Occupy Peace

Chicago NATO Summit Protests

"Cloud Gate," also known as the Bean. Millennium Park, Chicago.

Chicago NATO Summit Protests

by Sue Basko

NOTE: THIS WAS IN 2012. IT IS PAST.

MAY 18 - 19, 2012 G8 PROTEST IN FREDERICK, MD.

MAY 20 - 21, 2012 NATO PROTEST IN CHICAGO

EMERGENCY UPDATE! MAY 19:
3 NATO Protesters Face Fake Terrorism Charges

Illinois Terrorism Law

LIVE STREAMS FROM CHICAGO NATO

SEE THE UPDATE PAGE FOR CONTINUAL UPDATES.

G8 CAMP DAVID PROTESTS SITE - INFO AND SCHEDULES

TRANSPORTATION TO MAY 20 NATO PROTEST - how to get to Petrillo
NATO Protest Prayer Service
Amnesty Int'l Shadow Summit on Afghan Women's Rights

FREE BUS TRIPS TO CHICAGO NATO from many cities!
WORLD INDIE MEDIA GATHERING - May 20 7 pm
LAWS IN CHICAGO: Where You Can Protest in Chicago and How
PLANNING TO STREAM? Chicago News Media Credentials

See also: Illinois Eavesdropping Law and Video at Protests
See also: Arrest and Bail in Chicago/ Eavesdropping
WHAT’S THE NATO in Chicago all about? See Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/38th_G8_summit
DETAILED MAP OF MILLENNIUM PARK

The NATO summit will be held in Chicago on May 20 - 21 at McCormick Place Convention Center. The main Chicago protest is May 20 at noon starting in Grant Park at the Petrillo Bandshell, which is on Jackson Drive about one block east of Michigan Avenue, behind the Art Institute. McCormick Place is situated along Lake Shore Drive, in an area south of the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and just west of Northerly Island, where there are concerts and a nature preserve. Just south of McCormick Place is a bird and butterfly sanctuary. McCormick Place is raised above street level and best accessible by vehicle from a ramp off Lake Shore Drive. Therefore, attendees at the summit are unlikely to actually see the protests, but will more likely see portions of them on news reports.

Crown Fountain, Millennium Park

WHAT CHICAGO IS LIKE:

Chicago is a beautiful city with wonderful formal parks downtown. The downtown parks are Millennium Park and Grant Park. Millennium Park has huge wondrous art, and a stunning Frank Gehry outdoor concert space. CLICK FOR A SLIDE SHOW of Millennium Park. DETAILED MAP OF MILLENNIUM PARK.

Grant Park has an outdoor concert space and many open fields. The parks host many music concerts and festivals, most of which are free and open to the public. The main north-south streets in the downtown area are Michigan Avenue and State Street. Michigan Avenue has spectacular architecture, interesting shops and lots of places to eat at all price ranges. The downtown area is home to many colleges and universities, including Columbia College, School of Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), Depaul University, Roosevelt University, and many more. Chicago has people of all races and ethnic backgrounds. Michigan Avenue is elegant and sophisticated. Chicago people tend to be friendly, helpful, no-nonsense. Chicago is a fantastic place to visit.

Downtown Chicago from the Air:

WEATHER:

Weather in May could be gorgeous. There could also be torrential rains, winds or tornados, or thunderstorms. In the downtown area in May, it is a good plan to dress in layers. Umbrellas will probably not be allowed into protest areas, so you may want to bring a small rain poncho or wear a jacket that will work in the rain. Sturdy, waterproof hiking boots or shoes are best. Chicago winds preclude wearing any hat, unless it ties at the chin.

Water Tower, Michigan Ave. and Chicago Avenues, Chicago

PROTESTS:

How to get to Petrillo Bandshell for May 20 NATO protest

Update: A May 20 protest run by a coalition of groups begins with a rally in Grant Park by the Petrillo Bandshell (one block east of Michigan Avenue on Jackson Drive, behind the Art Institute) and then will parade south to 23rd and Indiana, right near McCormick Place. That is one heck of a long walk!! This is expected to be a family-friendly event. Wear good walking shoes because that will be a fast 3 mile walk. The end location on this march is very odd. It is not a very safe area and it is not very accessible to any el or subway or good bus line, but it is as close to being "within sight and sound" of McCormick Place as possible. Expect to walk a lot more to a bus or train afterwards. A European contingent is expected to attend this particular protest. It is hard to estimate what attendance will be, but it sounds like the preparations are being made with about 100,000 people in mind. Events in Chicago easily accommodate a million people with no particular trouble. If it is your first time in a big crowd, just relax, because people around you and the City are very experienced at it.

