Summary
holding ordinance prohibiting the public from remaining in Grant Park between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. was content neutral
Summary of this case from State v. HillOpinion
No. 1–12–2858.
12-23-2014
The CITY OF CHICAGO, a Municipal Corporation, Plaintiff–Appellant, v. Tieg E. ALEXANDER et al., Defendants–Appellees.
Stephen R. Patton, Corporation Counsel, of Chicago (Benna Ruth Solomon, Myriam Zreczny Kasper, and Kerrie Maloney Laytin, Assistant Corporation Counsel, of counsel), for appellant. People's Law Office (Sarah Gelsomino, John L. Stainthorp, and Janine Hoft, of counsel), Law Office of Molly Armour (Molly Armour, of counsel), and Durkin & Roberts (Thomas Anthony Durkin, Janis D. Roberts, and Joshua G. Herman, of counsel), all of Chicago, and Law Office of John D. Cline, of San Francisco, California (John D. Cline, of counsel), for appellees.
Stephen R. Patton, Corporation Counsel, of Chicago (Benna Ruth Solomon, Myriam Zreczny Kasper, and Kerrie Maloney Laytin, Assistant Corporation Counsel, of counsel), for appellant.
People's Law Office (Sarah Gelsomino, John L. Stainthorp, and Janine Hoft, of counsel), Law Office of Molly Armour (Molly Armour, of counsel), and Durkin & Roberts (Thomas Anthony Durkin, Janis D. Roberts, and Joshua G. Herman, of counsel), all of Chicago, and Law Office of John D. Cline, of San Francisco, California (John D. Cline, of counsel), for appellees.
OPINION
Justice PIERCE delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
¶ 1 Chapter VII, section B.2, of the Chicago Park District Code (Code) prohibits persons from remaining in Chicago parks from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Chicago Park District Code, ch. VII, § B.2 (amended July 28, 1992); see also Chicago Municipal Code § 10–36–185 (added Apr. 21, 1999). According to an official with the Chicago park district, the purpose of the ordinance is “to keep parks safe, clean, attractive and in good condition” by allowing “park employees to collect trash, make repairs to park facilities, and maintain the landscaping.” Defendants were arrested when they failed to vacate Grant Park after being advised of the terms of the ordinance and after numerous warnings that they were in violation of the ordinance. The circuit court dismissed the charges, finding the ordinance was facially unconstitutional and unconstitutional as applied to defendants as it violated principals of equal protection. Plaintiff City of Chicago (City) argues on appeal that the circuit court erred in granting defendants' motions to dismiss because the ordinance is constitutional on its face and constitutional as applied to these defendants. For the following reasons, we reverse the judgment of the circuit court.
¶ 2 BACKGROUND
¶ 3 Defendants were protestors affiliated with Occupy Chicago, a grass roots political movement challenging wealth inequality. The Occupy movement is a branch of the Occupy Wall Street movement that protests against social and economic inequality with its primary goal focused on economic and political relations and wealth inequality. On September 22, 2011, Occupy Chicago protestors began demonstrating on the sidewalks in Chicago's financial district. Specifically, the protestors demonstrated in front of the Federal Reserve building, the Chicago Board of Trade and the Bank of America building in the vicinity of Jackson and LaSalle Streets. The Chicago police department (CPD) permitted protestors to remain on the sidewalks in that area for up to 24 hours per day but did not allow the protestors to store provisions, erect structures or block traffic.
There were 92 defendants who filed motions to dismiss the charges in a quasi-criminal proceeding before the circuit court. Twelve of the ninety-two defendants were represented by Durkin & Roberts and will be referred to herein as the “Durkin defendants.” The remaining defendants were represented by members of the National Lawyers Guild and will be referred to as the “NLG defendants.”
¶ 4 From its beginning, Occupy Chicago began to receive large quantities of supplies from supporters at Jackson and LaSalle. When the Federal Reserve police informed protestors that they could not store their supplies along side of the bank, Occupy Chicago reached an agreement with the CPD to store these supplies on the edge of the sidewalk. On September 29, 2011, CPD issued Occupy Chicago a “move it or throw it away” ultimatum, contrary to their prior agreement about storage of supplies. Occupy Chicago secured an off-site storage location and moved most of their supplies off the sidewalk. More supplies and donations arrived and the Chicago police informed Occupy Chicago members that their efforts in removing their belongings were insufficient and anything still on site at 9 a.m. the next morning would be confiscated by the CPD. Protestors then moved across LaSalle Street to the Bank of America building. At this location, CPD informed protestors that they needed to keep their belongings moving at all times otherwise they would be disposed of.
¶ 5 On October 15, 2011, Occupy Chicago conducted a rally near the intersection of Jackson and LaSalle Streets. Protestors then marched around downtown Chicago for approximately one hour and entered Grant Park at the northeast corner of Michigan Avenue and Congress Parkway, commonly known as Congress Plaza.
