NATO/G8 Summit [Chicago] May 19, 2012

[ckaihatsu]

Victory in fight to protest at NATO/G8 Summit
Struggle for permits continues

By Staff

Chicago, IL - The City of Chicago bowed to pressure from a growing movement against war and cutbacks. After months of denying organizers permits to protest , the Public Building Commission of Chicago wrote that, “…yes, Daley Plaza will be open to public assembly and public activity during the G8/NATO Summits in May 2012.”

At a press conference Dec. 22, in front of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office, Joe Iosbaker of the Coalition Against NATO/G8 War & Poverty Agenda (CANG8) stated, “This is a clear victory for CANG8 and for all those who want to march against war and poverty when the generals, banksters and heads of state meet here on May 19.”

On Nov. 9, in an email to Iosbaker, the managers of Daley Plaza stated, "Unfortunately we are not approving any permits for the use of the plaza May 15th-22nd." One week later, CANG8 met with city officials, including those who refused a request to state that protestors would be permitted to gather anywhere in the Loop (Chicago’s downtown) during the dates of the summits.

But after bringing together the support of labor, community, faith-based and civil liberties organizations, as well as Occupy Chicago and national and international pressure to insist on the right to protest, the city has reversed itself.

However, while making this concession, Emanuel launched new attacks last week. Andy Thayer of CANG8 denounced the draconian restrictions being threatened against marches in ordinances submitted to the Chicago City Council. Thayer explained that these could be voted on at the next City Council meeting on Jan. 18 and called on alderpersons to oppose them.

N’Dana Carter of Southside Together Organizing for Power/Mental Health Movement explained why people in Chicago will be marching against NATO and the G8. She related that Mayor Emanuel is closing half of the mental health clinics run by the city, at a time when the need is greater because of the crisis in people’s lives. She explained that the cuts coming down on the poor are coming from the richest 1%, which is who will be at the G8 and NATO summits.

Jennifer Wolan, a student from Dundee Crown High School and president of their Youth Labor Committee, spoke about why she plans to march in May. “I don’t see democracy when restrictions are put on the people, the working class and the students.” While speaking of videoing protesters, Wolan said, “I don’t see anyone planning to video the violence by NATO in Afghanistan.”

With this victory in hand, the group that gathered today is confident that they will win permits to march to within sight and sound of the summits at Chicago’s McCormick Place.

Read more News and Views from the Peoples Struggle at http://www.fightbacknews.org. You can write to us at [email protected]






Sent to [email protected] — why did I get this?
unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences
Fight Back! News · P.O. Box 582564 · Minneapolis, MN 55440

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Ah,it was good when the board bowed to pressure so hopefully something similar can happen in the future when the protesters inevitable return and protest anyway.I doubt any ruling by them will affect the spirit of the anti-g8 gathering anyway.

[Ele'ill]

I can't wait.

[bcbm]

me either

[The Douche]

Still not sure if I want to go all the way out there for this, I haven't been to a mass demo type thing in a while.

[Ele'ill]

Still not sure if I want to go all the way out there for this, I haven't been to a mass demo type thing in a while.

Do it.

[bcbm]

yeah come on out, we can all get high on tear gas and pepper spray together

[The Douche]

I'd rather get high off the fumes of burning barricades.

[bcbm]

the two go together like mashed potatoes and gravy

[Ele'ill]

I hope they have horses.

[The Douche]

the two go together like mashed potatoes and gravy

I hate gravy.:(












And tear gas...

[¿Que?]

I'm having second thoughts. I went to a couple of pretty big Occupy rallies where I live and although they weren't that big compared to what these will be, I was still really fucking nervous. I honestly don't know if I'm cut out for this sort of thing.

[The Douche]

I'm having second thoughts. I went to a couple of pretty big Occupy rallies where I live and although they weren't that big compared to what these will be, I was still really fucking nervous. I honestly don't know if I'm cut out for this sort of thing.

The only solace I can give you is, if things get weird at this, the people who will be around you are going to be much more ready and willing to look out for you/help you out than some douchey liberals that are involved with occupy.

[Ele'ill]

I'm having second thoughts. I went to a couple of pretty big Occupy rallies where I live and although they weren't that big compared to what these will be, I was still really fucking nervous. I honestly don't know if I'm cut out for this sort of thing.

The only way to get over that nervousness is to get out and do it again and again. What cmoney said is true. There's going to be an immense amount of solidarity.

[Ele'ill]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/29/nato-g8-protest-chicago_n_940325.html


Chicago police officials have already expressed concern about the city's readiness for high turnouts from what Chicago police union president Michael Shields called a "bunch of wild, anti-globalist anarchists."

[Ele'ill]

So this is a film trailer in the works by indymedia covering the events that took place at the 27th g8 summit in Genoa. The film is due out in May 2012.


The whole video shows a lot of violence but trigger warning at 3:25 where Carlo Giuliani gets shot

mUwvqUz7erE

[La Comédie Noire]

I'm having second thoughts. I went to a couple of pretty big Occupy rallies where I live and although they weren't that big compared to what these will be, I was still really fucking nervous. I honestly don't know if I'm cut out for this sort of thing.

Me too, but it goes away with experience plus if you go with people you know and have an arrest plan you'll be fine.

What it is for me is a fear of strange cities, I couldn't give a toss if I was thrown in a Boston jail.

[The Douche]

God, Genoa was so nuts, they marched on fucking prisons, for fucks sake.

[Ele'ill]

What it is for me is a fear of strange cities, I couldn't give a toss if I was thrown in a Boston jail.

The idea of course is to avoid arrest but you only live once.

[Skammunist]

What would you guys say are the chances of getting arrested at this demo just marching (non-violently)?

[¿Que?]

What would you guys say are the chances of getting arrested at this demo just marching (non-violently)?
Probably not that high I would think, particularly if a lot of people show up. But I'm more worried about getting hit in the face with a tear gas canister or getting the shit beat out of me or who knows. I don't hear good things about Chicago cops when I ask around...

[Ele'ill]

What would you guys say are the chances of getting arrested at this demo just marching (non-violently)?

You can be arrested or detained at any time and this depends greatly on what else is going on in the city at the time. Expect an insane amount of police activity. Forward intelligence taking pictures of people at certain rallies and speeches days in advance. Being arrested doesn't mean you're gonna get hit with huge charges either so take that into consideration. There's gonna be a big front by the police. It's an intimidation tactic.

[Ele'ill]

It all looks beautiful when you're there standing with brothers and sisters against capitalism.


http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/audio/video/2010/10/23/1287838990263/Italian-riot-police-take--006.jpg

[bcbm]

i hope this shit gets crazy, i miss ducking tear gas cannisters and being covered in pepper spray and sprinting through back alleys tearing off clothes and intense paranoia and the chain smoking and drink that come with it


damn it feels good to be agangsya

[The Douche]

i hope this shit gets crazy, i miss ducking tear gas cannisters and being covered in pepper spray and sprinting through back alleys tearing off clothes and intense paranoia and the chain smoking and drink that come with it


damn it feels good to be agangsya

Shit you can run through my parking lot and make that happen any time.

[Martin Blank]

Hope you do make it to Chicago. We'll all be having fun.

[La Comédie Noire]

I may be doing some med work if I can get there. I look forward to flushing your guys' eyes and giving stress reducing back rubs. :)

[ckaihatsu]

Chicago grants permits to rally, march against NATO/G8

Will Secret Service try to stop protesters?


By Staff

Chicago IL – In a surprise move Jan. 12, the City of Chicago granted permits to the Coalition Against NATO/G8 War and Poverty Agenda (CANG8) for a rally and march on May 19. CANG8 is mobilizing against the summits of NATO and the G8 occurring in Chicago that weekend.

“Mayor Emanuel responded to public opinion, which clearly supported our right to protest against NATO’s wars and the poverty that the G8 is pushing onto working people through their cutbacks,” said Joe Iosbaker of CANG8. “It’s the only explanation that makes sense.”

The coalition had been building broad support for their demands for permits since June, 2011 when President Obama announced the summits of bankers, generals and heads of state of the wealthiest nations. CANG8 is planning a family-friendly demonstration to take their message to within sight and sound of the McCormick Place where the summits are scheduled.

Given with one hand, taken with the other?

However, the cover letters from the city that accompanied the permits threaten that they might be revoked. The cover letters state that Secret Service could “designate specific security zones or areas.”

This threat is very real. For months, the Chicago Police Department and Secret Service have been issuing “security assessments” to downtown schools, churches, businesses and cultural institutions saying that the protestors are so violent that everyone should leave the area during the events.

When anti-war activists first submitted an application for the Daley Plaza, it was denied with a memo that no permits would be granted for public assembly during the period of the summits. A public pressure campaign mounted by CANG8 compelled the city to backtrack on that as well.

Both of these reveal that the joint city-federal agency overseeing the summits want to stop protests from reaching the eyes and ears of the rich and powerful who will be at McCormick Place in May.

In response to the threat of a denial, Iosbaker responded, “The Secret Service should not try to take away what the city of Chicago has finally granted.”

Resistance to Emanuel’s Threatened Restrictions on Protests

The granting of the permits is set against a backdrop of growing opposition to the repressive moves of the mayor. Mayor Emanuel is demanding changes to city ordinances to make protests harder to organize and to threaten anyone who speaks up with enormous fines and police repression. He proposed these changes in mid-December and declared he wanted the city council to adopt them at their next possible meeting.

At first, the city council leaders lined up to say “yes” to the mayor, but a pressure campaign that drew in Occupy Chicago, SEIU, the Teachers Union and civil liberties advocates forced the politicians to reverse themselves. On Jan. 12, the mayor’s office was also met with a rebellion by alderpersons who, for the first time, have said “no” to Emanuel.

In describing how the granting of permits impacted on the debate in the city council, CANG8 activist Andy Thayer noted, "The issuance of this permit shows that the current ordinances, while not perfect, are more than adequate for large public events in our city, and that the mayor should rescind his proposed anti-protester ordinances.”

The city council is scheduled to vote on Emanuel's ordinance changes at its meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 18. Two committees of the city council are scheduled to discuss the changes on Jan. 17. CANG8 is calling for a national call in day to demand Emanuel stop his efforts to deny the right to protest.

Read more News and Views from the Peoples Struggle at http://www.fightbacknews.org. You can write to us at [email protected]






Sent to [email protected] — why did I get this?
unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences
Fight Back! News · P.O. Box 582564 · Minneapolis, MN 55440

[Leftsolidarity]

When the world's most important leaders converge on Chicago for the G8 and NATO summits, so will the most elite marksmen.
Federal and state SWAT teams have been canvassing buildings along Michigan Avenue, the Loop, McCormick Place and O'Hare International Airport looking for the right spots to view streets, sidewalks and nearby buildings.
“They'll be able to shoot the head of a nickel from 500 feet,” according to a source close to planning the events.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20120109/BLOGS03/120109857/trained-marksmen-will-be-watching-nato-g8-dignitaries-protesters#ixzz1j3AU4ZLK

[bcbm]

meh there's always snipers at these things

[Ostrinski]

Man I wish I had a car/license. I would go if I did.

[Veovis]

I saw that they were going to hold both the G8 and NATO summits in Chicago of all places. It's like they're begging for a shitstorm to happen!

[the last donut of the night]

God, Genoa was so nuts, they marched on fucking prisons, for fucks sake.

i read the account of a black block dude who was at the group's base camp when it was raided...after the g8 meeting

[ellipsis]

wish i could make it, ive never done a major summit before, but since i got to go to the general strike in oakland, i can't be too jealous :p

[Metacomet]

I wish I had a car/money. I'd love to go. Though I have to say the whole idea does make me nervous as I have never been to a big rally before.

[The Douche]

So I'm pretty sure I am gonna save for this. Might end up flying, if not, will be riding a bus.

[ellipsis]

So I'm pretty sure I am gonna save for this. Might end up flying, if not, will be riding a bus.

might as well take the zephyr line at that point and come to the bay area.

[The Douche]

might as well take the zephyr line at that point and come to the bay area.

I don't wanna miss out on that much work, plus if I go to the bay my girl will want to come, but she's not gonna want to come to the G8 summit.

[Ele'ill]

why not? summits are a romantic atmosphere

[Ele'ill]

I'm trying to decide if I should go. The mayday general strike stuff is gonna be going on too. The PNW and Bay Area seem to have several mini summits every year so I'm a bit spoiled when it comes to being a bottom for cop stick-work.

[The Douche]

why not? summits are a romantic atmosphere

She has never even been to a protest before, getting thrown into a g8 summit would be a lot/to much.

[NewLeft]

Oh G20.. Thanks for coming to Toronto, you radicalized my entire neighbourhood.

[Ele'ill]

She has never even been to a protest before, getting thrown into a g8 summit would be a lot/to much.


No, it would be romantic

[The Douche]

No, it would be romantic

You've gotta remember that I have PTSD, and immersing myself in these sort of chaotic and high stress environments is unpredictable/risky enough. (sometimes I end up overwhelmed at house parties or shows) I assure you, there would be nothing romantic about the event for us, because I would be way to stressed, not only because of the goings on, but also because I would be worried to death about her safety, since she has no frame of reference for these kind of things.

[Ele'ill]

You've gotta remember that I have PTSD, and immersing myself in these sort of chaotic and high stress environments is unpredictable/risky enough. (sometimes I end up overwhelmed at house parties or shows) I assure you, there would be nothing romantic about the event for us, because I would be way to stressed, not only because of the goings on, but also because I would be worried to death about her safety, since she has no frame of reference for these kind of things.


Nevermind, it was a bit of a joke.

[Bad Grrrl Agro]

Count me in. I'm getting my happy ass there from Ann Arbor by any means necessary!

[Bad Grrrl Agro]

You've gotta remember that I have PTSD, and immersing myself in these sort of chaotic and high stress environments is unpredictable/risky enough. (sometimes I end up overwhelmed at house parties or shows) I assure you, there would be nothing romantic about the event for us, because I would be way to stressed, not only because of the goings on, but also because I would be worried to death about her safety, since she has no frame of reference for these kind of things.
I have PTSD too but I'll be there.

[The Douche]

I have PTSD too but I'll be there.

I'm planning to go, but my girlfriend isn't coming, thats what the PTSD thing was in reference to, I trust myself to keep my shit together, but I believe I would loose my cool on her, which is the last thing she would need in that situation.

Plus, I don't think she wants to be in that situation anyways.

[Bad Grrrl Agro]

Ah, I see. Although I have to admit individual cases of PTSD are different from each other. My PTSD would be different from that of a solder for example based of the triggers.

[black magick hustla]

i bought my tickets earlier may to chicago to visit but didnt know this shit was going on, man if i had pushed it just a week later ....

anyway actually it wouldnt be a good idea you cant enter canada if you have criminal charges lol

[Jimmie Higgins]

Still not sure if I want to go all the way out there for this, I haven't been to a mass demo type thing in a while.Well if you can afford the time and money, then this is probably a better time of the year to go to Chi. Haven't been there in the spring, but summer, fall, and winter all suck there... so I'm being optimistic that the city has at least one good season:D

But if you're on the fence and can't go - I'm sure there'll still be plenty of rad things to do all over the US for the foreseeable future.

Edit: oops, should have read beyond the first page before posting.

[ckaihatsu]

http://chicago.indymedia.org/newswire/display/95662/index.php

LOCAL News :: Civil & Human Rights : Crime & Police : Elections & Legislation : Protest Activity

Latest Versions of Mayor's Anti-Protester Ordinances on the Eve of the City Council Vote

CHICAGO –Early morning, Jan. 18 —Over the past few days, opponents of Mayor Emanuel's "sit down and shut up" ordinances have faced a moving target. In response to a firestorm of protest, the administration has dropped some of the more widely publicized repressive measures, but has often over-sold, if not directly lied about, the magnitude of its concessions to public pressure.

Case in point: At a City Council committee meeting this morning, the administration made much of its dropping of increased penalties for resisting arrest. Left unsaid, though, was that Chicago's unique interpretation of "resisting" makes many forms of non-violent civil disobedience subject to punishment under the statute. This would be in addition to more conventional charges, like trespassing, that one would be likely to get for such non-violent protest.

[...]

[Aloysius]

Chicago? G8 and NATO?
I just might go. It's only 2 hours from here, but getting a ride might be troublesome.

[ellipsis]

Chicago? G8 and NATO?
I just might go. It's only 2 hours from here, but getting a ride might be troublesome.

Bus? commuter rail? hitch hike?

[Leftsolidarity]

Chicago? G8 and NATO?
I just might go. It's only 2 hours from here, but getting a ride might be troublesome.

Check with groups in your area that are going. I know there are different organizations and just small groups that are working to get transportation set up.

[ellipsis]

marx speed midwest comrades, this has the potential to be a watershed moment for 2012.

[Ele'ill]

Anyone know of a cheap and relatively practical way to get there from Portland

[ellipsis]

Anyone know of a cheap and relatively practical way to get there from Portland

if you could get to SLC or denver or come visit me in SF first there is the zephyr amtrak line.