Cloud Gate, aka The Bean, Millennium Park, Chicago

WHAT THE PROTESTS WILL PROBABLY BE LIKE:

Transportation to May 20 Protests - how to get there

A consortium of several groups has applied for a permit for a big protest rally and parade/ march on Sunday, May 20, starting at noon at Daley Plaza. The groups that get the permits are responsible for the protest and are required to insure it against any damages. The group with the permit will run the protest and tell people what is or is not allowed. The rally will be about 2 hours long and then will kick off into a march of 3 miles, that will take about two hours. It will probably start and end very much on time.

Protests in Chicago have a great energy. The march usually moves very fast. There is usually drumming and music. People chant and clap and smile and wave. People on the sidewalk or up in buildings will wave and clap. People in cars honk. The police usually march along and are very friendly. I have never seen anyone at a Chicago protest wear a face mask, bandanna, gas mask, etc. People treat the police with respect and no one calls them names. Please don't bring any bad energy to Chicago.

Usually the parade will end in a location miles away from where it started, and there may be some speeches and music. Chicago is big on labor unions, schoolteachers, and senior citizens. At any rally, they will usually be featured speakers.

View on Michigan Ave looking north over Chicago River.
Wrigley Building on left, Tribune Tower on right

SECURITY:

Wherever the protests are held, expect security to be as high as if you were entering a rock music festival. There is likely to be a screening to enter. There is also likely to be a list of allowed items per person. I have not yet seen any published rules, but items such as backpacks, bottles, or any hard, heavy, large, or metal items are not likely to be allowed. Most Chicago streets are on camera. Chicago police are always out in abundance at crowd events. They will respect you if you respect them. The US Secret Service and FBI are in charge of this event.

CROWD MANAGEMENT:

In its downtown area, Chicago hosts many huge crowd events each year. These include a blues fest, jazz fest, Lollapalooza, Taste of Chicago, fireworks, music concerts, air and water show, parades, and many other events. Crowds at these events may range from about 80,000 for Lollapalooza to a million people for some of the major festival events. President Obama’s inauguration party was held in Grant Park. Major music acts play free concerts in Grant Park and Millennium Park. All this goes off with usually no problems. In Chicago, if you are on a downtown street or in a crowd, you are expected to conduct yourself as if you are walking down the hallway of an elegant building – with dignity and grace.

Wrigley Square, Millennium Park - quiet place to rest.

CHICAGO POLICE/ CROWD CONTROL/ SELF-CONTROL:

Chicago Police know how to do crowd management. There are many huge crowd events in Chicago each year. The people of Chicago also know how to act in a crowd. They have learned this skill set by attending huge outdoor events downtown. Do not come to Chicago expecting to display any stupidity in a crowd, because it will not be tolerated by people or police. In crowds in Chicago, there is no running or walking fast, no pushing, no throwing, no screaming. If you seem cocky or obnoxious or threatening, expect to be stopped or kept out. If you act disrespectfully to a police officer, expect it to be the last thing you do before being zip-tied. Chicago is a no nonsense sort of City. Chicago people have no tolerance for it. Chicago runs huge events all the time and everyone knows the code of conduct expected in a crowd. In Chicago, if you get arrested for acting a fool out in public, people will smile and thank the police as the paddy wagon takes you away. Don’t expect any sympathy or anyone donating to your bail fund.

Michigan Avenue buildings. Old and new, short and tall.

SOUND:

All sound will be provided by the protest organizers obtaining the permit. They are required to put all this on their applications. Do not expect to bring your own. See the laws regarding sound at:

WHERE YOU CAN PROTEST IN CHICAGO AND HOW.

SIGNS to carry at protest:

Check beforehand as the date nears. Security is going to be very tight. The permit application originally required all big signs to be registered. Some of those rules are loosening. Exact rules are not yet known. Do not expect to bring anything big or heavy.