¶ 6 Grant Park is often referred to as “Chicago's front yard.” Generally located between Randolph Street on the north, Roosevelt Road on the south, Lake Michigan on the east and Michigan Avenue on the west, this public park contains entertainment venues, gardens, art work, sporting and harbor facilities within its 319 acres. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grant_Park_(Chicago) (last visited Dec. 15, 2014). Congress Plaza is the ceremonial entrance on the park's center west side at the foot of Congress Parkway. Congress Plaza consists of two semicircular plazas located on each side of the heavily travelled Congress Parkway thoroughfare. Each plaza contains gardens, fountains, and artwork, including a pair of large bronze warrior statues, The Bowman and the Spearman, that are positioned like gatekeepers to the park. http://www.chicagopark district.com/parks/grant-park/ (last visited Dec. 15, 2014).
¶ 7 According to defendants, they were directed to this area by the Chicago police. The protestors made speeches over a public announcement (PA) system and erected 30 tents in this area of Grant Park and chanted that they would not leave the park.
¶ 8 Throughout the evening, CPD command personnel communicated with protestors and attorneys from the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) and informed the protestors that they would not be allowed to remain in Grant Park after it closed at 11 p.m. Attorneys from the NLG informed the protestors that they would have to vacate Grant Park by 11 p.m., as required by park district ordinance and that if they remained in the park, they would be arrested. CPD estimated that there were approximately 3,000 protestors in Grant Park at around 7:15 p.m., with that number declining to about 700 around 8 p.m.
¶ 9 Prior to 11 p.m., CPD, using a PA, read the park district ordinance to the protestors who remained in Congress Plaza and informed them that if they remained in Grant Park past 11 p.m., they would be arrested. Some protestors relocated across the street to the sidewalk on the west side of Michigan Avenue in front of Roosevelt University. Approximately 300 protestors remained in Grant Park after the 11 p.m. curfew.
¶ 10 At approximately 1 a.m. on October 16, 2011, CPD used the PA system again to warn protestors that the park was closed. CPD then asked each protestor individually whether he or she wanted to leave the park or be arrested. CPD then arrested the 173 protestors who refused to leave after these warnings and charged them with violating chapter VII, section B.2, of the Code . On October 22, 2011, Occupy Chicago protestors staged another rally in the vicinity of Jackson and LaSalle Streets. There were approximately 1,500 protestors at 7 p.m. when the group left the financial district marching again to Congress Plaza. CPD heard protestors chanting, “[t]he Occupation is not leaving!”
The Chicago police department has the authority to enforce certain provisions of the Chicago Park District Code, including chapter VII, section B.2. Chicago Municipal Code, § 10–36–185 (added April 21, 1999). Section 10–36–185 states:
“(b) Any person who violates the above referenced provisions of the Chicago Park District Code shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $500.00 and shall be subject to an order requiring the violator to pay restitution when the violation involves damage to property.
(c) In addition to any other means authorized by law, the city may enforce this section by instituting an action with the department of administrative hearings.” Chicago Municipal Code, § 10–36–185 (added Apr. 21, 1999).
¶ 11 Again, CPD command personnel informed Occupy Chicago members and NLG attorneys that protestors would not be allowed to remain in Grant Park after it closed. Prior to 11 p.m., CPD informed the protestors that that park closed at 11 p.m., and anyone who remained after 11 p.m. would be subject to arrest.
¶ 12 After 11 p.m., CPD again announced that the park was closed and that those who remained would be subject to arrest. Many protestors left the park and relocated across the street to the west side of Michigan Avenue in front of Roosevelt University. CPD approached each protestor who remained in Grant Park and again asked if he or she wanted to leave the park or be arrested. After these warnings, CPD arrested the 130 protestors and cited them for violating chapter VII, section B.2, of the Code.
A review of the record shows that defendants were charged with violating “10–36–185[,] Ch. VII B.2” As stated, section 10–36–185 of the Chicago Municipal Code authorizes Chicago police to enforce chapter VII, section B.2, of the Code, and makes a violation of chapter VII, section B.2, a Class C misdemeanor. However, in their motions to dismiss before the circuit court, both the Durkin defendants and the NLG defendants misstate the charges against them. Defendants state that they were charged with violating section 10–36–110 of the Chicago Municipal Code, which contains similar language as chapter VII, section B.2, of the Code and states: “No person shall be or remain in any public park, playground or bathing beach which is fenced in or provided with gates, between the closing of the gates at night and their reopening on the following day; nor shall any person be or remain in any public park, playground or bathing beach not fenced in or provided with gates between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. on the following day.” Chicago Municipal Code § 10–36–110 (amended Jan. 18, 2012). However, the trial court identified the correct charges and ruled on the constitutionality of the park district code.
