Whenever 12 or more persons, any of them armed with clubs or dangerous weapons, or 30 or more, armed or unarmed are unlawfully, riotously or tumultuously assembled, it is the duty of the commanding officer of such military force as may be present on duty, to go among the persons so assembled, or as near them as safety will permit, and in the name of the State command them immediately to disperse, and if they do not obey, every person refusing to disperse shall be deemed one of such unlawful assembly and shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor; and each officer having notice of such unlawful assembly and refusing or neglecting to do their duty in relation thereto, as aforesaid, shall be guilty of a petty offense.
     When persons so unlawfully assembled neglect or refuse, on command, as aforesaid, to disperse, it shall be the duty of the above military authorities to forthwith suppress such assembly and disperse the persons composing it in such manner as may be most expedient.

Attorney's Note

Under the Illinois Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Class A misdemeanorup to 1 yearup to $2,500
For details, see § Ill. Comp. Stat. 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-55

Terms Used In Illinois Compiled Statutes 20 ILCS 1805/86

  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Petty offense: A federal misdemeanor punishable by six months or less in prison. Source: U.S. Courts
  • State: when applied to different parts of the United States, may be construed to include the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" may be construed to include the said district and territories. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.14

     If in the efforts made as aforesaid to suppress such assembly and to arrest and secure the persons composing it who neglect or refuse to disperse, though the number remaining be less than 12, any such persons, or any persons, present as spectators or otherwise, are killed or wounded, the military personnel, each and all of them, shall be held guiltless of any crime and justified in law.