his rude secretary gave me the run around but well see who has the last laugh. I hope everyone else does the same his number is 773-721-1999. Tell John we aren’t in Lincoln Park buddy and we don’t have the kind of money he or this jerk do.
Raise those taxes! Get these ghetto people out of this area! Keep the meters! I’m so tired of the trash that moved here!