¶ 13 All protestors who were arrested on both October 16th and after 11 p.m. on October 22 were given court dates in various criminal courthouses located throughout the city. Numerous pro bono attorneys appeared for defendants, including attorneys affiliated with the NLG and the law firm of Durkin & Roberts. Some defendants entered pleas of guilty. Ninety-two defendants, all parties to this appeal, represented by NLG and Durkin & Roberts moved to dismiss the charges on the grounds that the charges violated their rights under the first amendment and the fourteenth amendment equal protection clause of the United States Constitution. Specifically, the Durkin defendants argued that the ordinance and the City's selective enforcement of the ordinance violated their first amendment rights on the grounds that: (1) the ordinance is not narrowly tailored to serve significant government interest; (2) the ordinance and the city's enforcement of the ordinance fails to leave ample alternative channels of communication for defendants' speech; and (3) the ordinance is not content neutral in the present case because the City has not enforced the ordinance equally among speakers. The NLG defendants argued that their first amendment rights were violated when the City refused to provide protesters with an adequate forum in which to express their political views and petition for redress of grievances. In addition, the NLG defendants argued that their arrests violated their rights under the equal protection clause of the fourteenth amendment in that the ordinance was not uniformly enforced. On the motion of all defendants, the circuit court consolidated defendants' separate cases.
¶ 14 The City responded and included affidavits of an official from the Chicago park district and several police officers who were present during relevant times. The defendants responded and included affidavits. After oral argument on the motions, the City filed motions to strike defendants' affidavits. The court denied in part and granted in part the City's motion to strike the affidavits.
¶ 15 On September 27, 2012, the circuit court found chapter VII, section B.2, of the Code to be unconstitutional on its face and as applied to defendants. The court held that the ordinance violated the first amendment to the United States Constitution and related provisions of the Illinois Constitution. The court further held that the ordinance had been discriminatorily enforced in violation of the equal protection clauses of the United States and Illinois Constitution. It is from this order that the City now appeals.
¶ 16 ANALYSIS
¶ 17 The Chicago park district is responsible for operating public parks and other public property in Chicago. 70 ILCS 1505/7.01 (West 2010). Pursuant to its authority, the park district enacted an ordinance to keep parks safe and maintained by prohibiting any person from being, remaining or leaving “any vehicle in any park not fenced in or provided with gates, between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. on the following day.” Chicago Park District Code, ch. VII, § B.2 (amended July 28, 1992). The penalty for violating this ordinance is a fine not to exceed $500 and restitution in the event of property damage. Chicago Municipal Code § 10–36–185 (added Apr. 21, 1999). The Chicago Park District Code has the same force as a municipal ordinance. Chicago Park District v. Canfield, 382 Ill. 218, 223–24, 47 N.E.2d 61 (1943). The City argues that the park district ordinance prohibiting persons from remaining in Chicago parks from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. is constitutional on its face and as applied to defendants.
¶ 18 “In construing the validity of a municipal ordinance, the same rules are applied as those which govern the construction of statutes.” Napleton v. Village of Hinsdale, 229 Ill.2d 296, 306, 322 Ill.Dec. 548, 891 N.E.2d 839 (2008). Like statutes, municipal ordinances are presumed constitutional. Chicago Allis Manufacturing Corp. v. Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago, 52 Ill.2d 320, 327, 288 N.E.2d 436 (1972). The party challenging the ordinance has the burden of establishing a clear constitutional violation. People v. One 1998 GMC, 2011 IL 110236, ¶ 20, 355 Ill.Dec. 900, 960 N.E.2d 1071. We review the constitutionality of an ordinance de novo. Id. We similarly review the grant of a motion to dismiss de novo. Porter v. Decatur Memorial Hospital, 227 Ill.2d 343, 352, 317 Ill.Dec. 703, 882 N.E.2d 583 (2008). ¶ 19 The first amendment to the United States Constitution, made applicable to the states through the due process clause of the fourteenth amendment, prohibits governmental action that denies or abridges freedom of speech or expression. U.S. Const., amends. I, XIV. The first amendment embraces two concepts, freedom to believe and freedom to act. The first is absolute but, in the nature of things, the second cannot be. Chicago Park District v. Lyons, 39 Ill.2d 584, 587, 237 N.E.2d 519 (1968). Conduct remains subject to regulation for the protection of society. Id.
¶ 20 The first amendment, while offering a host of protections, does not guarantee the right to employ every conceivable method of communication at all times and in all places. Heffron v. International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Inc., 452 U.S. 640, 647, 101 S.Ct. 2559, 69 L.Ed.2d 298 (1981). A public park is a place traditionally dedicated to free expression. United States v. Albertini, 472 U.S. 675, 687, 105 S.Ct. 2897, 86 L.Ed.2d 536 (1985). As the circuit court noted, Grant Park is a quintessential public forum.
¶ 21 Illinois has long recognized that municipal corporations have the right to adopt regulatory provisions governing the use of public property to the extent that such regulations are compatible with constitutional guaranties of free speech and press. Lyons, 39 Ill.2d at 587, 237 N.E.2d 519. However, not every regulatory provision will pass constitutional muster.