Experienced travelers say the California Zephyr is one of the most beautiful train trips in all of North America. As you climb through the heart of the Rockies, and further west through the snow-capped Sierra Nevadas, you may find it hard to disagree.
The Zephyr runs daily between Chicago and San Francisco, coursing through the plains of Nebraska to Denver, across the Rockies to Salt Lake City, and then through Reno and Sacramento into Emeryville/San Francisco.
Reserve a spacious coach seat for your journey or, for a more luxurious experience, reserve a roomette or bedroom in one of the Superliner sleeping cars.

[Ele'ill]

I'll check that out. I seriously can't decide if I can make it out.

[Kassad]

Oh, shit. You're going to be there, cmoney? I'm messaging you my number on Facebook before I get there. I need to meet your ass.

I'm excited as fuck for the weekend. I'm going to be organizing for two weeks in Chicago before it all starts. This is a really important moment for the left.

[Leftsolidarity]

You know what? We should have a Revleft Coalition there. Just a thought....

[ckaihatsu]

You know what? We should have a Revleft Coalition there. Just a thought....


Um...

- We wouldn't be able to converse face-to-face -- we'd have to communicate by making posts to the board over cell or wi-fi.

- I look too pixelated in person.


= D

[Leftsolidarity]

Um...

- We wouldn't be able to converse face-to-face -- we'd have to communicate by making posts to the board over cell or wi-fi.

- I look too pixelated in person.


= D

We could all dress up like the guy from Maoist Rebel News. That'd be adorable.

Btw, I wouldn't be suprised if I've actually met you before if you live in Chicago and have been to any meetings with CANG8 or whatnot. Small world.


But I feel like I'm getting off topic from the thread a bit now...

[ckaihatsu]

We could all dress up like the guy from Maoist Rebel News. That'd be adorable.


Yeah, we should all wear rubber face-masks of that dude, a la 'V for Vendetta'...(!)


= D





Btw, I wouldn't be suprised if I've actually met you before if you live in Chicago and have been to any meetings with CANG8 or whatnot. Small world.


Duly complimented -- thanks. I've been more virtual than anything else lately, though....

[bcbm]

post demo drinks at rainbo if we're not in the slammer

[The Douche]

Yeah right, I don't wanna hang out with you fuckin weirdos.

[bcbm]

yes you do

[Prometeo liberado]

I wanna go with some people from the west coast. Does anyone have any ideas on hotels or ride shares? I used to live in Chicago but its been some years now. PM me if you have any suggestions.

[Ele'ill]

Ok jbeard, here's how this is going to work. You're going to drive up north here and pick me up and drive me to chicago for free.

[Ele'ill]

Ok everyone, I need help getting to chicago.

[Prometeo liberado]

Ok jbeard, here's how this is going to work. You're going to drive up north here and pick me up and drive me to chicago for free.

Wow! The kindness of others never stops!

I found a round trip flight for $178. All I need now is a cheap room.

[Ele'ill]

All I need now is a cheap room.

Call around to Quaker houses and other churches. Keep your eye out for the mass housing call-outs although I'd advise against it cause they're not very raid proof.

[black magick hustla]

Wow! The kindness of others never stops!

I found a round trip flight for $178. All I need now is a cheap room.

im sure if u ask psl wingnuts in chicago theyll give u lodging

[The Douche]

The revleft crew is totes gonna find some sweet rooftop to crash on and get wicked drunk.


Only insurrectos, anarcho-scenesters (minimum of three facial piercings or one face tattoo), and hipster communists who don't shut the fuck up about Fouccalt and PINAB will be invited, though.

[Prometeo liberado]

im sure if u ask psl wingnuts in chicago theyll give u lodging

Ah, thats cute. If we need someone to make the place look HIP we'll call for sure.;)

[bcbm]

Call around to Quaker houses and other churches. Keep your eye out for the mass housing call-outs although I'd advise against it cause they're not very raid proof.

i doubt there are gonna be raids. usually its the 'smashy smashy' types who get tha sort of heat and they mostly seem to be sitting this one out

[Fawkes]

0P9HCPAEc48

[Ele'ill]

i doubt there are gonna be raids. usually its the 'smashy smashy' types who get tha sort of heat and they mostly seem to be sitting this one out

In Pittsburgh (if I remember correctly) both tent cities got raided as well as several houses.

[The Douche]

i doubt there are gonna be raids. usually its the 'smashy smashy' types who get tha sort of heat and they mostly seem to be sitting this one out

On the east coast, all anarchists are smashy smashy types. I didn't know this divide existed for years...

[consciousrevolt85]

this sounds like its going to be intense! i'm in NY here thinkin about maybe going to this... the first major protest i have been to was actually an anti nato protest in Strasbourg, France back in 09, it was pretty insane!

[marl]

-snip-

[blake 3:17]

Bring the ruckus! Can't go into the US because of Patriot Act BS, but will do what I can to support.

Do try to go with an affinity group -- really just a few people you trust -- I expected to get beat up or arrested during the G20 but stayed safe with a good crew of experienced activists.

Mayday 2000 in Chicago was fabulous, but steered clear of ultraleft idiots.

My least favourite chant was "Black Cop White Cop They're all the same Police Brutality is the name of the game". This was being chanted by white high schoolers at a line of Black motorcycle cops.

[bcbm]

In Pittsburgh (if I remember correctly) both tent cities got raided as well as several houses.

will depend how things go in the coming months but i don't imagine the type of protest being planned for this attracting police raids.


On the east coast, all anarchists are smashy smashy types. I didn't know this divide existed for years...

well anarchists generally in the midwest seem to be sitting this one out. chicago hasn't had its shit together for years and everyone else is steering clear.

[Prometeo liberado]

will depend how things go in the coming months but i don't imagine the type of protest being planned for this attracting police raids.



well anarchists generally in the midwest seem to be sitting this one out. chicago hasn't had its shit together for years and everyone else is steering clear.

I certainly hope not. I have talked to some comrades from the south and of course those doers from the bay area will be making the trip. I only hope black and red shake up the city for many to see.

[ellipsis]

i am thinking i should take the train out der, or at least research the different ways of getting there, might be a good time.

[black magick hustla]

well anarchists generally in the midwest seem to be sitting this one out. .

why you think so? well it probably has to do with the fact that a lot of the anarchists in the midwest are leftist types, like platformists, "social anarchists" etc

[Leftsolidarity]

well anarchists generally in the midwest seem to be sitting this one out.

Not from I've seen

[bcbm]

why you think so? well it probably has to do with the fact that a lot of the anarchists in the midwest are leftist types, like platformists, "social anarchists" etc

not in my experience... maybe in twin cities. there's def more insurrecto types around, esp in places like milwaukee.


Not from I've seen

there isn't any organizing like there was for the rnc or pittsburgh g8

[Ele'ill]

http://dissenter.firedoglake.com/2012/01/18/chicago-city-council-passes-rahm-emanuels-anti-protest-ordinances/

[Ocean Seal]

I was extremely delighted to hear that my classes ended two days before this, but that that's when final exams started :crying:.

[Prometeo liberado]

i am thinking i should take the train out der, or at least research the different ways of getting there, might be a good time.

The train is fun as you get to see the country but you dont get to shower and its about 30-40 hours? Costs about as much as a plane ticket.

[Ele'ill]

I don't shower anyways but I'd go nuts sitting on a train for that long.

[ellipsis]

I don't shower anyways but I'd go nuts sitting on a train for that long.

I often don't shower more than once a week and I like adventures and trains.

[Ele'ill]

I often don't shower more than once a week and I like adventures and trains.

40 hours on a train

[Leftsolidarity]

I think I will be missing prom and my last week or so of high school for this. Major badass.

[ellipsis]

40 hours on a train

Like I said I'll consider my options. I just realized a friend will probably put me up if I do go...

[marl]

I'd take a bus rather than a train.

[Prometeo liberado]

I'd take a bus rather than a train.

maybe cheaper but on the train you can walk around, bar car, if lucky lay down to sleep.

[ckaihatsu]

http://www.progressillinois.com/quick-hits/content/2012/01/30/look-occupy-chicagos-new-office-space?utm_source=PI+Extra+1.30.12&utm_campaign=PI+email+1.30.12&utm_medium=email


Progress Illinois

QUICK HIT

David Milton Brent Monday January 30th, 2012, 3:49pm


A Look At Occupy Chicago's New Office Space


A movement that began in the streets has graduated to 5,500 feet of Pilsen loft space.

This past week, Occupy Chicago officially moved into its new home off Cermak Road, just south of the loop. The organization will now legally occupy two units of converted loft space, which include bathrooms and kitchens as well as stunning views of the surrounding industrial corridor.

The space will be used for “meetings, events, creating art and music, educational teach-ins, generating literature and materials, and General Assemblies,” according to the group’s press release. It will not be a place for sleeping or rallying, common activities at the organization’s former home on the downtown street corner of Jackson and LaSalle.

Members of the organization and its allies gathered in the new space on Friday to speak with the media about the importance of having a central location, as well as to publicize plans for various actions this spring. Over 25 local activists and organizers stood with signs and placards, while nearly that number of reporters and journalists wielded cameras, microphones, and pens to cover the event. In general, it will be Occupy Chicago’s stated policy not to allow members of the media into the loft except for special events such as Friday’s press conference.

“Welcome to Chicago -- the real Chicago,” Marissa Brown, a member of Occupy the Southside, told the group of visiting journalists.

Added Crystal Vance Guerra of Occupy el Barrio: “We are not just downtown [anymore]. We are everywhere.”

Speakers at the event represented nearly a dozen organizations and collectives, from Occupy outgrowths such as Occupy Rogers Park, Occupy the Dream, and Occupy Our Homes, to unions such as the National Nurses United (NNU) and the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), to organizations with more specific causes, like the Coalition Against NATO/G8 War and Poverty Agenda (CANG8).

Although representatives from different groups emphasized different aspects of the issues facing the “99 percent” and made pitches for different events taking place in the coming months, all the speakers focused on unity of purpose.

“For too long, Chicago has been a city of neighborhoods divided, a city of causes divided...we [must] stand in solidarity with each other,” said Max Farrar of Occupy Chicago.

Martese Chism, a registered nurse and member of NNU, echoed the call for solidary: “We believe that either we go up together or we come down together. And we are not going down.”

Occupy Chicago’s decision to move into a permanent indoor space was motivated by practical as well as symbolic concerns.

Zoe Sigman, a member of the organization’s Housing Committee, said members first began looking for a space back in November, when the coming of winter made meeting outside more difficult.

“There was a distinct lack of spaces for us to organize in downtown,” said Sigman. “We were having meetings in McDonald’s and Panera.”

Though the new space is owned by Occupy Chicago (funds donated to the group pay for rent), the organization plans to use it as a central meeting place for its growing umbrella of related and affiliated organizations.

“Having a centrally located hub for the movement will greatly enhance communication and collaboration between Occupations in Illinois and around the region,” said Occupy Chicago’s Micah Philbrook.

Here's a look at Occupy Chicago's new space:



Created with flickr shildshow from softsea.

Evelyn DeHais, who is on the organization’s Press Committee with Philbrook, said the space would also allow people to interact face to face in a safe environment. “I think having a base of operations will really help people on a psychological level to feel comfortable,” said DeHais. And she added, “I think it will give [Occupy Chicago] some credibility as an organizing group.”

Indeed, though the space met many practical needs, it was this sense of long-term legitimacy that seemed to inspire members of the expanding umbrella of Occupy organizations. For Marissa Brown, the move into the loft proved that “we are not only mature, logical, and unified people, but we are also here to stay.”

Crystal Vance Guerra framed the same sentiment in words that resonated back to previous non-violent protest movements: “We are telling the world with this space that we shall not be moved.”

Progress Illinois
Advertise | About | Contact
© 2008 - 2012 Progressive Illinois LLC, All rights reserved

[¿Que?]

It will not be a place for sleeping or rallying, common activities at the organization’s former home on the downtown street corner of Jackson and LaSalle.
AM I wrong to see the irony here?

[ckaihatsu]

AM I wrong to see the irony here?


Maybe they mean to ditch the two-party system by starting up a *third* party....

Problematic, I know.

[Revolting Rebel]

You don't have to go fight with the cops if you go to Occupy or G8. There should be plenty of forums and debates going on, too. At least, I hope so. Bringing my daughter for her birthday.

If you're new, do be careful. The cops do try to lure people into fights for the cameras. Its best to run away as a crowd, and take another space in my opinion. I will say though, there are times to get arrested, and times to not get arrested; and if you are not planning on it, run like hell.:laugh: The point of these national gatherings, especially now that there is a real movement happening, should be to learn something you can take back to your home town.

[Ele'ill]

You don't have to go fight with the cops if you go to Occupy or G8. There should be plenty of forums and debates going on, too. At least, I hope so. Bringing my daughter for her birthday.

If you're new, do be careful. The cops do try to lure people into fights for the cameras. Its best to run away as a crowd, and take another space in my opinion. I will say though, there are times to get arrested, and times to not get arrested; and if you are not planning on it, run like hell.:laugh: The point of these national gatherings, especially now that there is a real movement happening, should be to learn something you can take back to your home town.

I agree with the suggestion here to go for the forums, speeches and workshops. How can this event help you think about how to help movement? I think I disagree with the half-joking 'run like hell' comment. I've had several really bad experiences involving people running.

[bcbm]

yeah running is bad. stay calm, if you need to get away just keep a brisk pace. running with a crowd really only works if everyone is in and has some coordination, which isn't gonna happen with some randos at a demo

[Ele'ill]

uh, ... Posted Jan 28


KZMPGl_7g60

[ellipsis]

yeah running is bad. stay calm, if you need to get away just keep a brisk pace. running with a crowd really only works if everyone is in and has some coordination, which isn't gonna happen with some randos at a demo

Really you only need to keep a 30 foot gap with the police, which may mean running momentarily to keep out of snatch and grab range. other wise, keeping a brisk pace or slowly walking backwards (never turn your back on the pigs) will often keep you in this comfort zone. a small group (30-50+) keeping their distance can slow down an advancing line of police, allowing the faster, less confrontational bulk of a march to get ahead of the police.

at least that was my experience in oakland on #j28 move in day.

in general i have found it useful to only have police on one side or at least always have a way out. in open streets, especially intersections, plazas and large divided roadways with medians, this isn't too hard. also if your route is sporadic and unpredictable, i.e. a snake march, kettleing a group is much more difficult. snake marching tires out police on foot, especially those in riot gear, very quickly, and has worked wonders at many bay area protests, including one of the last #opbarts. I first heard of the idea from some london comrades speaking at a local infoshop, just make the police chase you, instead of following an "A to B" march and rally , which makes corralling and kettling very easy.

[bcbm]

from what i recall of downtown chicago, kettling would be pretty difficult, there are lots of alleys, tunnels, train entrances, side streets even buildings to enter, etc. anyway i don't see them going for a kettle but who knows

[Ele'ill]

they'll just fly around the city in helicopter mounted LRADs shooting noise at everything that moves

[Prometeo liberado]

The cops in Chi town have no idea what year it is. It starts from the top down. Something like 4 of the last 7 mayors are in prison. These people see the community as something to be taken from, and the cops are there to facilitate that. There will be much money coming into the city and the cops will have orders to keep the place locked down.

[tachosomoza]

Saint Louis is only a few hours away, we're pretty much a suburb of Chicago. I'm seriously thinking about hauling my decrepit ass up there.

[khlib]

http://socialistworker.org/2012/01/05/enforcers-for-the-1-percent

This article is pretty good at describing the importance of this event.

http://www.salon.com/2012/01/31/rahms_chicago_crackdown_aims_at_occupy/singleton/

THe Mayor of Chicago is clamping down on the rights of protestors.

[KrasnayaRossiya]

Let's hope that anarcho-vandals don't burn and smash the whole downtown like they did last tim!!!:(

[bcbm]

yeah that would be just horrible

[KrasnayaRossiya]

you ever gotten a baton in your face btw?

[KrasnayaRossiya]

i have,because some anarchists started doing shit and we all got fucked up in the end.

[bcbm]

i've been pepper sprayed, tear gassed, had 'less lethal' projectiles shot at me, been hit and woken up to a machine gun in my face as a matter of fact.

[KrasnayaRossiya]

ok then.
but not all people are hardcore as you are,some MAYBE even prefer more peaceful demonstrations :D
older people,children,they areparticularly vulnerable

[bcbm]

i think the space/time separation as outlined in the st paul principles for rnc 08 worked well

[Ele'ill]

ok then.
but not all people are hardcore as you are,some MAYBE even prefer more peaceful demonstrations :D
older people,children,they areparticularly vulnerable

There's usually several different marches.

[blake 3:17]

I had a really good time at the Mayday 2000 March in Chicago -- it went all over the city from maybe six or seven different starting points, joined up with different groups of strikers and community activists. It was great meeting folks from different parts of the Left in the streets.

If there's educationals go go go! I missed a bunch at the G20 here and regret -- I knew what the speakers were gonna say -- but hadn't thought through all the new folks & visitors.

