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Amazing Video: Sheriff Says “It’s Not A Dictatorship. It’s A Democracy.” As He Honors Citizens Arrest Of Entire County Board.
by Ashley Jones Alternate Current Radio Network
People are always talking about what they can do to hold their public officials accountable for their corrupt actions and violations of our unalienable rights, but unfortunately, most of the time they are all talk, and no action. That is why we were so excited when we came across a video that actually showed citizens actually taking action against their corrupt public officials. The video was recorded during a Clark County IL Park District Board meeting where over 30 citizens had shown up to speak out against local government corruption, but the were told by the board attorney that they would not be taking public comments, even though it was in direct violation of Illinois law.
Illinois law requires public bodies to allow citizens the right to make comments, whether or not the public comments are “on the agenda”. The relevant statute:
Specifically: (5 ILCS 120/2.06) (from Ch. 102, par. 42.06)
Sec. 2.06. Minutes; right to speak.
(g) Any person shall be permitted an opportunity to address public officials under the rules established and recorded by the public body.
The failure of the board to allow the public a chance to address the board, even after being informed they were required to, means they have violated the open meetings act. That particular violation does not qualify as an exemption listed as it pertains to being guilty of a class C Misdemeanor. That means their actions constitute a Class C Misdemeanor.
After hearing that the board would not be taking public comments, clark county citizens Kirk Allen, and John Kraft of http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com stood up and informed the board members that they were all under citizens arrest for violating open meeting laws, and that they couldn’t leave until the county Sheriff arrived. When the county Sheriff arrived,much to the boards surprise, he actually told the Board that the Edgar county Watchdogs were absolutely right about the law and honored their citizens arrest of all board members.
Entire Park District Board Placed Under Citizen’s Arrest
In a highly unusual move, the leader of a Downstate watchdog group placed an entire park district board under a citizen’s arrest for failing to allow public comment and violating a state disclosure law.
Public boards are used to facing angry crowds, but most have never dealt with what happened at one recent meeting in central Illinois.
Around 30 people showed up at a Clark County Park District Board meeting in May, hoping to speak openly about recent park-related controversies. After most sat through a 2-1/2 hour closed session, the board returned to open session only to inform the crowd that they would not be allowed to speak to board members.
That’s when John Kraft, a member of a local watchdog group, sprang into action. Rising to his feet, Kraft informed the entire board that he was placing them under citizen’s arrest for violating the Illinois Open Meetings Act, specifically the provision that insures the public can address their elected representatives at an official meeting.
Kraft said “it was the way they said ‘no’” that led him to take the unusual police action, adding that the board again refused to entertain public comments even after he explained they were in violation of the law.
Kraft is one of the co-founders of a group called Illinois Leaks, which used to be called the Edgar County Watchdogs.Clark County Sheriff Jerry Parsley personally responded to the scene that night, because he knew it was a heated situation. He told the BGA that Kraft handled the citizen’s arrest responsibly, and the board was definitely in violation of the Open Meetings Act by not allowing the public to speak.
“It’s not that they should have. They’re mandated to,” Parsley said. “The people need to have their voice. It’s not a dictatorship. It’s a democracy.”
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