text: Chicago Sun-Times: Protesters plead guilty but claim victory - CAIR Chicago
  Four activists accused of fighting with police during a raucous immigration protest in Arlington Heights were sentenced Tuesday to court supervision and community service work after they pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery.
  But once they stepped outside the Cook County courtroom, the four Chicago residents quickly claimed victory and denied any wrongdoing during last fall's demonstration.
  "We did nothing wrong on Oct. 15," said Cindy Gomez, one of the activists who accepted the plea deal with prosecutors to avoid a trial. "We stand by everything we did."
  Rehana Khan (left) is congratulated by Airam Chaudhry on Tuesday. Khan said she is considering suing Arlington Heights because police removed her head scarf last year. (AL PODGORSKI/SUN-TIMES) "We feel the agreement we came to was an important victory," added Kara Norlander, another of the demonstrators arrested last fall as they protested outside a meeting of the Chicago Minutemen Project.
  "It's absurd to suggest they were innocent when they in fact pleaded guilty," Assistant State's Attorney Lance Northcutt said.
  Critics say the group — which provides volunteers to patrol the nation's borders — is a racist organization that encourages vigilante action against immigrants crossing into the United States from Mexico.
  Arlington Heights Village Attorney Ernest Blomquist said he was satisfied with the plea deal, but a Minutemen leader ripped the punishment as too lax. "I'm just sorry they weren't thrown into prison for 10 years for assaulting police," said Rosanna Pulido, a co-founder of the Chicago Minutemen Project.
  Khan, a college student, said she felt her "religious rights" were violated when officers removed the hijab, or religious head scarf, she was wearing during the protest. "It is very disrespecting," she said.
  Arlington Heights police defended their handling of the protest and said Khan's head scarf had to be removed as a security precaution because it could have covered a weapon or dangerous object. "We're pleased with the way our officers responded," Capt. Jerry Lambert said.