This might be stupid, but is there a central site or media thing or three for people to find out about it for? I can't go to the States for now -- nothing criminal except for Patriot Act BS -- but no folks in Chicago, not super political but sympathetic. Also other folks coming from Canuckistan.

[ckaihatsu]

All out for the protest at NATO/G8 Summit May 19


Interview with Joe Iosbaker

All out for the protest at NATO/G8 Summit May 19

By Staff

Fight Back! interviews Joe Iosbaker, the Chicago spokesperson for the United Antiwar Coalition, on the protest that will coincide with the NATO/G8 Summit that is scheduled for May 19.

Fight Back!: Could you tell us about the protest planned for May 19?

Joe Iosbaker: In May, NATO and the G8 will meet in Chicago. NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is the military alliance of the U.S. and its European allies. The G8 (Group of Eight) is a forum of the wealthiest countries in the world - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

They meet on behalf of the 1% of the world, the rich and the powerful, the bankers and generals. Their agenda is to continue to impose austerity, or poverty, by cutting social spending for workers and the poor to maintain profitability for the rich and to launch more wars, such as Afghanistan and Libya, to stop the rise of the poor nations of the Third World.

Saturday, May 19 is the first day of their summits. At noon that day, the largest, most powerful protest against their wars and attacks on people will take place. Tens of thousands of people from Chicago, across the country and around the world will march to within sight and sound of the war makers.

When we march, the front banner will read: Jobs, Healthcare, Education, Pensions, Housing and the Environment, Not War!

Fight Back!: Who is supporting the protest?

Iosbaker: The Coalition Against NATO/G8 War & Poverty Agenda (CANG8) was initiated last summer by the United National Antiwar Coalition. It is a broad formation that includes labor unions, community groups, anti-war and international solidarity groups and faith based activists. One of the most prominent Muslim leaders in the country, Malik Mujahid of the Muslim Peace Coalition, spoke at the founding conference of CANG8, and said that the people who would organize such a march were, “… the hope of humanity.”

No doubt, most of the people who march on May 19 will be from Chicago and the Chicago-land area. At every meeting and event we have held since we started planning this, we have had local representatives of the immigrant rights movement, African American community groups, folks fighting against home foreclosures and leaders from the Chicago Teachers Union fighting to defend against attacks on their students, their schools and their jobs. Alejandro Molina of the National Boricua Human Rights Network was a founding member of CANG8 and has spoken of hundreds of youth from the Puerto Rican community learning about NATO and the G8 and then marching with us on May 19.

CANG8 got a boost at our founding conference from the movement to oppose FBI and grand jury repression. Many of those who came to the founding conference were from the Committee to Stop FBI Repression, formed to support activists like myself and my wife, Stephanie Weiner, whose home was raided by the FBI in 2010. The anti-war and international solidarity activists targeted by this witch hunt, including Carlos Montes of Los Angeles, will join the march on May 19 as well.

Fight Back!: You have been waging a battle with city government to get permits. Could you tell us about that?

Iosbaker: Since the summer, CANG8 took the lead fighting for permits for our May 19 rally in Daley Plaza in Chicago’s center, known as The Loop. We also demanded the right to march to McCormick Place, the meeting place of NATO and the G8. We made it clear that our march would be a family friendly event.

From the outset, the city responded with threats of mass arrests of protestors. The mayor, Chicago Police Department and the Secret Service delivered the message to the media and held secret meetings with every downtown college, church, cultural institution and business group saying the protests will lead to violence. After months of this fear mongering, the Chicago Chamber of Commerce urged downtown businesses to board up their stores and hire private security. The Secret Service announced that there would be snipers on the roofs of downtown office buildings.

As we pressed our demands, in November the city responded that there would be no permits granted for any protest during the summits. We were able to gather more support from our allies, including unions like SEIU Local 73, the United Electrical workers, and the Teachers Union, plus the union and community coalition, Stand Up Chicago; a petition signed by dozens of Christian and Islamic ministers; and the Occupy Chicago movement.

Then, in January, Mayor Emanuel responded to public opinion, which clearly supported our right to protest. The city granted permits to us for our rally and march directly to the site of the summits.

In the same breath that we were given our permits, however, we were told that the Secret Service could revoke them under the needs of this National Special Security Event. Our response is to continue to demand that Mayor Emanuel and Police Superintendent McCarthy cease talking about expected violence and mass arrests and we now have to also demand that the Obama administration and Janet Napolitano, Director of Homeland Security, which is over the Secret Service, leave our permits alone.

Fight Back!: What effect will the call from the occupy movement to come to Chicago have on the protest?

Iosbaker: When CANG8 met in August, we knew that the majority of the people in the U.S. were being hurt by the attacks coming down in the economic crisis, the bailouts for the rich and cutbacks for the rest of us. We knew that war is not in the interest of working people here, that the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Arabs and Muslims, and thousands of working class youth from the U.S. only benefited the same rich class that is attacking us. We predicted that when the people of Chicago learned about NATO and the G8, a gathering of all the bankers and all the war makers, they would march in their thousands and tens of thousands.

Two weeks after our conference, Occupy Wall Street began, and the movement against the 1% appeared to confirm our beliefs.

Occupy Chicago has faced repression by the same mayor who has threatened and vilified CANG8 and attempted to deny us permits. In October, Emanuel denied the Occupiers a park to camp in, arresting over 300 to punish them for participating in those protests.

Since then, Occupy Chicago and CANG8 have been working in close collaboration. We occupied city hall to demand encampment space for them and permits for May 19.
Then, Emanuel went further still, introducing ordinances in December to greatly restrict the right to protest, rewriting the current city language for permits for rallies and marches. Dubbed by Occupy Chicago, the “Sit Down and Shut Up” ordinances, the most egregious restrictions included the doubling of fines for arrests in protests; multiplying by 20 the fines for march permit violations; requiring marches and rallies to register all amplification and requiring that those applying for parade permits during the summits provide detailed information about the signs they planned to carry.

At first, aldermen and the media all agreed that no one would oppose Emanuel on this. But then, a major civil liberties fight erupted. In a joint statement published by CANG8 and Occupy Chicago on Jan. 18, we wrote:

“In response to the mayor's attack on civil liberties, the Coalition Against NATO/G8 War & Poverty Agenda (CANG8) joined together with Occupy Chicago and several unions to unite our efforts to defend civil liberties in Chicago. By last week, aldermen had felt so much pressure from constituents that they had to speak out.

“Emanuel then moved to withdraw first one, and then another, of the most criticized pieces. Protests continued to grow; Emanuel retreated further; the protests mounted and he retreated even further.

“Finally, a version was reached that the council opposition could vote for, hoping that the movement would not condemn them. The final version is still a significant attack on democratic rights; its passage is a defeat for our movement.

The mayor has not achieved his true objective, though. Emanuel looks at the new Chicago he has inherited, with protestors in so many places and he wants to put the genie back in the bottle. It’s not possible.”

Through this struggle, CANG8 and Occupy Chicago have become united in a common effort to protest the NATO/G8 summits.

Then last month, Adbusters published their call for the Occupy Movement to come to Chicago starting on May 1. We took this announcement as another confirmation that the protests in Chicago were going to become a national focus for the movement. Since then, hardly a day has gone by that we haven’t heard news of another town or college campus where people are making plans to come to stand with us.

Fight Back!: Any other points you want to make?

Iosbaker: Last year, the resistance to the unbridled attacks on working people in this country began in Madison, Wisconsin with the protests by the public employees for their right to unionization; the movement surged into a national movement when Occupy Wall Street emerged in New York in September and then that movement swept the country.

On May 19, Chicago will take our place among those centers of struggle when we unfurl our banners: “Jobs, Healthcare, Education, Pensions, Housing and the Environment, Not War! No to NATO/G-8 Warmakers! No to War and Austerity!”

Read more News and Views from the Peoples Struggle at http://www.fightbacknews.org. You can write to us at [email protected]






Sent to [email protected] — why did I get this?
unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences
Fight Back! News · P.O. Box 582564 · Minneapolis, MN 55440

[ckaihatsu]

Chicago will pay out $6.2 million for mass arrests at anti-war protest

By Staff

In February, the National Lawyers Guild reached a $6.2 million settlement in the case of Vodak v City of Chicago, which arose from the arrest of 800 protesters on the night the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq began. The case is named after Kevin Vodak, an attorney who attended the protest as a legal observer for the National Lawyers Guild.

Vodak was arrested along with the protesters. Under Mayor Emanuel, the city has frustrated attempts by organizers to get permits for protests against NATO/G8. Emanuel has attempted to force drastic changes to ordinances governing protests, trying to restrict the right to protest. Fight Back! posed questions to Jim Fennerty, one of the lawyers in this nine-year legal fight for the right to protest.

Fight Back!: What is the Vodak case about?

Jim Fennerty: On March 20, 2003 almost 800 anti-war protesters were arrested on Chicago Avenue in Chicago. Prior to the arrest between 10 and15,000 anti-war protesters who were protesting the start of the Iraq war were escorted by the Chicago Police as they marched from Federal Plaza in downtown Chicago over to Lake Shore Drive where they proceeded to walk north on Lake Shore Drive and then exited on Oak Street.

When the protesters exited on Oak Street they were met by a line of police at Michigan Avenue and were not allowed to cross Michigan Avenue or march down Michigan Avenue and return to Federal Plaza. After waiting over an hour the police told some marchers that they could go back the way they came. Others in the march, who could not hear the police, on their own started marching back to Inner Lake Shore Drive and eventually on to Chicago Avenue after being allowed by the police. The marchers again marched to Michigan Avenue where they were met by another police line preventing them from crossing Michigan Avenue or marching down Michigan Avenue and back to Federal Plaza.

On Chicago Avenue the protesters were surrounded by the Chicago Police and detained up to three hours. In the detained crowd, besides protesters, there were joggers, people who just got off the bus, workers who just got off of work and shoppers. The protesters were peaceful and some were chanting that they just wanted to go home. None of the people detained were ever given orders by the police to disperse or an opportunity to leave.

Eventually the police started to arrest people and to put them into police wagons or buses. Hundreds were taken to jail where many were charged with misdemeanors and had to attend court. Hundreds of people taken to jail were released, some spending 40 hours in jail because they could not be identified by a police officer that they were at Chicago and Michigan Avenues. Several hundred others were detained on the street up to three hours before being released.

The Chicago chapter of the National Lawyers Guild called for volunteers to represent everyone who was charged with a crime. After several appearances in court all the people who the Guild attorneys represented had their charges dismissed.

At the same time several of these same Guild attorneys filed a class action law suit challenging the unconstitutional arrest of the people who were arrested or detained on Chicago Avenue. After almost nine years of litigation where over 100 people were deposed, the City of Chicago decided to settle the class action on the eve of trial for $6.2 million.

Fight Back!: Why did the city settle?

Fennerty: Because they knew that they were going to lose big time at trial. Two years earlier a federal judge agreed with the city that the police were immune from suit because the law was not established in this federal district that before you could arrest non-violent protesters you had to give them an order to disperse and an opportunity to leave. Also the judge held that the protesters could be arrested because they were marching without a permit.

On appeal to the 7th Circuit the court reversed the district court judge and held that the law was that protesters could not be rounded up and arrested without giving them a notice to disperse, which all could hear, and an opportunity to leave. The court also held that since the protest was a spontaneous demonstration, they could march without a permit.

Also the police defended the case on their statements that the protesters were violent, destroyed property and were charging the police lines. Nothing could be further from the truth. The police videos showed peaceful demonstrators who, when they got to Chicago Avenue just wanted to go home.

Fight Back!: Does this impact on the plans for the May 19 march against the NATO/G8 War & Poverty Agenda and other protests during the NATO/G8 summits?

Fennerty: Already the City has stated that they have changed their procedures for mass arrests. Recently during the arrest of Occupy Chicago the police have given individual orders to disperse and opportunity to leave before making arrests. Will this mean that during the NATO/G8 protests the Chicago Police will follow the constitution remains to be seen.

Note: the Coalition Against NATO/G8 War & Poverty Agenda (CANG8) won permits from the City of Chicago to rally in Daley Plaza and march to McCormick Place. While the Secret Service is threatening to revoke the permits in service of the National Special Security Event, CANG8 is determined to go forward with a family friendly, permitted march on May 19. CANG8 continues to demand that Mayor Emanuel stop vilifying protesters as violent; that Police Superintendent McCarthy stop threatening protesters with mass arrests and that the Obama administration and Homeland Security Director Napolitano, who is over Secret Service, respect the permits granted by the City of Chicago.

Read more News and Views from the Peoples Struggle at http://www.fightbacknews.org. You can write to us at [email protected]






Sent to [email protected] — why did I get this?
unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences
Fight Back! News · P.O. Box 582564 · Minneapolis, MN 55440

[Os Cangaceiros]

Sometimes I don't know why people confront an event that's been heavily militarized in (hysterical) anticipation of their arrival.

[¿Que?]

Sometimes I don't know why people confront an event that's been heavily militarized in (hysterical) anticipation of their arrival.
Hm...maybe to try and outdo the militarization, I mean with sheer numbers...If only...

[Ele'ill]

Sometimes I don't know why people confront an event that's been heavily militarized in (hysterical) anticipation of their arrival.

What a party pooper.

[Enragé]

in a way, the militarization itself is a victory for us. Since it shows that these summits cannot be held without immense amounts of repression, i.e they are enormously impopular.

[Os Cangaceiros]

What a party pooper.

I think it depends on people's motivations for going, really. For those who just want to go in order to demonstrate and such, then it may be worth going to Chicago.

For the "make total destroy" crowd, though, it's not worth it at all. If they were smart they'd put out a bunch of threatening videos full of grandiouse threats and bluster, and just not show up at all. Instead they show up all of a sudden in the Chicago suburbs, ransacking local businesses flash-mob style and fight with a bunch of confused pigs where they least expect it.

Would still be self-isolation in the make-total-destroy activist ghetto, but at least it would give me some good riot porn to fap to and dumbfound the pigs. Because right now the militarization and hysteria is going to continue unabated in order to counter mythical threats, even when those threats prove to be complete bullshit. (http://anarchistnews.org/node/16617)

[thriller]

I think it depends on people's motivations for going, really. For those who just want to go in order to demonstrate and such, then it may be worth going to Chicago.

For the "make total destroy" crowd, though, it's not worth it at all. If they were smart they'd put out a bunch of threatening videos full of grandiouse threats and bluster, and just not show up at all. Instead they show up all of a sudden in the Chicago suburbs, ransacking local businesses flash-mob style and fight with a bunch of confused pigs where they least expect it.

Would still be self-isolation in the make-total-destroy activist ghetto, but at least it would give me some good riot porn to fap to and dumbfound the pigs. Because right now the militarization and hysteria is going to continue unabated in order to counter mythical threats, even when those threats prove to be complete bullshit. (http://anarchistnews.org/node/16617)

While I don't really care why people choose the "make total destroy" method over others, I think it will be different this year.
With Occupy and Labor movements that have sprung up across the US (and world) this year sheer numbers can make a difference. Sure there are going to be people that want to start rioting. And there is also going to be the peaceful non-confrontational protestors too. Look at all the states near Chicago: Ohio, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Those working class protestors from 2011 will more than likely show up to the G8 and outnumber the insurrectionists(?). It's going to be much different than Pittsburg and Toronto, and the numbers will play a big part in it. Maybe the overall feeling of the crowd will be to storm the meeting, just have to wait and see.

[The Douche]

I heard there isn't a lot of talk about making smashy smashy for this...

[Ele'ill]

I think it depends on people's motivations for going, really. For those who just want to go in order to demonstrate and such, then it may be worth going to Chicago.

For the "make total destroy" crowd, though, it's not worth it at all. If they were smart they'd put out a bunch of threatening videos full of grandiouse threats and bluster, and just not show up at all. Instead they show up all of a sudden in the Chicago suburbs, ransacking local businesses flash-mob style and fight with a bunch of confused pigs where they least expect it.

Would still be self-isolation in the make-total-destroy activist ghetto, but at least it would give me some good riot porn to fap to and dumbfound the pigs. Because right now the militarization and hysteria is going to continue unabated in order to counter mythical threats, even when those threats prove to be complete bullshit. (http://anarchistnews.org/node/16617)

Some of us can't help but make total destroy wherever we go. It's a naturally occurring process.

[bcbm]

if shit kicks off i doubt it will be because of the traveling anarchist circus

[ellipsis]

if shit kicks off i doubt it will be because of the traveling anarchist circus

this. cops will start shit.

blaming radical protesters for inciting clashes with the cops is über-liberal.

[Os Cangaceiros]

I can totally predict what's going to happen. A bunch of protesters are gonna go all Gandhian civil disobediance on the G8's ass. And the army of pigs, having the collective realization that all of their training has lead up to this moment, will likely go apeshit in typical fashion. But somewhere along the line, some joker in black will smash a window somewhere, and that picture will be posted on revleft, accompanied by endless soul-searching and hand-wringing about the usefullness of violence and how we need to be more media-savvy.

[Drowzy_Shooter]

Wish I could go, I could certainly get to Chicago if I had to....

[Ele'ill]

if shit kicks off i doubt it will be because of the traveling anarchist circus

Depends on what shit you're talking about.