¶ 22 The circuit court in this case found the park district ordinance unconstitutional on its face and as applied to defendants. An ordinance is facially unconstitutional if it is unconstitutional in every situation. United States v. O'Brien, 391 U.S. 367, 376–77, 88 S.Ct. 1673, 20 L.Ed.2d 672 (1968). By contrast, an ordinance is unconstitutional as applied if a particular application of the statute is unconstitutional. Napleton, 229 Ill.2d at 306, 322 Ill.Dec. 548, 891 N.E.2d 839. “[I]f a plaintiff prevails in an as-applied claim, he may enjoin the objectionable enforcement of a statute only against himself, while a successful facial challenge voids enactment in its entirety and in all applications.” Morr–Fitz, Inc. v. Blagojevich, 231 Ill.2d 474, 498, 327 Ill.Dec. 45, 901 N.E.2d 373 (2008) (citing Napleton, 229 Ill.2d at 306, 322 Ill.Dec. 548, 891 N.E.2d 839). Where a statute or ordinance is constitutional as applied to a party, a facial challenge will also fail, since there is necessarily at least one circumstance in which the statute or ordinance is constitutional. Horvath v. White, 358 Ill.App.3d 844, 854, 295 Ill.Dec. 215, 832 N.E.2d 366 (2005) ; see also Freed v. Ryan, 301 Ill.App.3d 952, 958, 235 Ill.Dec. 173, 704 N.E.2d 746 (1998). The City moves this court to reverse the ruling of the circuit court.
¶ 23 Before we begin our analysis, we must note that the parties agree that the ordinance in question is content-neutral. A regulation is content-neutral so long as it is “justified without reference to the content of the regulated speech.” (Emphasis and internal quotation marks omitted.) Ward v. Rock Against Racism, 491 U.S. 781, 791, 109 S.Ct. 2746, 105 L.Ed.2d 661 (1989). Generally, laws that confer benefits or impose burdens on speech without reference to the ideas or views expressed are content-neutral. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. v. Federal Communications Comm'n, 512 U.S. 622, 643, 114 S.Ct. 2445, 129 L.Ed.2d 497 (1994). The ordinance does not, on its face, regulate speech, nor is it permissive in allowing one type of speech over another. Rather, the ordinance regulates conduct and prohibits anyone from remaining in a public park between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. The ordinance applies to all 595 parks in the city of Chicago, including Grant Park's 319 acres, which encompasses Congress Plaza. Furthermore, the parties do not dispute that the City has a legitimate interest in keeping Chicago parks safe and well-maintained. Preserving the parks' cleanliness by allowing city workers adequate time to clean them, maintaining the parks' beauty by preventing the facilities from becoming over-fatigued and protecting the public safety by preventing the commission of crimes in the park between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. are substantial governmental interests, all legitimately encompassed by the narrowly drawn ordinance that in no way references protected speech.
¶ 24 I. Facial Challenge
¶ 25 We first address the City's argument that the park district ordinance should survive a facial challenge because not every conceivable application of the ordinance violates the first amendment and the ordinance is not substantially overbroad. We note that the City claims that the defendants did not make a facial challenge to the ordinance in the circuit court, and our review of the record reveals that a true facial challenge was never advanced by either party. However, the Durkin defendants claim that they challenged the ordinance both on its face and as applied. Given that the circuit court found the ordinance to be unconstitutional on its face, we will address the City's argument that the ordinance is facially constitutional.
¶ 26 Facial invalidation “ ‘is, manifestly, strong medicine that has been employed by the Court sparingly and only as a last resort.’ ” National Endowment for the Arts v. Finley, 524 U.S. 569, 580, 118 S.Ct. 2168, 141 L.Ed.2d 500 (1998) (quoting Broadrick v. Oklahoma, 413 U.S. 601, 613, 93 S.Ct. 2908, 37 L.Ed.2d 830 (1973) ). A content-neutral regulation will be sustained under the first amendment if it advances important governmental interests unrelated to the suppression of free speech and does not substantially burden more speech than necessary to further those interests. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. v. Federal Communications Comm'n, 520 U.S. 180, 189, 117 S.Ct. 1174, 137 L.Ed.2d 369 (1997) ; O'Brien, 391 U.S. at 376–77, 88 S.Ct. 1673. A party raising a facial challenge under the free speech clause of the first amendment “must demonstrate a substantial risk that application of the provision will lead to the suppression of speech.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Pooh–Bah Enterprises, Inc. v. County of Cook, 232 Ill.2d 463, 473, 328 Ill.Dec. 892, 905 N.E.2d 781 (2009). The parties' particular circumstances are irrelevant in a facial challenge. Jackson v. City of Chicago, 2012 IL App (1st) 111044, ¶ 27, 363 Ill.Dec. 351, 975 N.E.2d 153.
