Winnebago Co., IL. (ECWd) –
Last month we reported on Pecatonica Township’s banning of Rogene Hamilton from township property for 6 months and 10 days. We believe a township does not have the power to ban people from a public meeting by way of resolution or ordinance, rather, they must gain approval by the Courts in a civil action.
Mrs. Hamilton is an elector in Pecatonica Township, and this alleged ban is in force beyond the Annual Township Meeting of the Electors.
Electors, or residents of the township registered to vote, exercise their right to vote during this annual meeting.
By threatening to arrest and prohibiting Hamilton from stepping on Township Property, they took away her right to vote.
Voting is a protected activity under Illinois and Federal Laws and Constitutions.
Township Attorney John Nelson wrote the resolution at the direction of Township Supervisor Joe Musso (the first military Veteran I’ve seen to trample on free speech and the right to vote all in one resolution).
It was presented to the Board in November 2019, and those trustees aligned with Musso (Trustees Boomer and Zimmerman) in trampling in free speech and voting rights, voted to ban Hamilton from township property. This was orchestrated because they did not like what she said during public comment at township meetings.
Supervisor Musso did not attend the Jan 2020 meeting.
The video of the January 2020 township meeting is below. I talked about the voting rights issue during public comment.
Public comment starts at the 3:40 mark, and my remarks start at the 9:30 mark.
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