[bcbm]

well obviously anarchists will be throwing their own shit but that happens at every protest

[Leftsolidarity]

I heard there isn't a lot of talk about making smashy smashy for this...

None that I've encountered. Most of the talk that gets the closest to that is "we will respect all tactics even if we don't participate in them". It seems like there are a lot of people going there just to demonstrate and not exactly to go there just to smash up some windows.

However it turns out, I'm excited.

[Rocky Rococo]

Best case scenario is probably getting us back to where we were at the end of Seattle.

As for the Chicago cops, keep in mind the words of the real Hizzoner da Mare Daley in 1968, "The police aren't on the streets to create disorder, they're on the streets to preserve disorder."

I haven't been to something this potentially confrontational since the second occupation of Seabrook (yes, i am that old.)

http://i1228.photobucket.com/albums/ee457/rockyrococo/422497_335480113171502_199067310146.jpg

[ellipsis]

Seabrook in NH? The power plant?

[bcbm]

Best case scenario is probably getting us back to where we were at the end of Seattle.

but without the hippies

[tachosomoza]

I can totally predict what's going to happen. A bunch of protesters are gonna go all Gandhian civil disobediance on the G8's ass. And the army of pigs, having the collective realization that all of their training has lead up to this moment, will likely go apeshit in typical fashion. But somewhere along the line, some joker in black will smash a window somewhere, and that picture will be posted on revleft, accompanied by endless soul-searching and hand-wringing about the usefullness of violence and how we need to be more media-savvy.

Pretty much. They pigs don't like it when people disobey them without being violent.

[ckaihatsu]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-eavesdropping-law-ruling-0303-20120303,0,3808980.story


Eavesdropping law unconstitutional, court says

Victory for activists who want to record police officers

By Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune reporter

March 3, 2012


A Cook County judge on Friday declared the state's controversial eavesdropping law unconstitutional, securing an important victory for activists who want to videotape the police in public but muddying the legal waters as the city gears up for potentially thousands of demonstrators for the G-8 and NATO summits in May.

In a 12-page decision, Criminal Courts Judge Stanley Sacks ruled that the law is too broad and potentially criminalizes "wholly innocent conduct." He cited as an example a parent recording her child's soccer game and inadvertently capturing a conversation between two bystanders.

"Although it is extremely unlikely that this doting parent would be charged with a felony offense, the fact remains that she could, thusly punishing innocent conduct," Sacks wrote.

The decision came in the case of Christopher Drew, an artist who was arrested in 2009 for selling art on a Loop street without a permit. Drew was charged with eavesdropping after he used an audio recorder in his pocket to capture his conversations with police during his arrest.

In a statement Friday, Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez defended bringing the charges and said her office plans to appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court.

Drew's case joins an increasingly complicated mix of court opinions, pending appeals and proposed legislation that could put enforcement of the law in limbo as thousands of protesters — many likely with electronic devices that could record police actions — descend on the city for the summits.

"I think this decision gives the cause more momentum," said Ed Yohnka, a spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union in Chicago, which has a pending federal lawsuit against Alvarez over the issue. "But I don't think I would argue there is clarity yet."

Illinois' eavesdropping statute, one of the strictest in the nation, makes it a felony to record any conversation without the consent of all parties. It carries stiffer sentences — of up to 15 years in prison — if a police officer or court official is recorded without his or her knowledge.

The debate over the state law began to heat up last year with a series of high-profile cases. In August, a Cook County jury acquitted a woman who had been charged for recording Chicago police internal affairs investigators she believed were trying to dissuade her from filing a sexual harassment complaint against a patrol officer.

The next month, a judge in southeastern Illinois' Crawford County declared the law was unconstitutional in the case of a man accused of recording police and court officials without their consent. Prosecutors there have appealed, and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is scheduled to file a brief with the state Supreme Court later this month.

Perhaps most importantly, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals could rule soon in a lawsuit by the ACLU against Alvarez that argues the law violates First Amendment rights. Months ago a three-judge panel of the Chicago court, including influential Judge Richard Posner, heard oral arguments, the final stage before a decision.

Depending on how the various rulings shake out, the entire issue could wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court at some point, according to legal experts and court watchers.

"Everybody is kind of waiting for everybody else," said Josh Kutnick, Drew's attorney. "But I think in the reasonably near future we are hopefully going to see all of these chips fall into place."

While the court cases wind their way through the legal system, a bill introduced by state Rep. Elaine Nekritz, D-Northbrook, seeks to modify the current law to make it legal for citizens to record law enforcement officers who are on duty and in public.

The bill cleared a House committee last month following a showdown between law enforcement opponents and supporters who want the law changed before the G-8 and NATO summits begin. Though it could go to a vote in the House this month, it remains up in the air if there is time for it to pass in both chambers and reach Gov. Pat Quinn's desk.

On Friday, Nekritz was encouraged that there appeared to be a growing consensus that the law needs to be changed, but "that doesn't always translate into votes," she said.

Chicago police Supt. Garry McCarthy has said he doesn't object to audio recording of police officers as they perform their public duties. After all, a key strategy for police at the summits will be to try to manage protests and prevent police brutality lawsuits by recording how officers treat demonstrators. "If the law is changed, it would make our lives a lot easier," McCarthy recently told the Tribune.

But other law-enforcement groups, including the Fraternal Order of Police, oppose easing recording restrictions, saying that would have a chilling effect on witnesses' coming forward to aid police and could create situations in which victims of crime are re-victimized by viral videos of their suffering.

With the current law under attack, one central Illinois prosecutor is opting simply to not enforce it. Earlier this week, McLean County State's Attorney Ron Dozier in Bloomington cited flaws in the statute when he dropped charges against a man accused of recording an officer during a traffic stop.

"I just did not want to be in the position of prosecuting this," Dozier told the Tribune on Friday. "It's just wrong to say someone should get a felony on their record for just recording what's happening in public."

Meanwhile, Christopher Drew will remain free on bond while his case is appealed.

"I'm pretty happy after 21/2 years of dealing with this," said Drew, 61. "It's a good decision."

Behind him, a small group of supporters held up their smartphones, the red lights blinking, recording every word.

[email protected]

Copyright © 2012, Chicago Tribune

[castlebravo]

The G8 has been moved out of Chicago to Camp David, NATO summit is still going to be in Chicago.

[l'Enfermé]

If you interrupt a NATO summit, they'll go all humanitarian intervention on your ass, hope you like humanitarian bombs being dropped on you.

[marl]

UPDATE!

Although G8 has been moved, CANG8 and Occupy Chicago will still be holding (hopefully) massive protests against NATO! The protests are not canceled! Whether or not the date should be changed is currently being debated.

What's going to happen with G8 is currently unknown. It's in Camp David which is surrounded by elite Marines, so it will most likely be skipped this year.

[ckaihatsu]

G8 Moving to Camp David Protestors claim victory, to continue plans to march on May 19th

Coalition Against NATO/G8 War and Poverty Agenda (CANG8) & Occupy Chicago

MEDIA ALERT - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
CANG8, Joe Iosbaker, 773-301-0109
Occupy Chicago, [email protected], 773-417-6491


G8 Moving to Camp David
Protestors claim victory, to continue plans to march on May 19th


Today, the White House announced that the G8 summit, scheduled for Chicago on May 19-20, will be moved to Camp David, although the NATO summit will still take place in Chicago.

The Coalition Against NATO/G8 War & Poverty Agenda (CANG8) and Occupy Chicago issue the following statement:

The G8 moving to Camp David represents a major victory for the people of Chicago. The leaders of the 1% are moving because of the overwhelming resistance to the NATO/G8 war and poverty agenda in Chicago. Our city is filled with tens of thousands of people who are struggling to keep their heads above water, fighting against the effects of the economic crisis caused by the leaders who would have been gathering here. The communities of Chicago are fighting to save their schools, keep healthcare available, and to defend their jobs from cutbacks that are a hallmark of the governments of the G8.
The city has carried out a campaign to intimidate and vilify protesters, claiming that protests lead to violence. In fact, the main source of violence in the world today is the wars being waged by NATO and the US.

“We will march on May 19th to deliver our message: Jobs, Housing, Healthcare, Education, Our Pensions, the Environment: Not War! We and tens of thousands will be in the streets that day for a family friendly rally and march, with cries so loud they wll be heard in Camp David and across the globe. We will be in the streets that day to fight for our future, and speak out against the wars and their cutbacks are designed to benefit the 1% at the expense of the 99% of the world.”
- END -


--
Occupy Chicago Press Relations Committee google group
internal (members only) email address: [email protected]
external (non-members) email address: [email protected]
To unsubscribe email: [email protected]
group url: http://groups.google.com/group/ocpress?hl=en?hl=en



--
Rachael Perrotta
773.653.5073
[email protected]
Twitter: @plussone
Occupy Chicago Press Relations
773.417.6491
[email protected]
Facebook.com/PressComm
Twitter: @OCPress

[A Revolutionary Tool]

How the hell do regular minimum wage workers like myself get my ass all the way over to Chicago in the first place? Being an activist always seems so expensive...

[ellipsis]

Post on the rideshare section of Craigslist. Or hitch hike.

[Ele'ill]

Post on the rideshare section of Craigslist. Or hitch hike.

Both of which can be extremely unreliable when you have a job you have to get back to.

[¿Que?]

How the hell do regular minimum wage workers like myself get my ass all the way over to Chicago in the first place? Being an activist always seems so expensive...
Get a few friends together and do some fundraising events, like parties or shows. Are there a lot of activists in your area.

[ellipsis]

Both of which can be extremely unreliable when you have a job you have to get back to.

Well he if wants cheap AND reliable then maybe he should just bike. Amtrak and greyhound are other options. I can get you a free grey hound ticket to chicago from SF, although it will take A LONG time.

Job? Oh yah I had one of those once.

[A Revolutionary Tool]

Get a few friends together and do some fundraising events, like parties or shows. Are there a lot of activists in your area.
No, not really. Closest activists are probably in anarchists in Modesto... theredson should just pick me up on the way there if he's driving ;)

[Os Cangaceiros]

Closest activists are probably in anarchists in Modesto...

Oh yeah, "MAC"...those guys are amusing. :lol:

[Ele'ill]

Job? Oh yah I had one of those once.

so hardcore

[The Douche]

Oh yeah, "MAC"...those guys are amusing. :lol:

They have degenerated into some weird positions, I still rock their tshirt though, its cool.

[ckaihatsu]

so hardcore


*I'm* so hard core that my mansion looks like a *crackhouse* of activists...!


= D


(8 p


= )

[marl]

You might want to update the OP with some info.

[Bad Grrrl Agro]

Both of which can be extremely unreliable when you have a job you have to get back to.

I hitch hiked here to Ann Arbor in the first place. Of course I didn't need a job seeing how I was homeless and living off dumpster food.

[Ele'ill]

It's pretty easy to get stuck in a city/town unexpectedly which can interfere with plans that you might have. So yeah I guess if there's no plans or anything like that then hitch or hop.

[ckaihatsu]

Tonight: U.S./NATO Out of Afghanistan Now!



End the War in Afghanistan NOW!
Emergency Demonstration
Wednesday, March 14 at 5pm
Federal Plaza in Chicago (Corner of Adams & Dearborn)

We encourage all of our members, supporters and friends to join us for this important emergency rally on Wednesday, March 14 at 5pm at Federal Plaza in Chicago to call for an immediate end to the Afghanistan war. Endorsed by American Muslim Alliance and Chicago CodePink.

For more info call 773-463-03111

ANSWER Coalition Press Release:

The March 11 cold-blooded murder of at least 16 Afghan civilians by a U.S. Army soldier is the latest in a decade-long history of atrocities carried out by the NATO occupiers. It will be remembered as the tipping point in a criminal war that grows more criminal with each passing month.

The “apologies” by President Obama and U.S. commanding General John Allen are nothing by brazen hypocrisy and will ring hollow in the ears of the Afghan people. Occupying armies, unable to distinguish insurgent fighters from the population as a whole, inevitably propagate a racist ideology among their troops. This officially promoted racism and contempt toward the occupied people is what produces atrocity after atrocity, and insult after insult.

The only way these horrors will end is by ending the war. We join with the people of Afghanistan and the anti-war movement around the world in demanding the immediate withdrawal of all U.S. and NATO occupying forces. The ANSWER Coalition organized protests on the first day of the U.S. war on Afghanistan in 2001 and has been working to end the war for the past decade.

ANSWER Chicago
773-463-0311
http://www.answerchicago.org

[ckaihatsu]

Attended, and had a chance to speak at the open mic -- I noted that the recent massacre in Afghanistan should be a reality-check for most people. Obama was elected to end the war, yet here we are.

The Middle East is a worldwide political vacuum, and we have no interests in the capitalist geopolitics of the day. The people of Egypt, Tunisia, and across the Middle East have showed us what's possible, as well as with the uprisings here at home.

[ckaihatsu]

Protestors to march on May 20 opening of NATO summit in Chicago

By Staff

Chicago, IL - A press conference was held here today, March 15, to announce a change of plans for anti NATO/G8 marchers.

Joe Iosbaker of the Coalition Against NATO/G8 War and Poverty Agenda (CANG8) stated, “We have always said we would march on the opening day of the summits. Last week it was announced that the G8 wouldn’t meet in Chicago because of the threat of mass protest. However, NATO will still meet in Chicago, and therefore, we are moving our protest to Sunday, May 20, the opening day of the NATO summit.”

The press conference included Mary Dean of Voices for Creative Non Violence, recently returned from Afghanistan. A solemn mood fell over the crowd as Dean recalled the massacre this week of 16 family members by a U.S. soldier. She called on everyone to march for an immediate end to the U.S. and NATO occupation.

Jan Rodolfo of National Nurses United said that they would join CANG8 on May 20, but also would rally on May 18 to call for a “Robin Hood Tax” on financial transactions.

Occupy Chicago and Veterans for Peace spoke, as did a spokesperson for a delegation of human rights defenders and church leaders from the Philippines. Rev. Felixberto Calang of the Philippine Independent Church revealed that US troops are involved in military exercises, and that the government of Benigno Aquino III is continuing human rights violations, including torture, disappearances and murder of faith based activists for social justice.

Andy Thayer of CANG8 called on the City of Chicago to complete today the permit process for May 20, as required by their guidelines. “We are the only currently permitted march going to the doorstep of the NATO summit,” explained Thayer.

Iosbaker told the crowd, “Friday you’ll see a full page ad in the Chicago Sun Times defending the right to protest against the NATO/G8 War and Poverty Agenda.” The ad is sponsored by the United National Antiwar Coalition, and Iosbaker said, “It features over 500 signers including Noam Chomsky and numerous peace activists from around the world.” While the city has promised permits for the rallies and marches sponsored by CANG8 on the new date, organizers have also been told that the Secret Service could revoke the permits. The ad raises demands on Emanuel, the Chicago Police and the Obama administration’s Janet Napolitano, Director of Homeland Security, under whom the Secret Service is located, to respect the First Amendment rights of protesters.

“And we are expecting a European delegation of lawyers and even a member of the European Parliament who will be here to observe the protests in May and ensure that our civil liberties are respected by the Chicago Police,” announced Iosbaker.

Read more News and Views from the Peoples Struggle at http://www.fightbacknews.org. You can write to us at [email protected]






Sent to [email protected] — why did I get this?
unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences
Fight Back! News · P.O. Box 582564 · Minneapolis, MN 55440

[NoPasaran1936]

I'm having second thoughts. I went to a couple of pretty big Occupy rallies where I live and although they weren't that big compared to what these will be, I was still really fucking nervous. I honestly don't know if I'm cut out for this sort of thing.

My first demonstration was bloody scary, all I can say is. If anything does kick off, you don't need to get involved, it is your choice. Obviously it is fun to join in, however the atmosphere in general is always amazing. Can be quite fun, over here in the UK there's always decent music blaring out of portable stereos, dancers and on the big TUC flute bands and such. Go with friends, have a laugh!

[ellipsis]

My first demonstration was bloody scary, all I can say is. If anything does kick off, you don't need to get involved, it is your choice. Obviously it is fun to join in, however the atmosphere in general is always amazing. Can be quite fun, over here in the UK there's always decent music blaring out of portable stereos, dancers and on the big TUC flute bands and such. Go with friends, have a laugh!

I have comrades who are down for whatever and comrades who peace out when shit gets harry or confusing, and I march with both. Experience is the best way to gain confidence in the streets, no matter what tactics you choose.

I say go and no matter what you will learn a lot. Watch your back and keep your options open in terms of movement would be my advice.

[¿Que?]

Well, there was a bit of a confrontation with the police and the occupiers where I live. Nothing major, about 20 or 30 whittled down to just a handful over the course of the night. I did yell at some police as they were kicking us out of city hall. The Occupiers were saying that if you were going to throw shit at the police, you had to stand in the front, so as to take responsibility for your action. I suppose because if someone throws something, it's cowardly to hide in the crowd and someone else might get arrested for it?

EDIT: BTW, I'm talking about cans of soda and shit, not like molotovs or nothing.

