The John Lennon Society plans to demonstrate at noon today to protest the DeKalb City Council’s amendment of an ordinance pertaining to people disturbing downtown merchants.

The protesters will gather at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Commons and march to the Home Federal Savings and Loan of Elgin, 309 E. Lincoln Hwy., where participants plan a picnic at 1 p.m.

The JLS targeted the savings and loan for its demonstration because 4th Ward Alderman Rita Tewksbury, who sponsored the ordinance’s revision, works there as assistant vice president.

JLS members oppose the council’s action, which strengthens the city ordinance concerning public peace, safety and morals because they believe it negatively affects homeless people.

“If a person has nowhere to live and is sitting in a public place, would he now be breaking the law?” a JLS flier advertising the demonstration asked.

JLS member Tom Rainey said, “Since the city council represents the system, it represents the ‘haves.’ All it wants to do is to get rid of these people (the homeless) because they don’t fit into the system.”

Tewksbury said, “They’ve completely misconstrued the meaning of the ordinance, and they know they have.”

She said she will not be in DeKalb on Friday.

“If they have something to say to me, fine,” Tewksbury said. “But let them have enough guts to say it in person.”

JLS member Julie Stege said the group will present a list of demands and find out “if it is illegal to sit around and eat lunch.”