The Naperville Sun

Trial date set for anti-war protesters

By Jennifer Golz Staff writer

Two anti-war protestors will have their day in court.

Sarah Hartfield, 45, of Naperville, and Jeff Zurawski, 39, of Downers Grove, are each facing up to a year in prison for hanging a sign that read “Impeach Bush and Cheney – LIARS” from the Great Western Trail above Interstate 355.

Alongside the banner hung an upside-down American flag.

Neither were cited during the May 6 incident when an Illinois State Police trooper asked the duo to remove the sign as it could distract traffic, and even later when three DuPage County Sheriff’s deputies arrived.

But three weeks later arrest warrants were issued for Zurawski and Hartfield on the charge of disorderly conduct.

Two more charges were brought against the war protestors in connection with the incident earlier this month: reckless conduct and unauthorized display of a sign in viewing of a highway, both misdemeanors.

Naperville environmental rights attorney Shawn Collins has taken on the case pro bono, as he believes the two are being prosecuted for their political beliefs.

Hartfield and Zurawski appeared Monday in DuPage County Circuit Court in Wheaton where their attorney, needing no pre-trial or status hearings, asked a jury trial be set for Oct. 15.

“These people need their day in court,” Collins said.

Hartfield said she had hoped the charges against herself and Zurawski would have been dropped by now, but is ready to go to trial.

“I’m standing my ground,” she said. “I did nothing wrong and a jury will see that.”

(Original Article)