[ellipsis]

LOL, not getting arrested by using crowds is just survival. You should repost that I'm dumb stuff liberals say to radicals thread.

[Ele'ill]

The Occupiers were saying that if you were going to throw shit at the police, you had to stand in the front, so as to take responsibility for your action. I suppose because if someone throws something, it's cowardly to hide in the crowd and someone else might get arrested for it?

EDIT: BTW, I'm talking about cans of soda and shit, not like molotovs or nothing.

The police can and will mass arrest everyone there and people in or coming out of cafes and stores and people driving or parking their cars on the street and media/press who are hanging out or filming or interviewing and none of this has anything to do with cowards needing to offer living sacrifices to the institutions they're supposed to be fighting against. That's really what it comes down to- they're fucking cowards. "don't cause too much trouble we don't want to further intensify our struggle because I mean really we're scared and privileged and don't actually need to be here but it's kinda like a fad that my friends and I are into because it's just another way to stroke our egos'

[marl]

Could a mod change the title to say 'May 20th' rather than 'May 19th'?

[ellipsis]

Well, there was a bit of a confrontation with the police and the occupiers where I live. Nothing major, about 20 or 30 whittled down to just a handful over the course of the night. I did yell at some police as they were kicking us out of city hall. The Occupiers were saying that if you were going to throw shit at the police, you had to stand in the front, so as to take responsibility for your action. I suppose because if someone throws something, it's cowardly to hide in the crowd and someone else might get arrested for it?

EDIT: BTW, I'm talking about cans of soda and shit, not like molotovs or nothing.

also....
isn't the whole reason to gather in crowds is so the individual is given safety by the group?

[Ele'ill]

Yeah, it's just the whole 'tactics and strategy' debate all over again with that.

[¿Que?]

Yeah, it's just the whole 'tactics and strategy' debate all over again with that.
True, but there is some nuance, as I see it. The people who were saying that stuff had also spoken favorably about accepting a "diversity of tactics." These are people that at one point viewed the police favorably, but quickly turned once they realized the police were not going to allow them to occupy anything. They became "radicalized" so to speak, when they saw that the police were not just a different type of worker, but in fact a specific kind of worker whose purpose serves to protect who they view as the 1%. But radicalization is a slow process which leads to many paths. I believe some of them actually do see themselves as radicals, however, the problem comes in when they try to enforce a moral code upon the passions of angry, politically minded people.

In fact, the people throwing shit at the police weren't any more radical than them, weren't even black blockers or had any kind of philosophy on violence. They were just pissed off because they were getting kicked out. It was not out of theory but passion that these actions took place.

I think that's an important distinction.

[ckaihatsu]

Midwest Occupy conference builds for NATO/G8 protest

By Staff

St. Louis, MO - From March 15 -18, over 100 organizers from the Midwest Occupy movement met here to discuss future plans and actions.

13 people were arrested on the first day trying to occupy Compton Hill Reservoir Park. Police armed with batons attacked the Occupiers, causing several injuries. Protesters were initially threatened with felony charges, which were later dropped. Then on March 17, Occupy Wall Street protesters rallied against home foreclosures in front of the Wells Fargo Corporate Center, one of the big bailout banks. Unfazed by the previous day’s police violence, the protest then merged into the Saint Patrick's Day Parade in downtown Saint Louis chanting, "Banks got bailed out, we got sold out!"

Much of the weekend's agenda focused on the upcoming NATO/G8 protest against war makers and bankers in Chicago. Occupy Chicago, as well as organizers from the Coalition Against NATO/G8 gave presentations about the causes of war and poverty and facilitated discussions on building for the protests across the Midwest. Cities from around the country are organizing buses to Chicago for the May 20 day of action.

"We were excited to connect with organizers from around the country that are a part of the same movement against corporate domination and war," said Danielle Meyer of Occupy Milwaukee, "We want to coordinate Occupy further and develop plans for future connected actions throughout the Midwest."

Read more News and Views from the Peoples Struggle at http://www.fightbacknews.org. You can write to us at [email protected]






Sent to [email protected] — why did I get this?
unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences
Fight Back! News · P.O. Box 582564 · Minneapolis, MN 55440

[marl]

They were denied their permit, by the way. In addition to H.R. 347, expect shit to go down.

[ckaihatsu]

http://www.progressillinois.com/posts/content/2012/03/27/nato-protesters-have-day-court-appeal-permit-denial?utm_source=PI+Extra+3.28.12&utm_campaign=PI+email+3.28.12&utm_medium=email


Progress Illinois
PI ORIGINAL

Matthew Blake Wednesday March 28th, 2012, 10:53am


NATO Protesters Have Day In Court To Appeal Permit Denial


A hearing yesterday on a denied application to lawfully protest the NATO summit made clear that the Chicago Police Department plays a secondary role in summit security. Also, there will probably be big protests of NATO, regardless of whether the city grants a permit.

A hearing yesterday on a denied application to lawfully protest the NATO summit made clear that the Chicago Police Department plays a secondary role in summit security. Also, there will probably be big protests of NATO, regardless of whether the city grants a permit.

“We’ve got a permit and it’s called the First Amendment of the Constitution,” said Andy Thayer of the Coalition Against the NATO/G8 War and Poverty Agenda, or CANG8. Thayer would testify later in the day as a witness for CANG8 in the hearing on the denied protest permit.

Administrative Hearing Judge Raymond Prosser should decide by Thursday whether the city violated its parade permit ordinance in denying CANG8 a permit to march from Daley Plaza to the McCormick Place convention center on May 20. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the City Council controversially amended the parade ordinance in January.

May 20 is the first day of the two-day summit, most of which happens at the convention center.

The city gave a permit in January for CANG8 to do an identical march on May 19, the first day of the G8 summit. But the White House announced on March 5 that it would relocate the G8 summit to Camp David.

Following the relocation, CANG8 applied, unsuccessfully, for the May 20 parade permit.

City officials repeatedly testified yesterday that the city denied this permit because NATO is a bigger summit – with up to 50 heads of state. G8 has eight heads of states.

What this meant, explained Debra Kirby, the Chicago Police Department’s Chief of International Relations, is that “at least 50 motorcades” will proceed from downtown hotels to McCormick Place, located south of downtown.

The route planned by CANG8, then, could interfere with motorcade traffic, especially if it started at Daley Plaza. The city wants CANG8 to start at Butler Field in Grant Park.

Kirby said that the Butler Field start would make it easier to deal with motorcade processions. But the city confessed it didn't know the route of many of these processions.

Each head of state stays at a hotel of their choice – there is an “open market,” Kirby testified. In other words, the city knows where all the motorcades end up, but not exactly where they will start.

Also, the city will not be the first to know where heads of states are staying. The NATO summit is a National Security Special Event. The U.S. Secret Service and other federal bodies are in charge, with local police playing the role of assistant.

Besides motorcades, the other key argument from the city is that Daley Plaza has a maximum capacity of 5,000, while Butler Field can hold more than 10,000 people. Kirby testified that Daley plaza as a starting spot could lead to protesters spilling into the streets.

CANG8’s application states that no more than 5,000 people will congregate. But Kirby was skeptical of Thayer’s estimation. “I’m not certain that’s a correct number and past experience with the applicant is that his numbers are not always solid,” Kirby said.

As for CANG8’s side, the group's attorney Jeffrey Frank pointed out that the city acknowledged in its own testimony that it could handle the Daley Plaza to McCormick Place march, if necessary.

“Difficulty is not a reason in denying a permit,” Frank argued in his closing argument. “The only reason is that there is insufficient city resources.”

Frank also pounced on the city's limited knowledge.

“They don’t know how many motorcades there will be or when they travel, or what hotels these folks will stay in, or how many people there will be,” Frank said.

A decision by Judge Prosser in favor of CANG8 would presumably put the matter to rest.

A decision siding with the city could lead to a federal lawsuit, Frank said after the hearing.

Lost in these narrow, permit-related questions is that protesters around the world will come to Chicago in protest of NATO’s military involvements, which include the Afghanistan War. Many protesters will know little about city parade permit stipulations.

Thayer said prior to the hearing that it was, nevertheless, important for CANG8 to make a “good-faith effort” in obeying the ordinance.

“People would be angry with us – and I wouldn’t blame them – if we didn't at least give the city a chance to do the right thing,” Thayer said.

But Thayer vowed to be on the streets May 20, regardless of what the courts decide.

Progress Illinois
Advertise | About | Contact
© 2008 - 2012 Progressive Illinois LLC, All rights reserved

[ckaihatsu]

Antiwar Coalition conference makes plans to protest Chicago NATO Summit

By Staff

Stamford, CT - Over 500 people gathered here, March 23-25, for a conference of the United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC). The conference brought together activists from up and down the East Coast and from across the country.

Pete Shell, one of the conference organizers said, “We advanced the organizing for the mass mobilization on NATO and the G8 in Chicago on May 20.” The opening speaker on Saturday morning was Joe Iosbaker, an activist from Chicago with the Coalition Against NATO/G8 War and Poverty Agenda (CANG8). Iosbaker called out, “If you’re going to Chicago to protest NATO, please stand.” Hundreds rose to their feet in response.

Over 150 people came from New York’s Muslim community, including South Asians, African Americans and Arabs. Malik Mujahid, a leader in UNAC, is also a founder of the Muslim Peace Coalition and has led UNAC to build the alliance between their community and the anti-war movement. There were also Filipinos, Colombians, Puerto Ricans and many other nationalities, but the Muslim community turned out in such numbers because the conference addressed the U.S. government’s war against Muslims. Marlene Jenkins and Shahina Parvee spoke about the FBI spending years entrapping their sons, who had done nothing to harm anyone. Judges refused to allow them to use evidence of entrapment in their defense cases, and both men received 15 year prison sentences.

Meredith Aby of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression spoke about being raided by the FBI in an investigation sparked by her anti-war organizing. “This conference took strong stands against political repression.” Showing that the anti-war movement won’t be intimidated, Aby continued, “I’m also excited that so many are organizing to march in Chicago against the U.S. and NATO wars in Afghanistan, Libya, and their threats of war against Syria and Iran. This will be the largest national anti-war protest in years.”


Read more News and Views from the Peoples Struggle at http://www.fightbacknews.org. You can write to us at [email protected]






Sent to [email protected] — why did I get this?
unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences
Fight Back! News · P.O. Box 582564 · Minneapolis, MN 55440

[marl]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ngkli0QFwgc

[Art Vandelay]

What is the size supposed to be of the demonstrations? I am wanting to make the trip out and this would be my first protest of any size and would love any info on what the turnout will be like. Also I would have to cross the border to come down, would this pose any problems? Is it even worth going?

[Ele'ill]

Is it even worth going?

May Day

[Art Vandelay]

I was under the impression that the majority of the demonstrations would be on the weekend of May long, not may day. As much as I love to go down for a while, I could only afford to go down for a weekend.

[marl]

May 19th (Sat) and 20th (Sun), with 20th being the big day. It's going to be quite large.

A permanent encampment is supposed to be set up on May 1st, which hypothetically would last the month.

[ellipsis]

What is the size supposed to be of the demonstrations? I am wanting to make the trip out and this would be my first protest of any size and would love any info on what the turnout will be like. Also I would have to cross the border to come down, would this pose any problems? Is it even worth going?


Assuming you have the proper documents, meaning a biometric passport, then no there should be no problem.

[Art Vandelay]

Assuming you have the proper documents, meaning a biometric passport, then no there should be no problem.

I have a passport, not sure what a bio-metric passport is, but I think I have decided to most likely head down. Anyone veterans to these type of protests, how much money would it cost to stay throughout the weekend. Would I be able to get by on a 100$ and maybe find a free place to stay.

[ckaihatsu]

U.S./NATO Out of Afghanistan, the Middle East and Africa!
Money for Jobs and Education!

Sunday, May 20, 2012
Assemble 12 noon: Petrillo Bandshell in Grant Park
(Corner of Jackson and Columbus)
Info: 773-463-0311
Website: http://www.protestnato.org
Leaflets


It's time to take to the streets. On May 20-21, the NATO powers are holding a pro-war summit in Chicago. Leaders from the world's most powerful countries will be descending on the city to promote an agenda of conquest, genocide and plunder.

The ANSWER Coalition is joining with hundreds of other organizations in mobilizing people from the Chicago area, the Midwest and the entire country to come to Chicago for a mass march and rally to resist the war makers on Sunday, May 20.

NATO and the Pentagon are nothing more than an enforcement arm of the 1%—using military force to carry out the interests of capitalism, overthrowing and destroying independent governments. For instance, NATO—under the pretext of defending civilians—carried out the merciless bombing of Libya until the government fell.

Why We're Marching on the NATO Summit

End the War on Afghanistan: Bring all the Troops Home Now!

The U.S./NATO war on Afghanistan is opposed by the people of the world. According to a New York Times poll, 69% of people in the United States think all U.S. troops should leave Afghanistan immediately.

Jobs and Education, Not War and Occupation!

The Pentagon will use $120 billion of taxpayer money this year to continue the war and occupation of Afghanistan. That is approximately $357 million each day to occupy Afghanistan. Meanwhile, 30 million people in the United States are unemployed or underemployed. Hundreds of thousands of teachers and public service workers are being laid off because the government says there is “no money.” College students are being forced out of school because of skyrocketing tuition. We are marching to demand money for jobs and education, not war and occupation.

March on May 20 because change can only be made in the streets!

On May 20, march with veterans and GIs, students and youth from across the country, union members and community organizations to say no to the war machine!

ANSWER Chicago
773-463-0311
http://www.chicagoanswer.net

[ckaihatsu]

Permit for May 20 NATO protest granted by city of Chicago

Six weeks until war makers arrive in Chicago

By Staff

Chicago, IL - Once again bowing to public pressure, on April 4 the city of Chicago granted permits for a rally and march against the NATO summit planned here in May. The Coalition Against NATO/G8 War and Poverty Agenda (CANG8) also demanded the city waive the nearly $40,000 in fees to use a public park,and give a more favorable march route as well.

The permit is for a rally at noon on Sunday, May 20 at the Petrillo Bandshell in Grant Park - without the onerous fees and with the changes to the march route that the protesters insisted on.

Joe Iosbaker of CANG8 stated that the group was again victorious and warned the mayor and the Secret Service to respect the right to protest. “NATO is responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands in Afghanistan and Libya. These generals are spattered with the blood of the Arab and Muslim people, including those killed in Pakistan by U.S. drone strikes. And in Afghanistan, 250 children die every day from malnutrition.” Iosbaker continued, “We have the right to march against these masters of war.”

CANG8 has called for the Secret Service to respect the march route granted by the city. “Declaring the summit a National Security Event doesn’t allow them to suspend the constitution,” Iosbaker said.

CANG8 also calls on the mayor and the Chicago police to stop threatening mass arrests and to stop painting protestors as dangerous.


Read more News and Views from the Peoples Struggle at http://www.fightbacknews.org. You can write to us at [email protected]






Sent to [email protected] — why did I get this?
unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences
Fight Back! News · P.O. Box 582564 · Minneapolis, MN 55440

[ckaihatsu]

Chicago spring awakens the Occupy Movement

By Dee Michel

Chicago, IL – 1000 people took to the streets in an unpermitted march from the Chicago Board of Trade Building at Jackson and LaSalle and over to Grant Park for the April 7 Spring to Action by Occupy Chicago.

People chanted, “We are the 99%!” and “Banks got bailed out, we got sold out!” to passersby in Chicago’s downtown Loop.

At Grant Park, there were several workshops around the field, including direct action, political economy and gearing up for NATO’s arrival in Chicago.

The Reverend Jesse Jackson spoke at a workshop on jobs, housing, health and education. With his famous cadence, “Keep hope alive,” Jackson talked about the need for social services and jobs at home as opposed to war abroad. “On May 20, we will occupy for our future!” exclaimed Jackson, referring to the opening day of the NATO protest in Chicago. Jackson urged people to join the march organized by the Coalition Against NATO/G8 War and Poverty Agenda at noon that day.
Read more News and Views from the Peoples Struggle at http://www.fightbacknews.org. You can write to us at [email protected]






Sent to [email protected] — why did I get this?
unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences
Fight Back! News · P.O. Box 582564 · Minneapolis, MN 55440

[marl]

Demonstrations planned for the 18th:
http://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/entry/robin-hood-will-search-city-for-world-leaders

[ellipsis]

I have a passport, not sure what a bio-metric passport is, but I think I have decided to most likely head down. Anyone veterans to these type of protests, how much money would it cost to stay throughout the weekend. Would I be able to get by on a 100$ and maybe find a free place to stay.

Any non-us-citizen entering the united states needs passport that contains their biometric data, namely a retinal scan and fingerprints. Your regular passport won't cut it I am pretty sure. I would investigate before showing up at the border, but thats just me.

[Prometeo liberado]

I have a passport, not sure what a bio-metric passport is, but I think I have decided to most likely head down. Anyone veterans to these type of protests, how much money would it cost to stay throughout the weekend. Would I be able to get by on a 100$ and maybe find a free place to stay.


for travelers holding a valid passport issued on or after 26 October 2006, such a passport must be a biometric passport if used to enter the U.S. visa-free under the VWP.
If you have a passport issued before 10/26/06 youre fine until it expires.