¶ 27 There are two types of recognized facial challenges in the first amendment context. A law could be challenged on the basis that no set of circumstances exist under which the statute would be valid. United States v. Stevens, 559 U.S. 460, 472, 130 S.Ct. 1577, 176 L.Ed.2d 435 (2010). A law can also be challenged as overbroad if a substantial number of its applications are unconstitutional, judged in relation to the statute's plainly legitimate sweep. Id. at 473, 130 S.Ct. 1577.
¶ 28 The City argues that not every conceivable application of the park district ordinance violates the first amendment because it is clear that the ordinance, on its face, does not regulate expression at all, much less on the basis of content. The City argues that the ordinance instead prohibits a specific type of nonexpressive conduct, remaining in a park from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., and so long as the ban is not based on the content of the expression, it is permissible. According to the City, there are many activities where enforcement of the ordinance is constitutional. For example, those engaged in nonexpressive conduct, like picnickers, soccer players, joggers, chess players, musicians and stargazers do not have the right to use city parks between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
¶ 29 “The invalidity of the statute in one particular set of circumstances is insufficient to prove its facial invalidity.” In re M.T., 221 Ill.2d 517, 536–37, 304 Ill.Dec. 336, 852 N.E.2d 792 (2006). “ ‘ “[S]o long as there exists a situation in which a statute could be validly applied, a facial challenge must fail.” ’ ” Id. at 537, 304 Ill.Dec. 336, 852 N.E.2d 792 (quoting People v. Huddleston, 212 Ill.2d 107, 145, 287 Ill.Dec. 560, 816 N.E.2d 322 (2004), quoting Hill v. Cowan, 202 Ill.2d 151, 157, 269 Ill.Dec. 875, 781 N.E.2d 1065 (2002) ). We agree with the City that there are many applications in which the ordinance is constitutional and therefore find that defendants have failed to establish the ordinance's facial invalidity. Grant Park is an expansive public park encompassing 319 acres. It houses Buckingham Fountain, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum Campus. The park contains performance venues, gardens, art work, sporting and harbor facilities and hosts public gatherings and several large annual events. http:// www. chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks/grant-park/ (last visited Dec. 15, 2014). Chicagoans and tourists alike are drawn to Grant Park for all its many offerings and attractions. All of those visiting the park are engaged in non-expressive conduct, whether they are there to enjoy its world class gardens, play a game of softball or visit Buckingham fountain, are prohibited from doing so between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
¶ 30 The City also argues that the park district ordinance is not substantially overbroad. “The United States Supreme Court has provided this expansive remedy out of concern that the threat of enforcement of an overbroad law may deter or chill constitutionally protected speech, especially when the statute imposes criminal sanctions.” People v. Clark, 2014 IL 115776, ¶ 11, 379 Ill.Dec. 77, 6 N.E.3d 154 (citing Virginia v. Hicks, 539 U.S. 113, 119, 123 S.Ct. 2191, 156 L.Ed.2d 148 (2003) ). A statute may be invalidated on overbreadth grounds only if the overbreadth is substantial and there is a realistic danger that the statute “ ‘will significantly compromise recognized First Amendment protections of parties not before the Court.’ ” Board of Airport Commissioners v. Jews For Jesus, Inc., 482 U.S. 569, 574, 107 S.Ct. 2568, 96 L.Ed.2d 500 (1987) (quoting Members of the City Council v. Taxpayers for Vincent, 466 U.S. 789, 801, 104 S.Ct. 2118, 80 L.Ed.2d 772(1984) ).
¶ 31 The ordinance is not overbroad as it is specifically limited to city parks and only prohibits their use for seven hours during the late evening and early morning. There is no dispute in this case that the ordinance's stated purpose is “to keep parks safe, clean, attractive and in good condition” by allowing “park employees to collect trash, make repairs to park facilities, and maintain the landscaping.” The ordinance does not prohibit anyone from conducting their expressive activities on public sidewalks or in other public space adjacent to park property if they wish to do so. This is evident by the easy transition of the Occupy protestors from the east side to the west side of Michigan Avenue. This transition did not impact Occupy's voice or visibility but it did affect its configuration changing it from a “circular” gathering to a “linear” demonstration. We find this to be clearly a constitutionally appropriate application of government regulation. To the extent that the ordinance may restrict expressive conduct, there is simply no evidence in this record that warrant a conclusion that there are a substantial number of instances in which the ordinance cannot be applied constitutionally in relation to its “plainly legitimate sweep.” United States. v. Stevens, 559 U.S. 460, 473, 130 S.Ct. 1577, 176 L.Ed.2d 435 (2010). Given that the ordinance applies only to Chicago parks during a reasonably limited time period, we hold that the ordinance is not unconstitutional on its face.
