Activists Charged After Banner Hung At Chicago’s Trump Tower

By Associated Press
In this Thursday, March 10, 2016, photo is the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has pledged to scrap a work visa program that brings 300,000 student workers each year to the U.S. Among the businesses that would be forced to stop hiring foreign labor: Trump’s own.
The Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago, where activists unfurled a banner to protest President Donald Trump's stance on global warming. Charles Rex Arbogast / AP Photo
In this Thursday, March 10, 2016, photo is the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has pledged to scrap a work visa program that brings 300,000 student workers each year to the U.S. Among the businesses that would be forced to stop hiring foreign labor: Trump’s own.
The Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago, where activists unfurled a banner to protest President Donald Trump's stance on global warming. Charles Rex Arbogast / AP Photo

Activists Charged After Banner Hung At Chicago’s Trump Tower

By Associated Press
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Prosecutors have brought felony charges against four of six Greenpeace activists accused of unfurling a banner from Trump Tower in Chicago to protest the president’s stance on global warning.

The four face felony criminal damage to property and misdemeanor reckless conduct charges. Prosecutors said Sunday that Friday’s act of protest caused thousands of dollars in damage to the skyscraper.

Greenpeace USA issued a statement calling the charges “grossly inflated” and saying they are an attempt “to chill lawful protest.”

The 100-by-30-foot (30-by-9 meter) banner had the environmental group’s name and the words “resist” and “defend” on it. “Defend” covered a picture of the earth.

A Cook County judge released the four with electronic monitoring. They also are prohibited from visiting Trump Tower.

Two others face misdemeanor reckless conduct charges. Greenpeace says they were released Sunday evening.