[marl]

http://natoprotest.org/article/us-secret-service-plans-heavy-duty-security/

Now, here's the best part...
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/sns-ap-il--natosummit-nationalguard,0,3820006.story

[Ele'ill]

Supplied by Secret Service – The statement of work makes clear that the Secret Service will provide to its vendor 3,600 linear feet of anti-scale fencing, which is currently stored at its James J. Rowley Training Center in Laurel, MD. In addition the Secret Service intends to make available 17,000 linear feet of concrete barricades which are owned by various Chicago government organizations and are being stored at two locations in the Chicago area.

They set the steel fencing up backwards in Pittsburgh so the steel horizontal reinforcement pieces were facing in. Also if you go expect to get your picture taken.

[ckaihatsu]

Major unions line up to join march against NATO Summit

By Staff

Chicago, IL - In the past week, unions representing over 135,000 workers have endorsed the protest march on the NATO summit in Chicago, May 20.

The unions include the Chicago Teachers Union, with 30,000 members; Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Locals 73 (25,000 members) and Health Care Illinois/Indiana (80,000 members); and the United Electrical workers Western Region, a smaller union but very important. This is the union that includes the workers who famously occupied Republic Windows and Doors in 2008 and the same factory, now called Serious Materials, in February of this year.

Joe Iosbaker, Executive Board member of SEIU Local 73, moved the resolution to endorse in an executive board meeting. He proposed that they unite behind the main slogan of the march, “Jobs, Housing, Healthcare, Education, Our Pensions, the Environment: Not War.” President Christine Boardman spoke in favor, saying, “This is a very important march and I want to see a big contingent of our members out there.”

Sarah Chambers, Executive Board member of the Chicago Teachers Union, introduced the motion to their House of Delegations.

Commenting on the Local 73 endorsement Iosbaker said, “I’ll be proud to see my union brothers and sisters marching against the NATO/G8 agenda of war on the poor in the interest of the rich.” Local 73 was an early supporter of Iosbaker and 23 other activists who are being attacked by the FBI and Department of Justice for their anti-war and international solidarity efforts.

The text of the resolution against the 2012 NATO Summit adopted by Chicago Teachers Union follows:

“Whereas, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) exists for the purpose of making war against nations and groups that the 1% deems at odds with its interests, and has been directly responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians in the ongoing war in Afghanistan, and

Whereas, public sector employees, reeling from reduced state and federal revenues due to economic contraction, war and tax cuts for the wealthy, have been especially hard hit; and

Whereas, NATO as a vestige of the cold war, continues to fight unjust wars throughout the world even though the cold war has ended; and

Whereas, military budgets and expenditures have taken money from education, social services, healthcare and other needed programs causing hardship to the American people and causing a loss of jobs;

Whereas, people should be put before profit; money should go to jobs, education, pension, healthcare, housing and the environment, not war;

Therefore Be It Resolved, that this body goes on record as expressing its opposition to the NATO summit being held in Chicago May 2012; and

Further Be It Resolved, that we call on our members to mobilize and join the planned permitted march to be held on May 20th 2012; and

Be it Finally Resolved, that CORE (Caucus of Rank and File Educators) submit a workshop proposal to the People’s Summit on May 12th-May 13th to education people on our vision and to unite with organizations and individuals who dissent from the global vision of NATO.”
Read more News and Views from the Peoples Struggle at http://www.fightbacknews.org. You can write to us at [email protected]






Sent to [email protected] — why did I get this?
unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences
Fight Back! News · P.O. Box 582564 · Minneapolis, MN 55440

[marl]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/12136227-418/federal-agents-to-begin-protecting-red-zone-for-nato-next-week.html
http://www.suntimes.com/12151651-417/local-nato-hosts-red-faced-over-red-zone-militarization-plan.html

[theblackmask]

The Feds did a bunch of live equipment exercises in the area today and yesterday, apparently without even notifying the Chicago police. It's clear who's in charge here.

[Ele'ill]

The Feds did a bunch of live equipment exercises in the area today and yesterday, apparently without even notifying the Chicago police. It's clear who's in charge here.

any video of it yet?

[theblackmask]

I saw footage on the local news, so I'm assuming there's video out there.

[marl]

Could a mod please change the title's date to May 18th-21st?

[ckaihatsu]

Yeah, please, if you don't mind....

[Art Vandelay]

If you have a passport issued before 10/26/06 youre fine until it expires.

Wicked :cool:

[ckaihatsu]

Please join Angela Davis, Barbara Ransby, Noam Chomsky, Mumia Abu-Jamal, Vijay Prashad, Tom Morello and a host of others in signing this petition!

www.change.org/petitions/say-no-to-nato

[ckaihatsu]

The secret of Obama's pact with Afghanistan





Dear Chris,

In a trip designed for domestic political consumption, President Obama gives the impression that the U.S. war in Afghanistan is ending. It is not.


Photo: Reuters


It is important for people to understand the actual significance of President Obama's highly publicized, surprise visit to Afghanistan. This trip had nothing to do with the outcome of the war itself and everything to do with domestic political consumption. It was designed to win votes from a war-weary public.

President Obama arrived at 4 o'clock in the morning for a photo-op with the president of Afghanistan and U.S. military personnel, and to give a carefully designed message that a page was being turned in the Afghanistan war. The implication is that the war in Afghanistan is finally coming to an end under President Obama's leadership. The reality is far different.

The fine print of the so-called agreement between President Obama and President Hamid Karzai allows for troops and de-facto military bases to remain in Afghanistan well beyond 2014—in fact, for decades to come. This agreement was signed just weeks before the NATO summit to make it clear that the United States intends to remain the master of Afghanistan under the banner of a "NATO force."

In a sleight of hand, the bases will be called Afghan military bases. This is a facade. The bases will keep U.S. troops and equipment in the country. The bases will be paid for by U.S. dollars. This is nothing other than a rebranding of the occupation of this geostrategically located country in South Central Asia.

Both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party are committed to the long-term occupation of Afghanistan. President Obama's visit was nothing more than a political ploy designed to win support during the 2012 presidential electoral cycle. 69 percent of the people of the United States want the war in Afghanistan to be ended immediately. By giving the false impression that the United States is actually ending the war in Afghanistan, President Obama and the Democrats are playing to this majority sentiment.

The people of Afghanistan do not want to function as pawns in the U.S. political chessboard any more than they want to function as pawns in a U.S. geostrategic chessboard. They want to regain sovereignty over their country. They want to live free from endless war and occupation.

This is a critical juncture to mobilize to demand “U.S./NATO Out of Afghanistan.” There will be a major mobilization in Chicago on Sunday, May 20 during the NATO Summit.

Excitement for the May 20 March on the NATO Summit in Chicago is building. Thousands of leaflets for the march have been passed out on the streets during a number of coordinated days of mass outreach. Outreach at many Chicago area campuses has been well received, especially at Harold Washington College, Truman College and Wright College and the University of Illinois - Chicago. Phone calls have come into the ANSWER Chicago office from all over the Midwest and as far away as Vermont.

Cities throughout the Midwest and beyond are mobilizing to bring people to Chicago. Milwaukee will be organizing a series of teach-ins about NATO to build up to the May 20 protest involving several community organizations. On May 20, there will be at least two buses full of Milwaukee activists headed to Chicago to protest against the NATO war makers and the 1%.

Below please find the Call to Action for the May 20 March on the NATO Summit.




U.S./NATO Out of Afghanistan, the Middle East and Africa!
Money for Jobs and Education!

Sunday, May 20, 2012
Assemble 12 noon: Petrillo Bandshell in Grant Park
(Corner of Jackson and Columbus)

It's time to take to the streets. On May 20-21, the NATO powers are holding a pro-war summit in Chicago. Leaders from the world's most powerful imperialist governments will be descending on the city to promote an agenda of conquest, genocide and plunder.

The ANSWER Coalition is joining with hundreds of other organizations in mobilizing people from the Chicago area, the Midwest and the entire country to come to Chicago for a mass march and rally to resist the war makers on Sunday, May 20.

NATO and the Pentagon are nothing more than an enforcement arm of the 1%—using military force to carry out the interests of capitalism, overthrowing and destroying independent governments. For instance, NATO—under the pretext of defending civilians—carried out the merciless bombing of Libya until the government fell. Now, in their drive to reconquer the entire Middle East, U.S. and NATO are promoting civil war and foreign intervention to overthrow the government of Syria.

The protest against the NATO Summit is being organized by the Coalition Against NATO/G8 War and Poverty Agenda (CANG8). The ANSWER Coalition, Occupy Chicago, Jesse Jackson, Chicago Teachers Union, National Nurses United, SEIU Healthcare Illinois and Indiana, SEIU Local 1, United Electrical Workers Western Region and many others have endorsed this important protest.

Why We're Marching on the NATO Summit

End the War on Afghanistan: Bring all the Troops Home Now!

The U.S./NATO war on Afghanistan is opposed by the people of the world. Tens of thousands of Afghans have been killed. Thousands of U.S. soldiers and marines have been killed or wounded. According to a New York Times poll, 69% of people in the United States think all U.S. troops should leave Afghanistan immediately.

Jobs and Education, Not War and Occupation!

The Pentagon will spend $120 billion of taxpayer money this year to continue the war and occupation of Afghanistan. That is approximately $357 million each day to occupy Afghanistan. Meanwhile, 30 million people in the United States are unemployed or underemployed. Hundreds of thousands of teachers and public service workers are being laid off because the government says there is “no money.” College students are being forced out of school because of skyrocketing tuition. We are marching to demand money for jobs and education, not war and occupation.

March on May 20 because change can only be made in the streets!

On May 20, march with veterans and GIs, students and youth from across the country, union members and community organizations to say no to the war machine!

Info: 773-463-0311
Website: http://www.protestnato.org
Leaflets

Please support the ongoing anti-war work of the ANSWER Coalition by making an urgently needed donation.






A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
http://www.AnswerCoalition.org/
[email protected]
National Office in Washington DC: 202-265-1948
Boston: 857-334-5084 | New York City: 212-694-8720 | Chicago: 773-463-0311
San Francisco: 415-821-6545| Los Angeles: 213-251-1025 | Albuquerque: 505-268-2488

[Jesus Saves Gretzky Scores]

I'll definitely be going. Is there some sort of black bloc planned? Or is that supposed to be on the down-low?

[Luc]

I'll definitely be going. Is there some sort of black bloc planned? Or is that supposed to be on the down-low?

IIRC black bloc are organised pre-demo as affinity groups so if your not in one I'd suggest not even bothering cause you could mess them up

[Jesus Saves Gretzky Scores]

IIRC black bloc are organised pre-demo as affinity groups so if your not in one I'd suggest not even bothering cause you could mess them up

Really? How do they get so big then?

[Luc]

Really? How do they get so big then?

a single black bloc would contain several affinity groups. I believe it is to delegate tasks ex. de-arresting

Thats just what I read :unsure: I could be wrong sorry :lol:

I guess contact your local anarchists and see if they are attending the rally though if your an outsider then they would be suspiscious of you asking "wheres the black bloc at", eh? :lol: I guess if you know any anarchists personally then you could ask them and try and get in.

Actually you could be a cop right now :sneaky: well it's not like I said anything y'all couldn't find in a bookstore or already know :sleep:

If your looking to get in on one I'd say it's pretty late I mean it's in two weeks...

[marl]

http://99solidarity.net/chicago/

Proposed bus trips.

[Anarcho-Brocialist]

If it's still in Chicago I'm going to go.

[marl]

If it's still in Chicago I'm going to go.
The NATO summit is still in Chicago, G8 is in Camp David. There will most likely be demonstrations against G8 within Chicago (with some smaller ones in Maryland (http://occupyg8-2012.org/content/g8-weekend-schedule-events).

[Anarcho-Brocialist]

The NATO summit is still in Chicago, G8 is in Camp David. There will most likely be demonstrations against G8 within Chicago (with some smaller ones in Maryland (http://occupyg8-2012.org/content/g8-weekend-schedule-events).
Do you know when and where the protesters will rendezvous?

[marl]

Do you know when and where the protesters will rendezvous?

May 18th at 11 AM at Sheraton Hotel.
May 19th at 10 AM at the People’s Church 941 (W Lawrence).
May 20th at Noon at Petrillo Bandshell.
May 21st at Boeing (http://www.facebook.com/events/352562164806601/) (the midnight following the 20th).
May 23rd at 4 PM at Daley Plaza.

[Jesus Saves Gretzky Scores]

a single black bloc would contain several affinity groups. I believe it is to delegate tasks ex. de-arresting

Thats just what I read :unsure: I could be wrong sorry :lol:

I guess contact your local anarchists and see if they are attending the rally though if your an outsider then they would be suspiscious of you asking "wheres the black bloc at", eh? :lol: I guess if you know any anarchists personally then you could ask them and try and get in.

Actually you could be a cop right now :sneaky: well it's not like I said anything y'all couldn't find in a bookstore or already know :sleep:

If your looking to get in on one I'd say it's pretty late I mean it's in two weeks...

Damn, I'm a little disappointed. This will be my first protest and I was really excited for some black blocking.

[marl]

Damn, I'm a little disappointed. This will be my first protest and I was really excited for some black blocking.

Eh, there's going to be people walking around with most likely lethal munition (federal and National Guard), it might not be the best time to bloc up.

[ellipsis]

Damn, I'm a little disappointed. This will be my first protest and I was really excited for some black blocking.

I would suggest playing it on the safe side then. Don't "black up". watch your back and surroundings. Plenty of room for militancy outside of black bloc, which isn't just dressing in black and breaking windows.

[marl]

Hey, remember that labor march planned for the 18th? Yeah. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-chicago-pulls-permit-for-nurses-rally-planned-close-to-nato-summit-20120508,0,2184773.story

[Jesus Saves Gretzky Scores]

So we can't even walk around dressed like ninjas? I don't even need rioting.:sneaky:

[Bostana]

There is a Very High chance of tear gas I'll tell you that.......

[Jesus Saves Gretzky Scores]

Aren't all NATO/G8/G20 protests filled with this kind of danger?

[Ele'ill]

Damn, I'm a little disappointed. This will be my first protest and I was really excited for some black blocking.


It revolves around autonomy so by all means show up- outside of having similar views there's no restrictions or anything the more diverse in action the better. It's just more expected perhaps at a local level that affinity groups will know each other and have unique as well as collaborated actions. Of course as always have legal contacts/friends who know where you are, don't go alone unless you understand the consequences and know your rights ahead of time.

[ellipsis]

So we can't even walk around dressed like ninjas? I don't even need rioting.:sneaky:

You can do whatever you want. Dressing in black and black block aren't the same. Be for warned that it will make you more identifiable and targeted by the police, especially if they are using "snatch and grab" tactics.

And yes all large summit events are dangerous, but also generally diffused and always with a spectrum of danger, based upon a number of factors.

[Jesus Saves Gretzky Scores]

Lots of good advice. Thanks guys.

[Ele'ill]

Not to get too obsessive over this but it can keep you out of a lot of trouble- if you're in the bloc participating in whatever, or even just in the back but still wearing black, you're gonna want to potentially ditch the black clothes so be thinking about how are you gonna do it and what you are gonna be wearing underneath. The cops identify people by their shoes and their back packs too.

[tachosomoza]

Not to get too obsessive over this but it can keep you out of a lot of trouble- if you're in the bloc participating in whatever, or even just in the back but still wearing black, you're gonna want to potentially ditch the black clothes so be thinking about how are you gonna do it and what you are gonna be wearing underneath. The cops identify people by their shoes and their back packs too.

Be wise that you can also identify a pig by their shoes. They love sending agents provocateur into our shit so they can stir up some easy busts. Beware. Once you deal with pigs long enough, you can identify them off the bat. Actions, body language, involvement in your conversations, their general demeanor can give them right away, and if you're hip, you can pick them out and deal with them accordingly.

[Ele'ill]

Be wise that you can also identify a pig by their shoes. They love sending agents provocateur into our shit so they can stir up some easy busts. Beware. Once you deal with pigs long enough, you can identify them off the bat. Actions, body language, involvement in your conversations, their general demeanor can give them right away, and if you're hip, you can pick them out and deal with them accordingly.

of course it's always good to be cautious but I find the cop 'outing' shit to get self destructive and counter productive (which is why that paranoia is used by cop infiltrators to begin with).

[Jesus Saves Gretzky Scores]

Not to get too obsessive over this but it can keep you out of a lot of trouble- if you're in the bloc participating in whatever, or even just in the back but still wearing black, you're gonna want to potentially ditch the black clothes so be thinking about how are you gonna do it and what you are gonna be wearing underneath. The cops identify people by their shoes and their back packs too.

Hmm, a lot of my shirts are black. Well, maybe I'll just bring a bandana in case I feel it in my soul.