¶ 32 II. As–Applied Challenge
¶ 33 The City argues that the park district ordinance is constitutional as applied to defendants generally. In an as-applied challenge, “a plaintiff protests against how an enactment was applied in the particular context in which the plaintiff acted or proposed to act, and the facts surrounding the plaintiff's particular circumstances become relevant.” Napleton, 229 Ill.2d at 306, 322 Ill.Dec. 548, 891 N.E.2d 839. In short, an as-applied challenge “requires a party to show that the statute violates the constitution as the statute applies to him.” People v. Brady, 369 Ill.App.3d 836, 847, 308 Ill.Dec. 356, 861 N.E.2d 687 (2007) (citing People v. Garvin, 219 Ill.2d 104, 117, 301 Ill.Dec. 423, 847 N.E.2d 82 (2006) ).
¶ 34 The first amendment does not guarantee the right to communicate one's views at all times and places or in any manner that may be desired. People v. Jones, 188 Ill.2d 352, 356, 242 Ill.Dec. 267, 721 N.E.2d 546 (1999). A state may therefore impose reasonable restrictions on the time, place or manner of constitutionally protected speech occurring in a public forum. Rock Against Racism, 491 U.S. at 790, 109 S.Ct. 2746. A valid time, place and manner regulation, however, must be content-neutral, narrowly tailored to serve a significant governmental interest and leave open alternative means for communication of the information. Jones, 188 Ill.2d at 356–57, 242 Ill.Dec. 267, 721 N.E.2d 546.
¶ 35 In its brief before this court, the City suggest that United States v. O'Brien, 391 U.S. 367, 88 S.Ct. 1673, 20 L.Ed.2d 672 (1968), which created a test for content-neutral regulation of conduct with an incidental effect on expression, applies here. The O'Brien court stated:
“[A] governmental regulation is sufficiently justified if it is within the constitutional power of the Government; if it furthers an important or substantial governmental interest; if the governmental interest is unrelated to the suppression of free expression; and if the incidental restriction on alleged First Amendment freedoms is not greater than is essential to the furtherance of that interest.” Id. at 377, 88 S.Ct. 1673.
The City acknowledges and defendants agree that there is little, if any difference, between the O'Brien test and the standard applied to time, place and manner restrictions on expression. See Clark v. Community for Creative Non–Violence, 468 U.S. 288, 298, 104 S.Ct. 3065, 82 L.Ed.2d 221 (1984). We need not determine which analysis is more appropriate in this instance for the results are the same.
¶ 36 Defendants take issue with the City's failure to show that the ordinance is narrowly tailored to serve a substantial governmental interest. In order to satisfy the “narrow tailoring” requirement, a regulation need not be “ ‘ “the least restrictive or least intrusive means of [achieving the stated governmental interest].” ’ ” Mastrovincenzo v. City of New York, 435 F.3d 78, 98 (2d Cir.2006) (quoting Hobbs v. County of Westchester, 397 F.3d 133, 149 (2nd Cir.2005), quoting Rock Against Racism, 491 U.S. at 798, 109 S.Ct. 2746). Instead, the requirement is satisfied if the substantial governmental interest that the law is designed to serve would be achieved less effectively in the law's absence and the law does not burden substantially more speech than is necessary to further the government's objective. City of Chicago v. Pooh Bah Enterprises, Inc., 224 Ill.2d 390, 309 Ill.Dec. 770, 865 N.E.2d 133 (2006).
¶ 37 Here, as evidence that the ordinance is narrowly tailored, the City provided the affidavit of park district official Alonzo Williams. Williams averred that it was necessary to close the parks from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily, in order to keep the parks safe, clean, attractive and in good condition. Williams stated:
“We believe the Code's standard hours of closure is necessary to properly protect and maintain our parks. The park hours of closure allow park employees to collect trash, make repairs to park facilities, and maintain the landscaping. Park employees are therefore able to make sure the parks remain sanitary and pleasing to the eye with limited disruption and maximum safety to park patrons. Park closures also ensure that certain park facilities do not become over-fatigued. Further, limited access by pedestrians during park closure hours reduces crime against park patrons and park property. As we are charged with keeping Chicago's parks beautiful and vibrant for current and future generations, we have made certain rules to that effect. Round-the-clock use of the parks by the general public would not further our mandate and would instead make it impossible to uphold.”
¶ 38 The City argues that closing the parks overnight is not more substantially restrictive than necessary to serve the park district's interest in maintaining and preserving the parks. We find Clark v. Community for Creative Non–Violence, 468 U.S. 288, 104 S.Ct. 3065, 82 L.Ed.2d 221 (1984), to be instructive on this issue.
