Cabdrivers protest misdemeanor charges against alleged attacker

CHICAGO The drivers showed their support for driver Stanley Shen at Flournoy & Kedzie. He was punched after a car accident last month.

The cabbies are upset that the suspect was charged with simple battery and not a felony

They say the charge should be upgraded because of a new law aimed at protecting cab drivers. One man spoke of the need to protect cabbies.

"Every time at the beginning of the shift when these cabdrivers go out to their work, they have only one thing on their mind. They're not sure if they're going to return back home safely," said Sayed Ilyas, United Taxi Drivers Community Council.

The state's attorney's office said the evidence did not support a felony charge.