[ckaihatsu]

FBI harasses anti-NATO activist in Utah

By Tom Burke

Salt Lake City, UT - FBI agents are harassing anti-war and anti-NATO organizers as the big protest against the U.S.-led NATO military alliance approaches on Sunday, May 20, in Chicago. On May 11, Gregory Lucero’s mother awoke him in their family home, saying, “The FBI is here and would like to speak to you.” Lucero came downstairs to find three FBI agents, two white men and a white woman, who wanted to ask him questions about the upcoming protest against NATO.

Lucero is a founding member of the Revolutionary Students’ Union, a group with four Utah chapters affiliated nationally with Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). In the past year he joined the Freedom Road Socialist Organization and is organizing to raise enough money to caravan across the country to the protest against NATO and the G8 in Chicago.

Lucero said, “I was very tired because I spent hours the day before phone banking in support of veteran Chicano leader and anti-war activist Carlos Montes in Los Angeles. Carlos Montes is going on trial this coming Tuesday, May 15. I was up late because I spoke at an immigrant rights meeting about the FBI frame-up of Carlos Montes.”

In response to a question about what to do when the FBI comes knocking, Gregory Lucero advises, “I think it is wise not to speak to the FBI, to give them the name of a lawyer they can contact, and to then ask them to leave. Nothing good can come from speaking to the FBI. They have a proven record of entrapping activists.”

The FBI agents asked questions about organizations and the people involved with them, but Lucero refused to give any names. They asked about the protest against NATO in Chicago and who was going to it. Lucero said, "It's not our job to turn in other activists to the police. It's harassment of the crudest kind and we should avoid talking to the police about our organizations."

For many, this ongoing harassment of activists and organizers is something new, but for veteran activists it is the revival of repression seen in the 1950s and 1960s. U.S. government repression by the FBI and other agencies is expanding as the Occupy movement and protests against war and poverty are on the increase.

This FBI intimidation is related to 23 anti-war and international solidarity activists and Carlos Montes, raided by the FBI last year. The activists formed a group called Committee to Stop FBI Repression (www.StopFBI.net). When asked what he thinks the FBI is up to, Lucero said, “I think the FBI is harassing me because I fight for immigrant rights and educations rights, and they are ramping up harassment to intimidate activists to not go to Chicago and protest NATO on May 20. They are trying to get activists to give information about other groups and activists so they can incriminate and frame up people.”

Read more News and Views from the Peoples Struggle at http://www.fightbacknews.org. You can write to us at [email protected]







Sent to [email protected] — why did I get this?
unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences
Fight Back! News · P.O. Box 582564 · Minneapolis, MN 55440

[ckaihatsu]

Meet Us In Chicago at "Abolish NATO" Events


To view this message in your browser, click here (http://workers.org/antiwar/meet_us_in_chicago_at_abolish_nato_events)
Please Post Widely!


MEET US IN CHICAGO AT "ABOLISH NATO" EVENTS

JOIN US AND ACTIVISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
IN CONFERENCES, MEETINGS AND IN THE STREETS TO SAY:


Abolish NATO: Tool of the 1 Percent

No War on Iran!

We need revolutionary change!

End capitalism, racism and war!

Fight for unity, solidarity and socialism!


The North Atlantic Treaty Organization or NATO, is the military arm of the 1 percent worldwide that is laying waste to sovereign nations and destroying the planet through sanctions and numerous other forms of violent wars.

Workers World Party is mobilizing for opposition to NATO in Chicago. Join us at our May 17 public meeting in Chicago and at many other events including the first-ever meeting of the U.S. Chapter of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (see below).

For months, Chicago Democratic Mayor Rahm Emanuel and other politicians, on behalf of the 1 percent, has lead the attacks against the Coalition Against NATO/G8. They have attempted to shred constitutional rights, are attacking unions and shutting down health clinics while giving millions of dollars of the people’s tax money to the racist war makers for “security” purposes. The people are not intimidated and are coming to Chicago from across the world to demand a world free of racism, bank bailouts and perpetual war. We want a world where the 99 percent run society for our interests and our needs.

Workers World Party members are participating in the resistance against NATO and will be demanding Abolish NATO! Hands Off Iran and Syria! Money for Jobs, Housing, Healthcare, Food, Education and Other Human Needs, not racism and war. We will be in the streets, at the People’s Summit, Occupy Wall Street events and wherever the people are fighting back in Chicago. Look for our banners, signs and literature tables.

Join us to fight back against NATO and the rest of 1 percent. Join the fight for better world, a socialist world!

Please Contribute:

We have delegations of revolutionary activists in Chicago and more coming from across the country. We have many expenses to cover including travel, housing, food and more. You can contribute by clicking here: workers.org/donate_ww_anti_nato

JOIN WWP IN CHICAGO AT THESE EVENTS:

PEOPLES’ SUMMIT

May 12 and 13
500 W. Cermak, Chicago
peoplessummitchicago.org

Look for WWP’s literature tables beginning at 10 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday
Members of the Coalition to March on Wall St. South will be attending: wallstsouth.org

WWP PUBLIC MEETING:

NATO: TOOL OF THE 1%

THURS., MAY 17
6:30 p.m.
37 S. Ashland, Chicago, IL
(United Electrical workers union hall)
Free and open to the public
312-671-7442
FB Event Link: http://www.facebook.com/events/448932011788249/?ref=ts

• The significance of Occupy Wall Street
• Why the Ruling class is trying to criminalize & isolate OWS
• NATO - tool of 1%
• Why racism and violence are integral to capitalism
• Growing NATO and U.S. War Threats - No War on Iran, Syria, China or anywhere else
• How solidarity forges new bonds in the struggle for socialism.

This will be a discussion with Workers World leaders and activists Larry Holmes, John Parker, Sara Flounders, Larry Hales, Jill White, Armando Robles, President of UE Local 1110 and others.


NAKBA COMMEMORATION
May 15

"Nakba - Telling the Story. Remember. Retell. Resist" at Grace Place, 637 S. Dearborn. at 6:30pm.
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/447521655264898/


NATIONAL NURSES UNITED RALLY

May 18
11 a.m. March leaving from Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers,
12:15 p.m. Rally at Daley Plaza, Washington & Dearborn.
http://www.nationalnursesunited.org/pages/1177


INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE OF PEOPLES STRUGGE
FOUNDING OF U.S. CHAPTER

May 19
Founding Assembly, 1-5:30 p.m.
Centro Autonomo, 3460 West Lawrence Ave. (Albany Park), Chicago
$20 registration fee; includes admission to cultural night. Lunch and dinner provided.

International Cultural Solidarity Night
$10 Door Admission. (Free with ILPS Founding Assembly registration)
Centro Autonomo, 3460 West Lawrence Ave. (Albany Park), Chicago

[email protected]
ilps.info


“CHALLENGE THE NATO WAR MAKERS” MARCH AND RALLY

Mass United Permitted Demonstration organized by Coalition to Protest NATO/G8 (CANG8.ORG)
Find Workers World Party banners in the street and join our contingent

Sunday, May 20
12 Noon, Petrillo Band Shell
Corner of Jackson & Columbus, (Grant Park), Chicago
Join us for this people-based, permitted and family-friend march

This event is sponsored by the Coalition to Protest NATO/G8 and
the United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC)
nationalpeaceconference.org
cang8.org
CanG8 FB event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/220503057983391/


ALSO: Occupy Chicago Week of Events
http://www.facebook.com/events/295772130492710

For ongoing anti-NATO event information and independent media coverage: www.wibailoutpeople.org.
Please Contribute:

We have delegations of revolutionary activists in Chicago and more coming from across the country. We have many expenses to cover including travel, housing, food and more. You can contribute by clicking here: workers.org/donate_ww_anti_nato
To join us, to help and for more information, call: 312-671-7442.

workers.org






------------
You are subscribed as [email protected]

Send a copy of this message to a friend with this link.

If you do not wish to receive this email, you can unsubscribe from it.

Additionally, you may wish to update your preferences.
powered by phplist v 2.10.18, © phpList ltd

[marl]

http://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/entry/chicago-mayor-emanuel-agrees-to-let-nurses-rally-in-daley-plaza/

May 18th permit restored.

[marl]

Protesting NATO: What to Know About the Secret Service and H.R. 347 - ACLU
(https://www.aclu.org/blog/free-speech/protesting-nato-what-know-about-secret-service-and-hr-347)




By Gabe Rottman (https://www.aclu.org/blog/author/gabe-rottman), Washington Legislative Office at 12:58pm
The forthcoming summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, set for May 20 and 21 in Chicago, could be the first public test of H.R. 347 (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/thomas), the recently passed law that expanded the ability of the Secret Service to suppress protests in or around certain restricted zones near individuals under its protection. We've written about H.R. 347 here (http://www.aclu.org/blog/free-speech/ready-occupy-what-you-need-know-about-hr-347-criminalizing-protest-law) and here (http://www.aclu.org/blog/free-speech/how-big-deal-hr-347-criminalizing-protest-bill).
NATO summits are interesting affairs. Unlike the periodic meetings of member nations, the summits are more stately and elaborate events, meant to introduce major policy changes or new members to the strategic alliance (among other things). This means lots of Very Important Persons, and lots of Very Controversial Issues. Both of these things mean lots of expected First Amendment activity.
As far as H.R. 347 goes, the NATO summit has been declared (http://www.faa.gov/news/updates/media/2012%20NATO%20Summit%20Chicago%20Flight%20Advisory .pdf) a "National Special Security Event (http://www.secretservice.gov/nsse.shtml)" by the Department of Homeland Security. This puts the Secret Service in charge of the overall security plan. My understanding is that the FBI chips in with counterterrorism and counterintelligence assistance, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (another DHS agency) is in charge of emergency preparation. It also means massive security preparations (http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2012/04/secret_service_chicago_nato_su.html) and infrastructure—and lots of opportunities for the suppression of lawful protest.
The entire area around Chicago's McCormick Place—the main site for the summit—will be off-limits to unauthorized personnel, and I believe will qualify as a restricted zone under the federal law (http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1752) that was amended by H.R. 347. Additionally, the Secret Service plans to close parts of Lake Shore Drive and I-55 near the summit as well as other locations in the Loop.
For protesters, this means a couple of things. First, be aware of the types of conduct covered by the law amended by H.R. 347 (all of this stuff was actually illegal before the recent revamp, which is partially why the bill sailed under the radar). That is, you cannot:
(1) Enter or remain in one of these zones without "lawful authority";
(2) Engage in "disorderly or disruptive conduct" in or near one of these zones that "impedes or disrupts the orderly conduct of Government activities or official functions" (but you must intend to impede or disrupt those activities or functions);
(3) Block or otherwise impede an entrance or exit to one of these zones (but you must again intend to disrupt government activities or official functions); or
(4) Engage in any act of physical violence against person or property in any restricted zone.
Second, note this is where the lowered intent standard in the law, which we explained here (http://www.aclu.org/blog/free-speech/ready-occupy-what-you-need-know-about-hr-347-criminalizing-protest-law), could come into play. Previously, per the one case (http://pacer.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinion.pdf/044832.P.pdf) discussing the scope of the law amended by H.R. 347, there was a question about whether you had to affirmatively know your actions were unlawful under federal law before you could be convicted under the relevant federal statute. Under H.R. 347's amendments to that statute, I think it's safe to say that requirement is gone. All you need to know are the "facts underlying" the offense, meaning that you merely need to be aware you're engaged in the conduct described above in one of these zones, but not that it's illegal.
In practice, this could mean that protesters who inadvertently find themselves in one of these areas could be arrested and charged under H.R. 347. That said, the law also requires that the area be "posted, cordoned off, or otherwise restricted," meaning that it would have to be obvious based on signage, a cordon of police officers surrounding the area or some other means that the area is a federally restricted area. If not, it would arguably be difficult to form the required intent to commit the crime. That will not necessarily, however, stop the authorities from arresting you.
What will be particularly interesting (read: alarming) is if the Secret Service starts to use the law to get at protests that are physically removed from the event. For instance, if a lawful protest that is within earshot of the summit gets rowdy enough that it "disrupts" the "orderly conduct of Government business or official functions," does that trigger the statute? We just don't know. The Secret Service certainly has the ability and obligation to secure the individuals it protects, but it also must permit lawful protest to be seen and heard. It cannot use H.R. 347 to "sanitize" the summit.
In any event, the summit is slightly more than a week away and time will soon tell how "big a deal" the law is. As always, if you hear anything on H.R. 347, let us know (https://www.aclu.org/affiliates), and you can also personally urge the Secret Service to respect the First Amendment here (https://www.aclu.org/secure/sign-letter-respect-protestors-rights-free-speech-0?ms=web_120430_hr347_ac).

[ckaihatsu]

APTUF (Pakistan) Message to Anti-NATO March 20 Action in Chicago

CANG8 and all anti-NATO organizations for March 20:

Here is an email I received today from Rubina Jamil, General Secretary of the All Pakistan Trade Union Federation, and President of Working Women Federation. Rubina Jamil was in Chicago in 2009 speaking at a national meeting of U.S. Labor Against the War.
Also, here is a link to an interview done by Labor Beat of Rubina Jamil at that time:

http://blip.tv/labor-beat/labor-beat-rubina-jamil-interview-3011777

- Larry Duncan
Labor Beat

--------------------------------

Dear Larry,

Greetings from All Pakistan Trade Union Federation/Working Women Organization!

It is for your information that the conflict in Afghanistan has spilled over into Pakistan where since 2004 estimated 35,000 people have been killed and many more disabled. The only winners of war are the manufacturers of arms and ammunition. For Pakistan Federally Administrated Areas (Fata), formally called the Tribal Areas, have been devastated and there is no end in sight. For Pakistan Balochistan is also an area in turmoil. The Americans are also pointing fingers at our Balochistan human rights record.

During the Russian invasion more than 3 million Afghans migrated to Pakistan. Today some 1.7 million Afghans refugees are still in Pakistan.

Pakistan's religious and cultural hereditary ties with Central Asia, Iran, Afghanistan and Middle East have always been strong. Any development in one country has its impact on others including Pakistan. Today we are caught in conflict in Afghanistan; tomorrow we may be in a bigger mess if Iran is attacked by Israel/American forces. Attack on Iran will be most unpopular with the people of Pakistan and destabilise its leadership.

We are directly hit by American war in Afghanistan. NATO Drone attack have killed thousands of innocent people, Industry and factories are shut down because of the tension and the DRONE attack by the US-led allies forces.

The working class of Pakistan and the common people are against NATO forces attacks and foreign intervention which already threatened our sovereignty. We the Pakistani working class are agitating to end war and bring peace, we want jobs, we want bread, we want electricity, no more killing of any human being, we want Pakistan where workers get their rights, decent wages and social justice.

The working class all around the world will need to struggle together to end Imperialist war for their own interest, a war that has killed and maimed millions of people in IRAQ and Afghanistan and now in Pakistan..

We fully support March with Labor Against NATO May 20.

In solidarity,
Rubina Jamil
General Secretary
All Pakistan Trade Union Federation
President
Working Women Organization

[Jesus Saves Gretzky Scores]

Where is the general meeting place?

[Art Vandelay]

My friend just yesterday said he wanted to make the road trip down. Looks like I could be actually coming to this, I am extremely nervous, scared, excited.

[Leftsolidarity]

What time are the protests expected to end on Sunday?

[ckaihatsu]

Chicago: Unprecedented Protester vs. NATO Debate Is On for Thursday Night




For Immediate Release: May 16, 2012


For information:
Andy Thayer, Coalition Against NATO / G8 War & Poverty Agenda, 773.209.1187, [email protected]


Unprecedented Protester vs. NATO Debate
Is On for Thursday Night


CHICAGO -- After some difficulties lining up pro-NATO participants, a widely-publicized debate about NATO that may be without precedent is on for 6 PM to 7 PM, Thursday, May 17 at the Pritzker Military Library, 104 S. Michigan Avenue. The debate will be webcast and can be viewed at www.pritzkermilitarylibrary.org, will also be available to the media via The Chicago Switch at PML.1


Last week after NATO leaked news about the impending debate and the debaters on its side, those debaters pulled their participation from the event. Anti-NATO forces led by the Coalition Against the NATO/G8 War & Poverty Agenda (CANG8), organizers of the big Sunday, May 20th march on the NATO summit, lobbied to have the debate in a much larger venue so that all who wished to witness it in person could do so, but pro-NATO forces refused to participate in such an event. Therefore, there will only be a small, invitation-only audience evenly split between the two sides.


CANG8 insisted also that the event be open to the media, and were successful in reaching agreement on that principle. Nonetheless, due to limited space at the Pritzker Library, media participants are asked to RSVP, bring photo identification, and a press pass or other documentation indicating which outlet(s) they are representing.


An effort will be made to accommodate all media personnel, but in the event that we run out of space, outlets that have RSVP'd will be given preference. Doors open at 5:30 PM. Outlets are asked to RSVP by sending an email to [email protected]


Representing anti-NATO protesters will be Iraq Veterans Against the War Chicago Chapter President Iris Feliciano. Feliciano is served in the Marine Corps on Active Duty from 1996 to 2005 and on Reserve Duty from 2006 to 2010, and served in Operation Enduring Freedom. Also representing the protesters will be Rick Rozoff, an internationally recognized researcher on NATO and author of the Stop NATO website.