¶ 39 The Clark Court upheld an overnight camping ban after finding that the government had a substantial interest in conserving park property. The Court stated “[i]t is also apparent to us that the regulation narrowly focuses on the Government's substantial interest in maintaining the parks in the heart of our Capital in an attractive and intact condition, readily available to the millions of people who wish to see and enjoy them by their presence.” Id. at 296, 104 S.Ct. 3065. The court went on to say that “[i]f the Government has a legitimate interest in ensuring that the National Parks are adequately protected, which we think it has, and if the parks would be more exposed to harm without the sleeping prohibition than with it, the ban is safe from invalidation under the First Amendment as a reasonable regulation of the manner in which a demonstration may be carried out.” Id. at 297, 104 S.Ct. 3065. The Court also rejected the notion that because there are less restrictive alternatives to satisfy the government's interest in protecting the parks than banning camping, the ban on camping was unnecessary and therefore invalid.
“[T]hese suggestions represent no more than a disagreement with the Park Service over how much protection the core parks require or how an acceptable level of preservation is to be attained. We do not believe, however, that either * * * O'Brien or the time, place, or manner decisions assign to the judiciary the authority to replace the Park Service as the manager of the Nation's parks or endow the judiciary with the competence to judge how much protection of park lands is wise and how that level of conservation
is to be attained.” Id. at 299, 104 S.Ct. 3065.
¶ 40 As in Clark, we believe that the park ordinance in question here “responds precisely to the substantive problems which legitimately concern the [Government].” Members of the City Council v. Taxpayers for Vincent, 466 U.S. 789, 810, 104 S.Ct. 2118, 80 L.Ed.2d 772 (1984). The use of city parks during the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. would impede the city's ability to achieve its goals of maintenance, preservation and crime reduction. “[T]he city's interest in attempting to preserve [or improve] the quality of urban life is one that must be accorded high respect.” Young v. American Mini Theatres, Inc., 427 U.S. 50, 71, 96 S.Ct. 2440, 49 L.Ed.2d 310 (1976). It is irrelevant that the park district's ends might be served in a different or less restrictive manner. Clark, 468 U.S. at 299, 104 S.Ct. 3065.
¶ 41 Likewise, the City argues that the ordinance allows for ample alternatives for individuals or groups, similar to the Occupy movement, seeking a place to express their message during the overnight hours when the parks are closed. We agree.
¶ 42 Much of defendants' time at oral argument was devoted to explaining their reasoning and desire to remain at the Congress Plaza location within Grant Park. Defendants stated that this particular area was “ideal” because it was a highly visible area of Grant Park that would provide maximum exposure to pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Defendants argued that the alternative available to that particular location, the sidewalk across the street on the west side of Michigan Avenue, was not an “ample alternative” because it required them to “occupy” in a less desirable configuration.
¶ 43 Defendants fail to recognize that in the context of the first amendment, an ample alternative mode of communication need not be their first choice. See Taxpayers for Vincent, 466 U.S. at 812, 104 S.Ct. 2118. An alternative need not even require the employment of the same method of communication. See id. (acceptable alternative to a ban on posting literature was the individual's ability to speak or distribute the literature from the same location). Furthermore, it does not have to be an alternative that provides the same audience or impact for the speech. See Ward, 491 U.S. at 802, 109 S.Ct. 2746. However, an adequate alternative cannot totally foreclose a speaker's ability to reach one audience even if it allows the speaker to reach other groups. See Bery v. City of New York, 97 F.3d 689, 698 (2d Cir.1996) (holding that total ban on sidewalk art does not leave open alternative means of communication because alternative display in galleries or museums would not reach the same audience).
¶ 44 The record demonstrates that in the days prior to the events leading up to defendants' arrest, defendants were allowed to protest on city streets 24 hours a day. The record also shows that when protesters were asked to leave Grant Park after 11 p.m., protestors freely continued their protest on the sidewalk on the west side of Michigan Avenue across the street from the area in the park where the arrests took place. Although not their first choice, we are confident defendants' confederates reached the same audience and suffered no impediment communicating their message from a location that was within 100 feet from the excluded area.
¶ 45 Defendants argue, as they did in the trial court, that the ordinance was unconstitutional as applied to them because it was enforced in a discriminatory manner. In the trial court, the NLG defendants claimed that their arrests were unconstitutional under the equal protection clause of the fourteenth amendment because the ordinance was selectively enforced against them based on their viewpoint. The Durkin defendants claimed that their first amendment rights were violated because the City enforced the ordinance in a viewpoint discriminatory way. The trial court treated defendants' arguments as a quasi-equal protection argument grounded in the first amendment and found that the ordinance was unconstitutionally applied because the ordinance was selectively enforced based on the exercise of defendants' first amendment rights.
¶ 46 “[T]he First Amendment forbids the government to regulate speech in ways that favor some viewpoints or ideas at the expense of others.” Taxpayers for Vincent, 466 U.S. at 804, 104 S.Ct. 2118. Equal protection requires that similarly situated individuals will be treated in a similar manner. People v. Reed, 148 Ill.2d 1, 7, 169 Ill.Dec. 282, 591 N.E.2d 455 (1992). The equal protection clauses of the United States and Illinois Constitutions do not deny the state the power to draw lines that treat different classes of people differently, but prohibits the state from according unequal treatment to persons placed by a statute into different classes for reasons wholly unrelated to the purpose of the legislation. People v. Shephard, 152 Ill.2d 489, 499, 178 Ill.Dec. 724, 605 N.E.2d 518 (1992). We use the same analysis in assessing equal protection claims under both the state and federal constitutions. Reed, 148 Ill.2d at 7, 169 Ill.Dec. 282, 591 N.E.2d 455.
