Chicago journalists and protesters sued senior administration officials this week, arguing that the government had prevented them from using their First Amendment rights.
Illinois judge blocks federal authorities from using force against Chicago journalists www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
— Tom Jones (@earl2.bsky.social) 2025-10-09T20:47:33.521Z
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/09/chicago-journalists-ice-lawsuit-00600209
A federal judge in Illinois has barred federal agents from using force or threatening to arrest journalists in Chicago, as the White House continues to send troops to the city amid President Donald Trump’s national street crime crackdown.
The temporary restraining order came just days after Chicago journalists and protesters sued senior White House officials, including Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, arguing that the government had prevented “the press, elected officials, religious leaders, and civilians engaged in peaceful protest from exercising their First Amendment rights.”
Videos have circulated in recent days of federal agents shooting tear gas and other “riot control weapons” at protesters — and, city officials say, toward officers from the Chicago Police Department — in response to demonstrations throughout the city.
The temporary restraining order, issued by district court judge Sara L. Ellis, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, also blocks Trump administration authorities from requiring journalists to leave public spaces and using riot control weapons on the press, protesters or clergy “who are not posing an immediate threat to the safety of a law enforcement officer or others.”
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