Video: Matt Rush protest at Champaign County Courthouse » more Videographer: John Dixon More than 60 protesters gathered at the Champaign County Courthouse to present a petition to State's Attorney Julia Rietz after her decision not to prosecute Champaign officer Matt Rush. Image

Image

URBANA — More than 60 protestors took to the Champaign County Courthouse Friday morning, occupying the main lobby, presenting a petition to State's Attorney Julia Rietz, tussling with law enforcement officials and holding an impromptu press conference to protest Rietz's decision not to prosecute Champaign police officer Matt Rush in multiple excessive-force incidents.

The crowd gathered outside at 9 a.m., chanting things like "Julia Rietz must go" and "Matt Rush must go" and holding signs that read "Reject Rietz Nov. '16" and "A badge is not a license to abuse." After about 15 minutes of chanting and listening to speakers, the crowd went into the courthouse, going through security and meeting in the main lobby. A handful of protestors were removed from the courthouse by Sheriff Dan Walsh and his deputies after they began loudly chanting "Black Lives Matter." Walsh said they were disrupting court cases in session just down the hall.

In the lobby, Rietz came down from her second-floor office and attempted to talk with the protestors about why she made the decision not to charge Rush.

Protestor Danielle Chynoweth presented a petition to prosecute Rush that had more than 600 signatures to Rietz and asked her why she was not protecting the people of Champaign from officers like Rush.

"You are law enforcement," Chynoweth said.

Rietz said her job is to prove a case in court, and she didn't feel that she could do that with Rush.

Rietz told the protestors, who kept interrupting her, that she would be happy to talk if they let her. When it became clear that was not going to happen, Rietz went to her upstairs office.

"We'll get you in November," yelled activist Martel Miller as Rietz walked away. Miller, whose son accused Rush of using excessive force after a car chase in 2011, helped organize the protest.

After she left, protestors got in a scuffle with her investigator Dale Rawdin, but it was resolved peacefully.

Unhappy with her response, the protestors held an impromptu news conference in the lobby, calling for continued protests and an end to police brutality.

"Everybody take a breath," said Brian Dolinar, of CU Citizens for Peace and Justice and the organizer of the event. Dolinar read the names of local victims of police brutality.

Dolinar pointed out that Rietz and Piatt County prosecutors were willing to prosecute Champaign police officer Jerad Gale on charges of sexual assault, and he said he thought that was because the alleged victims were white.

"When these are black victims accusing white officers, time and time again, it gets ignored," Dolinar said.

Gus Wood, of University of Illinois student group Black Students for Revolution, demanded "multi-faceted, hard-hitting" protests to continue.

University of Illinois professor and member of the North End Breakfast Club Sundiata Cha-Jua said Rietz's actions were consistent with a "long tradition of a white judicial system" and that the protestors must disrupt "business as usual" in Champaign if they want to make any progress.

After Cha-Jua spoke, the 30 or so protestors inside left the courthouse to join the rest of the protestors. While the protest went on inside, about half of the crowd stayed outside, with even more people assembling. The protest dispersed around 10:15.

Richard Hamilton, who was one of the protestors removed from the courthouse, said they were told they could come back inside if they were quiet, but he chose to stay outside chanting and holding signs.