State Representative Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) has voiced concerns over public safety following recent anti-ICE protests in Chicago, where demonstrators blocked major roads. While such disruptions did not occur yesterday, Ugaste emphasized the potential risks these actions pose to citizens and first responders.
“The right to protest and the First Amendment are not the issue here,” said Rep. Ugaste. “But when it comes to issues of public safety by intentionally blocking roads, we must hold people accountable.”
Ugaste has introduced HB 2357 this session, proposing amendments to the Illinois Public Demonstrations Law. The bill seeks to impose stricter penalties on individuals who obstruct busy public rights-of-way for five minutes or more or hinder emergency response teams. Offenders would face Class 4 felony charges.
The proposed legislation clarifies that notifying law enforcement about a protest that could delay emergency services does not exempt individuals from facing Class 4 felony charges. It also specifies what constitutes an “exceptionally busy public right-of-way.”
