Artist Could Face 15 Years In Prison For Recording His Own Arrest
Chris Drew was finally ready to get arrested. An artist and activist, Drew had spent years protesting a Chicago ordinance that puts tight restrictions on where and how people can sell their art on the street. He was downtown, on State Street, selling silk-screened patches for $1 and defying the city to stop him.
He’d tried his act of civil disobedience three times before — a First Amendment lawyer on hand to argue his case, a team of videographers ready to film the arrest — but the police simply let it slide. When, on December 2, 2009, he finally succeeded in getting booked, Drew was ready for a few hours in lock-up on a misdemeanor, and a lengthy court battle. He was in no way prepared for what he would actually face.
The state charged Drew with a Class 1 felony, not for selling art on the street, but for violating the Illinois Eavesdropping Act by recording his own arrest. He faces up to 15 years in prison.
Eavesdropping Law – Chicago News – WTTW
~ Chris Drew- Street artist under felony indictment. Update Feb. 2011 – YouTube
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- Chicago artist Chris Drew faces 15 years jail because he recorded own arrest – Daily Mail Online
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- Christopher Drew, 1950-2012 – Chicago Tribune
- What will be the legacy of street artist Chris Drew? – On Culture – Chicago Reader
- Artist’s Reflection- Street Art Sales and the Peddling Laws in Chicago – Shellie Lewis’ Blog
- Chicago Artist, Chris Drew Faces 15 Years in Prison for Recording His Own Arrest – THE INTERSECTION – MADNESS & REALITY
- Chris Drew, street artist.. not a terrorist – but an artist. exclusive interview by Max Eternity with Nancy Bechtol – FREE SPEECH & Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness
- Free Speech & the Transcendent Journey of Chris Drew, Street Artist (2014) – IMD
- Peddler’s License – FREE SPEECH & Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness