For Immediate Release
July 9, 2017
Chicago, IL
Contact: Jason Schwartz, 347.452.3752, [email protected]
UPDATE: Greenpeace Activists Who Hung Banner off Chicago Trump Tower Charged
Four Greenpeace USA activists involved in an action at Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago have been charged, after spending two days in jail. Taylor Blevons, 27, Wendy Jennings, 38, Jeremy Alpert, 43, and David Khoury, 47, were charged with a felony criminal damage to property and misdemeanor reckless conduct.
Greenpeace finds the allegations of the banner causing damage to the building implausible.
Tom Wetterer, General Counsel and Deputy Chief Operating Officer of Greenpeace USA said:
“These grossly inflated charges are an effort to chill lawful protest, which is a pillar of our democracy and a critical piece of all great social change. The courageous acts of these activists were meant to shed light on the reckless policies and conduct of an administration out to devastate the air and water and accelerate climate change, putting all of our communities at risk.”
In a statement release Friday, Taylor Blevins said:
“This action demonstrates that we will not accept the threats that the Trump administration poses to people here and around the world. Ignoring the science of climate change and removing us from the Paris Climate Agreement are indications that the billionaires who have hijacked our democracy are putting the short term profit of corporations over people and the planet. It’s time for people everywhere to come together to demand that our government works in our interests, instead of treating us as expendable.”
Jessica Bryant, 31, and Shirley Sexton, 54, were also given a misdemeanor charge of reckless conduct. Both women were released Saturday evening. Alpert, Blevons, Jennings, and Khoury will be released Sunday after posting bond.
Alpert, Blevons, Bryant, and Sexton are all from the Chicago area. Jennings lives in Minneapolis, Khoury in Arkansas.
Photos of the action are available here: http://www.media.
