Première: Free Speech & Transcendent Journey of Chris Drew

“Free Speech & the Transcendent Journey of Chris Drew, Street Artist” (99 min) 2014, a mesmerizing, experiential—and experimental—film more akin to an art film by Nancy Bechtol

- Event Location: AMERICAN INDIAN CENTER in Tribal Hall, 1630 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago, IL
Cost: Donation – all proceeds go to benefit the American Indian Center
Chris Drew was the Executive Director of The Uptown Multi-Cultural Arts Center (UM-CAC) located for 25 years in the American Indian Center of Chicago.
Chris Drew set out to challenge Chicago’s street vending laws but ended up being a champion of free speech when he was charged with felony eavesdropping for recording his arrest.
Background: Chris was arrested for selling Art Patches for $1 (in an act of civil disobedience to protest the Peddlers License since “Art is Speech”a 1st Amendment Right) but unexpectantly those charges were dropped and changed to a Class 1 Felony Eavesdropping under the Illinois Eavesdropping Law, one of the strictest in the nation, with 4-15 years in prison if convicted.
In 2009 this law was generally unknown. Two pro bono attorneys defended him from 2009-2012. First, Mark Weinberg challenged on the free speech constitutional ground; then Joshua Kutnick, criminal defense, defended and won in the courtroom of Judge Sacks 2012, citing the Illinois Eavesdropping Law Unconstitutional.
Epilogue: The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the Illinois Eavesdropping Law, March 2014. But, Dec 30, 2014 a NEW Illinois Eavesdropping law was passed. As Chris would say, “When it comes to your rights, the struggle is never over.” Chris Drew ( RIP 1950-2012 )

Première: Free Speech & Transcendent Journey of Chris Drew

“Free Speech & the Transcendent Journey of Chris Drew, Street Artist” (99 min) 2014, a mesmerizing, experiential—and experimental—film more akin to an art film by Nancy Bechtol

Event Location: AMERICAN INDIAN CENTER in Tribal Hall, 1630 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago, IL

Cost: Donation – all proceeds go to benefit the American Indian Center

Chris Drew was the Executive Director of The Uptown Multi-Cultural Arts Center (UM-CAC) located for 25 years in the American Indian Center of Chicago.

Chris Drew set out to challenge Chicago’s street vending laws but ended up being a champion of free speech when he was charged with felony eavesdropping for recording his arrest.

Epilogue: The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the Illinois Eavesdropping Law, March 2014. But, Dec 30, 2014 a NEW Illinois Eavesdropping law was passed. As Chris would say, “When it comes to your rights, the struggle is never over.” Chris Drew ( RIP 1950-2012 )

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