¶ 47 Exacting precision and equality in enforcement of state and local laws is not required by the Constitution. Hameetman v. City of Chicago, 776 F.2d 636, 641 (7th Cir.1985). The decision whether to prosecute an offense is a matter within the discretion of the government. Wayte v. United States, 470 U.S. 598, 607, 105 S.Ct. 1524, 84 L.Ed.2d 547 (1985). Unequal enforcement of a local ordinance is unconstitutional only if the inequality has some invidious purpose. Dauel v. Board of Trustees, 768 F.2d 128, 131 (7th Cir.1985) (citing Oyler v. Boles, 368 U.S. 448, 456, 82 S.Ct. 501, 7 L.Ed.2d 446 (1962) ). In order to successfully bring a selective enforcement claim under the equal protection clause, the challenging party must establish: (1) that he received different treatment from others similarly situated; and (2) the differing treatment was based on clearly impermissible or “invidious” grounds “such as discrimination on the basis of race, religion, the exercise of first amendment rights, or bad faith.” Ciechon v. City of Chicago, 686 F.2d 511, 523 n. 16 (7th Cir.1982).
¶ 48 Defendants compare themselves to the hundreds of thousands of spectators who filled Grant Park on November 4, 2008, to witness President-elect Barack Obama's victory speech. According to defendants, this victory rally went well beyond 11 p.m. and not only did the City not arrest the president-elect and countless other politicians, the City provided additional security for the event and did not enforce the ordinance against several thousand spectators.
The parties agree that the Obama rally was issued a permit. However, the permit issue is irrelevant here where the ordinance does not exempt permit holders from the curfew.
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¶ 49 The City does not dispute that the Obama spectators were allowed to remain in the park beyond 11 p.m. The City argues, however, that in this case:
“It is undisputed that the City did not enforce the ordinance against defendants at the stroke of 11:00 p.m., either; defendants were not arrested until 1:00 a.m., and that was only after they were given multiple warnings and the opportunity
to leave. Thus, between 11:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m., CPD did not enforce the ordinance against numerous Occupy Chicago participants who left the park on their own volition. While arrests were made at 1:00 a.m., there is absolutely no evidence that anyone attending the Obama rally remained in the park after 1:00 a.m., much less in defiance of repeated warnings to leave.”
¶ 50 Defendants argue that the two groups are similarly situated merely because they both violated the ordinance. The record does not allow us to determine the extent to which both the groups are similarly situated. We have no concrete information, nor has either party provided any, as to what time the Obama spectators left, whether or to what extent they were asked to leave, whether any of the spectators chanted their intent to remain or “occupy” the park or whether they erected tents. When a party fails to make a showing that he is similarly situated, his equal protection challenge must fail. Id.
¶ 51 Even if we could make a valid comparison between the two groups, we could not possibly find them similarly situated based on their violation of the ordinance alone. The name of the group “Occupy Chicago” establishes that the participants intend to remain in or occupy a space. Indeed, the NLG defendants' motion to dismiss states that “[a]n integral part of the OCCUPY movement is the continuous occupation of a location in the vicinity of the workplaces of the 1%. The occupation itself is part of the expressive act, in that it is intended to bring public outrage.” Furthermore, the NLG defendants explained, “[a]n occupation, as opposed to a march or demonstration, has the ability to reach more people with its message because of its stationary location maintained over an extended period of time which provides participants a greater ability to communicate their message and attach additional supporters to their cause.” The NLG defendants also stated that they were “determined to exercise [their] first amendment rights * * * by occupying a location in Grant park * * * and setting up tents to show that participants intended to occupy that area.” By contrast, the estimated 240,000 Obama spectators gathered in Grant Park for the discrete, one-time purpose of witnessing Mr. Obama's historic presidential victory speech with the culmination being Mr. Obama's departure. There is no evidence as to how long the Obama spectators remained in the park, whether they were asked to leave, or whether they remained in the park after they were asked to leave. These distinctions prevent a meaningful determination of whether the two groups can be considered as similarly situated.
¶ 52 CONCLUSION
¶ 53 Based on the foregoing, we reject defendants' facial and as-applied challenges to the park district ordinance. We similarly reject defendants' arguments that the selective enforcement of the ordinance violated the equal protection clause of the fourteenth amendment. We therefore reverse the judgment of the circuit court granting defendants' motions to dismiss and remand for further proceedings.
¶ 54 Reversed and remanded for further proceedings.
APPENDIX A
DefendantsJustices HARRIS and LIU concurred in the judgment and opinion.