Representing the pro-NATO side will be Ambassador J.D. Bindenagel and John Allen Williams, Ph.D. Bindenagel is a former U.S. Ambassador and career diplomat who served in Germany during the end of the Cold War, and was involved in debates on NATO security policy and membership. Williams is Professor of Political Science at Loyola University Chicago. He is a retired Captain in the U.S. Naval Reserve and served with the NATO Inter-Allied Confederation of Reserve Officers (CIOR).


The moderator will be Richard E. Friedman, President of the National Strategy Forum. Friedman also serves as Counselor to the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Law and National Security. Mr. Friedman was an Air Force Officer during the Korean War, and served on the Army Science Board.


The CANG8 wishes to thank Mr. Friedman and the National Strategy Forum for approaching us to propose the debate, and then lining up others on the pro-NATO side to engage in it. The National Strategy Forum also kindly opened the pages of its journal, National Strategy Forum Review, to allow CANG8 organizer Andy Thayer publish an article about why he opposes NATO.


# # #

[marl]

Where is the general meeting place?

Sunday, May 20, 2012
Noon rally at Petrillo Bandshell
(corner of Jackson and Columbus),
then march to McCormick Place

[ckaihatsu]

On a problem at the People’s Summit, May 13 [Chicago]

A very bad development unfolded at the Counter Summit on Sunday, May 13th. People who don’t belong at anti-NATO events presented ideas that can easily confuse those who are new to politics.

In one workshop two presenters repeatedly stated that NATO should intervene militarily in Syria, with a no-fly zone and more. It is unfortunate that this group was given a chance to speak at the Counter Summit.

People from another disturbing trend were also allowed to speak on the 13th-- focusing not on opposing U.S. government intervention in Iran, but instead, echoing the U.S. government demonization of the Iranian government. They insisted on focusing on Iran’s leadership, especially Ahmajinedad. They were asking the U.S. anti-war movement to take the same stand on the internal politics that the U.S. government takes. This echoes the U.S.’s criticism of the Iranian government at a time when the US and NATO are funding opposition forces and threatening war on the Iranian people. This diverts Americans’ attention away from the immediate danger of another U.S-NATO war on Iran. It diverts away from the illegal and unjust U.S. government interference in the internal affairs of another country.

It is the threats of illegal interference and war that demand our all-out opposition. The responsibility of Americans is first and foremost to oppose our own government which is defying international law-- with Obama and Clinton saying repeatedly that the U.S. is ready to use military force against Iran. They state their aim repeatedly --regime change, in Syria and Iran.

The issue for us is to work to stop the criminal threats, actions, and use of force by the U.S. and NATO. After all, Iran has not attacked the U.S. or any NATO countries; so, under international law, it has no right to attack Iran--regardless of whether it likes Iran’s government or wants Iran to stop its peaceful nuclear program. Diversion away from U.S. criminality against Syria or Iran can only cause more confusion and weaken efforts to stop U.S. and NATO crimes. The best support we can give people around the world is to get the U.S. and NATO off their backs.

Naturally the people of each country are the ones who have a right to decide their own destiny--free of outside intervention. And, of course, Iranian Americans or Syrian-Americans are free to say whatever they want--but not inside anti-U.S./NATO actions. We are trying to unite all who can be united against NATO.

Neal Resnikoff of the March 19th Anti-War Coalition. [email protected]

[Leftsolidarity]

On a problem at the People’s Summit, May 13 [Chicago]

A very bad development unfolded at the Counter Summit on Sunday, May 13th. People who don’t belong at anti-NATO events presented ideas that can easily confuse those who are new to politics.

In one workshop two presenters repeatedly stated that NATO should intervene militarily in Syria, with a no-fly zone and more. It is unfortunate that this group was given a chance to speak at the Counter Summit.

People from another disturbing trend were also allowed to speak on the 13th-- focusing not on opposing U.S. government intervention in Iran, but instead, echoing the U.S. government demonization of the Iranian government. They insisted on focusing on Iran’s leadership, especially Ahmajinedad. They were asking the U.S. anti-war movement to take the same stand on the internal politics that the U.S. government takes. This echoes the U.S.’s criticism of the Iranian government at a time when the US and NATO are funding opposition forces and threatening war on the Iranian people. This diverts Americans’ attention away from the immediate danger of another U.S-NATO war on Iran. It diverts away from the illegal and unjust U.S. government interference in the internal affairs of another country.

It is the threats of illegal interference and war that demand our all-out opposition. The responsibility of Americans is first and foremost to oppose our own government which is defying international law-- with Obama and Clinton saying repeatedly that the U.S. is ready to use military force against Iran. They state their aim repeatedly --regime change, in Syria and Iran.

The issue for us is to work to stop the criminal threats, actions, and use of force by the U.S. and NATO. After all, Iran has not attacked the U.S. or any NATO countries; so, under international law, it has no right to attack Iran--regardless of whether it likes Iran’s government or wants Iran to stop its peaceful nuclear program. Diversion away from U.S. criminality against Syria or Iran can only cause more confusion and weaken efforts to stop U.S. and NATO crimes. The best support we can give people around the world is to get the U.S. and NATO off their backs.

Naturally the people of each country are the ones who have a right to decide their own destiny--free of outside intervention. And, of course, Iranian Americans or Syrian-Americans are free to say whatever they want--but not inside anti-U.S./NATO actions. We are trying to unite all who can be united against NATO.

Neal Resnikoff of the March 19th Anti-War Coalition. [email protected]

Thanks for posting this because I was going to do the same. I thought it was a very important email.

[ckaihatsu]

CANG8 opposes Chicago Police Department attack on anti-NATO protesters


To all who support our right to protest:



Below is the press release issued by the National Lawyers Guild about the criminal actions of the Chicago Police Department against prominent Occupy Chicago activists.



CANG8 stands in solidarity with the victims of this violent police action. They have done nothing wrong. They have the right to protest against NATO.



As of this hour, the CPD have not admitted to the lawyers that they have the eight people in custody.



Call Mayor Emanuel 312-744-5000 and Police Superintendent McCarthy 312-744-4000: Demand the immediate release of the activists.



If you see police misconduct, or are harassed or stopped, call the NLG Hotline: 312-913-0039



And remind all who want to protest with us on Sunday, May 20th: The police acted last night under the cover of darkness, while we'll be marching in the light of day while the whole world will be watching. Don't be afraid to come out and raise your voices!



Joe Iosbaker

Pat Hunt

Joe Lombardo

Coalition Against NATO/G8 War & Poverty Agenda





PRESS RELEASE: Chicago Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild

National Lawyers Guild Condemns Preemptive Police Raids & Unlawful Searches on the Streets. Early morning house raid in Bridgeport and harassment of activists indicates intolerance of free speech rights.

NOTE: Press conference to be held TODAY at 5:30pm at 3340 W. Fillmore Street, the Chicago Police Department's Organized Crime Division

Chicago, IL -- The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) condemns a preemptive police raid that took place at approximately 11:30pm Wednesday in the Bridgeport neighborhood, and instances of harassment on the street, in which Chicago police are unlawfully detaining, searching, and questioning NATO protesters. The Bridgeport raid was apparently conducted by the Organized Crime Division of the Chicago Police Department and resulted in as many as 8 arrests.

According to witnesses in Bridgeport, police broke down a door to access a 6-unit apartment building near 32nd & Morgan Streets without a search warrant. Police entered an apartment with guns drawn and tackled one of the tenants to the floor in his kitchen. Two tenants were handcuffed for more than 2 hours in their living room while police searched their apartment and a neighboring unit, repeatedly calling one of the tenants a "Commie faggot." A search warrant produced 4 hours after police broke into the apartment was missing a judge's signature, according to witnesses. Among items seized by police in the Bridgeport raid were beer-making supplies and at least one cell phone.

"Preemptive raids like this are a hallmark of National Special Security Events," said Sarah Gelsomino with the NLG and the People's Law Office. "The Chicago police and other law enforcement agencies should be aware that this behavior will not be tolerated and will result in real consequences for the city."

In another incident, 3 plainclothes police officers unlawfully stopped, handcuffed, and searched a NATO protester on Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive at approximately 2pm today. According to the protester, he did not consent to a search and there was no probable cause to detain him. The police also photographed and questioned him about where he was from, how he got to Chicago, how long it took, what he was doing here, where he was staying, who he was with, and how long he was planning to say in Chicago. The protester refused to answer any questions and was eventually released.

The NLG has received reports that at least 20 people have been arrested so far this week, and two people are still in custody, not including the Bridgeport residents who are still unaccounted for. One of the protesters currently being detained, Danny Johnson of Los Angeles, has been accused of assaulting a police officer during an immigrant rights rally on Tuesday afternoon. However, multiple witnesses on the scene, including an NLG Legal Observer, recorded a version of events that contradict the accusations of police.

During the week of NATO demonstrations, the NLG is staffing a legal office and answering calls from activists on the streets and in jail. The NLG will also be dispatching scores of Legal Observers to record police misconduct and representing arrestees in the event the city pursues criminal prosecutions.

Contact: NLG Legal Worker Kris Hermes 510-681-6361 or NLG Attorney Sarah Gelsomino 773-520-8246

[Leftsolidarity]

Takin off for Chicago now. I'll probably see some of you this weekend but won't even know it. WHO ELSE IS PUMPED FOR THIS WEEKEND?!?

[Art Vandelay]

Takin off for Chicago now. I'll probably see some of you this weekend but won't even know it. WHO ELSE IS PUMPED FOR THIS WEEKEND?!?

I am taking off in an hour or two, what is the general meeting place for the 19th?

[marl]

NG01K1aUniA

Todays demo

[Prometeo liberado]

Christ I wanted to be there!!!!! Keep your heads up comrades! Be safe, but more important, be UNIFIED!!!!!

[Ele'ill]

good luck ya'll stay safe

[¿Que?]

Solid!

[ckaihatsu]

Chicago protest against police repression and NATO war

By Tom Burke

Chicago, IL - Angered by a police raid and arrests of Occupy protesters in the Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago, 1500 protesters marched and rallied here May 19. The protest marched from the Federal Reserve Bank, the main protest site for Occupy Chicago, up to Daley Plaza. A roar went up when the march stepped off with hundreds of young people taking to the streets, chanting, “This is what democracy looks like!” and “No war for oil! NATO off Afghan soil!”

Protesters responded immediately to the police repression by mobilizing a large crowd in less than 24 hours. According to the National Lawyers Guild, police “disappeared” nine people for nearly a day – first in the Organized Crime Building and later a Chicago police station. Friends and family had no idea what was happening and Chicago police denied any knowledge. After two days, three people remained in jail facing serious terrorism charges, with bail set at $1.5 million.

Upon arriving at Daley Plaza, Zoe Sigman of Occupy Chicago thanked the crowd and then asked everyone to sit down in silence for ten minutes in solidarity with the nine people taken away by the police and the three charged with terrorism. When the solidarity silence ended, Zoe rose to speak from on top of a flower box and denounced the police raid. She described the busting down of the door of the apartment and the abuse of those living there. Sigman spoke about the need to stand against police repression and to continue to protest the war-makers of NATO in Chicago. She also called for people to not be fearful, but to mobilize even more people to come to Grant Park for the big anti-NATO protest against war and poverty on Sunday, May 20.

Stephanie Weiner with the Committee to Stop FBI Repression spoke next and denounced the 2010 FBI raids on 23 Midwest activists’ homes and the home of Carlos Montes a few months later. She said that solidarity with Zoe and the other activists abused and arrested can beat back this outrageous attack. Weiner said, “We are powerful, we can build a powerful movement to stop NATO and its wars, and we can beat back police and FBI repression if we stick together!”

Then a student from Utah and the Revolutionary Students Union spoke. Gregory Lucero was visited by the FBI at his home and they wanted to know about organizing a trip to protest NATO and war. Lucero said, “What do you say when the FBI or police come to your door?” The crowd shouted, “Nothing!” Then Lucero ended by saying it is important to speak out against FBI repression and war.

Finally, a speaker from Cleveland spoke about the recent arrest of three young homeless men who are part of the Occupy movement and how they were set up by the FBI. He asked for solidarity as they face serious charges in this latest FBI frame-up.

The march proceeded from Daley Plaza and eventually onto Michigan Avenue, with tourists and workers taking photographs and smiling as they went by. The streets of Chicago are alive with the sounds of protest, opposing repression at home and war abroad.
Read more News and Views from the Peoples Struggle at http://www.fightbacknews.org. You can write to us at [email protected]






Sent to [email protected] — why did I get this?
unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences
Fight Back! News · P.O. Box 582564 · Minneapolis, MN 55440

[Ele'ill]

http://anarchyandchaos.wordpress.com/2012/05/19/homebrew-supplies-siezed-three-charged-with-terrorism-in-chicago/


homebrew supplies siezed, three charged with terrorism in chicago

Several demonstrators who were taken into police custody Thursday night have been released.

Darrin Annussek said he was never read his rights or even questioned by police.

Annussek, who’s from Philadelphia, said he was among those arrested Wednesday night at an apartment building near 32nd and Morgan.

“They did not speak us to for 18 hours,” Annussek said. “They did not let us know what was happening. They did not let us know what was happening next.”

The 36-year-old former social worker arrived in Chicago May 1 and was staying with Occupy Chicago protester William Vassilakis, who was not arrested.

Friday, Vassilakis denied reports that molotov cocktails were found in his home, saying police confiscated equipment used for beer making, his hobby.

“I have two different kinds of beer right now, an India Pale Ale and a stout,” Vassilakis said. “You can come try them.”

Annussek says he was held for more than 30 hours, 18 of them spent at the Organized Crime Division building, where he said he was kept alone and shackled in a small interrogation room.

“Some of our cries for the bathroom were either ignored or met with silence,” Annussek said. “As a result, some of us were forced to urinate or defecate in the area where we were confined to.”

Annussek was eventually moved to Harrison District police, where he said he was told he was under investigation for felony conspiracy.

Three remain in custody, and six people have been released including two who were freed about 8:30 p.m. Friday without being charged.

“It was hard to determine why we were here. We were never given straight answers,” said Daniel Murphy, freed protester.

“When there are lawyers on the outside pleading with this city to give us information about where our clients were being held, we were met with silence,” said Sarah Gelsomino of the National Lawyers Guild.

Chicago police have declined to discuss the case or even acknowledge the arrests occurred.

[Ele'ill]

http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2012/05/415845.shtml



the NATO 3 are each being held on 1.5 million dollar bonds, here is some video.
author: chops
NATO 3 being held on 1.5 million bonds are being charged with terrorism

syZW3jWZo6s

[Ele'ill]

VRO4BHkXpcw

[Leftsolidarity]

Great march everyone! Will hopefully get some pictures and video up within a day or so.

[ckaihatsu]

Press Conference by Occupy Chicago, CANG8, 2 pm TODAY, Obama Hq.


Media Advisory
Monday, May 21st, 2012

Press Conference today
2:00 pm
Obama Campaign Headquarters
130 E. Randolph
Chicago

For more information: Joe Iosbaker 773-301-0109

Occupy Chicago and the Coalition Against NATO/G8 War & Poverty Agenda to denounce police violence against NATO protestors

An estimated 15,000 people marched on Sunday against NATO, against war and against the disastrous cuts in social programs that NATO and the G8 bring to the people of the world. This was the largest anti-war march in Chicago in many years, and the largest national antiwar march in recent years as well.

The marchers followed a contingent of veterans, and ended with a moving ceremony in which 40 or more Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Against the War threw their medals back at the generals.

The National Nurses United joined the march, speaking for working people in this country who suffer because of the greed of the 1%. Chicago Action Medical helped protect everyone in the 2 ½ mile march in 90% heat by ensuring that water was available and care was given to any in need.

However, the march was then marred by a brutal display of police violence. The Chicago Police Department beat people in full view of the TV cameras, in what echoes the violence of the police riot of the protests at the Democratic Convention in 1968.

This attack was the culmination of the stupendous and unprecedented military and police presence, at a cost to both taxpayers and the First Amendment.

The press conference today will counter the claims of Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy that the officers under his command acted honorably. “The violence of officers acting under orders from their commanders reveals to all what it means when NATO comes to town, said Brian Bean of Occupy Chicago.” “NATO is a war making organization, and now we feel a degree of the violence that the people of Afghanistan experience daily under their occupation.”

The press conference will call for the immediate release of any NATO protestors still being held in jail.

For an image of the police violence: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtUqmEE_M5I

[ckaihatsu]

NATO Reality Check:
Protestors in Chicago Can Fatally Fracture NATO

Michael Skinner

The NATO summit in Chicago, on 20-21 May, will be a lightening-rod for protest. This is a historic moment when peace activists have an opportunity to deflect NATO's current trajectory toward expanding and intensifying global warfare. NATO is the most powerful military alliance ever devised in human history. However, the alliance is unstable. NATO is wrought with fractures, which protestors in Chicago could break open, if they act thoughtfully.

[...]

http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/638.php

[Ele'ill]

gRIYyBDGgyM