CCBF is excited to announce that on March 9th, Matthew was found not guilty of his criminal charge after a bench trial!

Matthew was arrested on January 20, 2017, when tens of thousands of people filled the streets of downtown Chicago to protest Donald Trump’s inauguration. Thousands held space in front of Trump Tower while multiple marches snaked through downtown and shut down Lake Shore Drive.

In total, 16 people were arrested that night while raising their voices against Trump’s racist and hateful agenda. Matthew was the only person arrested who needed bond paid. He was charged with misdemeanor battery and his bond was set at $1,600 despite the fact that the bond court judge knew that Matthew was homeless and would not be able to post a money bond. Matthew was sent to bond court because he had a warrant for another misdemeanor, a very common situation. CCBF posted Matthew’s bond the morning after his bond hearing, freeing him from Cook County Jail in less than 24 hours.

Had CCBF not posted Matthew’s bond, he would have spent an additional 46 days in Cook County Jail. Your support enabled CCBF to act quickly to free Matthew and prevent him from having to spend over a month in the jail.

Matthew was represented in his protest case by two volunteer attorneys through the National Lawyers Guild of Chicago’s Mass Defense Committee. Now, both of Matthew’s cases have resolved and he is able to move on with his life.

CCBF is proud to stand with Chicago’s resistance movements as they stand up to Trump’s hate.