FROZEN ZONE:

It is my understanding that much of the downtown area is going to be a “frozen zone” during the summit. Exactly what the rules will be is not yet known to the public. I expect it will mean anyone entering is subject to screening.

The Magic Pink Bicycle.

TRAVEL:

TRANSPORTATION TO MAY 20 NATO PROTEST at Petrillo Bandshell

FREE BUS TRIPS TO CHICAGO NATO - from several cities!

FLYING IN: Chicago has 2 airports – O’Hare and Midway. Both have el trains that go downtown. The “el” is what people in Chicago call the local CTA transit trains. “El” means elevated. An affordable plan is to fly Southwest Airlines to Midway and take the Orange Line CTA train downtown. Southwest offers excellent prices online. You don’t need a car if you stay in the downtown area and there is almost no place to park one anyway. Paid parking can cost $30/per day.

TAXI CABS:

Chicago has many taxi cabs that you can catch by hailing. That means you stand by the curb and flag one down when you see it coming. When I ride about 2 miles in Chicago traffic that is mostly going, it costs about $7 - $10, plus tip.

CTA El Platform, Library Stop in the Loop, Chicago

CTA:
How to Get to May 20 NATO protest at Petrillo Bandshell

CTA is Chicago Transit Authority. There are many trains and busses. There are trains direct from Midway and O’Hare Airports to downtown. To ride the CTA, you have to buy a fare card at a train station. You get two transfers per trip. For example, bus, train, bus is one trip, if completed in a 2-hour span. You can also go into a grocery or Walgreen’s and buy a pass for unlimited rides for one, three, seven or thirty days. If you are in Chicago for a weekend, the 3-day pass at $14 is a great bargain. http://www.transitchicago.com/travel_information/fares/unlimitedridecards.aspx

TRIP PLANNER: http://www.transitchicago.com/travel_information/trip_planner.aspx

Water Tower Park, Michigan Avenue just north of Chicago Avenue.

WHERE TO STAY:

CANG8 HOUSING BOARD

UPDATE: This hostel has group rates and is in a great location downtown close to everything: http://www.hichicago.org/ (UPDATE - SORRY THEY ARE NOW BOOKED SOLID!)

There is no camping space in Chicago. (there are a few churches with camping planned, please contact the CANG8 housing board.) I wish the City would designate some park space for camping during the summit. So far, this has not happened. I think this should be a priority request, although to be real, Chicago weather is often too rainy or windy for safe tent sleeping. Maybe you can stay with a Chicago friend? If not, there are hundreds of hotels at all price ranges. Prices on the low end are about $130 per night on up. Some places include a nice breakfast. You can often find good deals online. Be careful when buying online because hotels that are listed as “Chicago” may be 10 – 60 miles from downtown. Ideally, you want to stay in the area bounded by Chicago Avenue on the North (or as far north as Division Street), Congress Parkway on the South, Lake Michigan to the East, and LaSalle Street to the West. If you stay in this area, there will be no need for a car, you will find many wonderful things to see and do, and there are many places to eat at all price ranges.

SPONTANEOUS PROTESTS:

These are not likely to be allowed during the summit in the frozen zone. For more info on protest in Chicago see: Where You Can Protest in Chicago and How.

MARKERS, PAINT, CHALK:

It is illegal to mark with any of these on the street, in a park, or on transit. It is illegal to possess paint or thick markers in public with intent to mark. Just don’t bring any of this. If you need to make a sign, do it wherever you are staying. Don’t bring a thick marker to a protest, because possession will subject you to arrest.

Chicago Police on horses.
Horses are regularly used by police downtown and at events.

CAMERAS:

Rules have not yet been stated, but my guess is filming in the frozen zones will be limited to those with official Chicago press passes. No official word on this yet, but that is my educated guess. It is possible small or phone cameras may be allowed in.

SEE: CHICAGO NEWS MEDIA CREDENTIALS

OTHER LAWS AFFECTING PROTESTERS:

Chicago has many odd laws. You can see some of them at:

WHERE YOU CAN PROTEST IN CHICAGO AND HOW.

Marilyn Monroe sculpture on Michigan Avenue just north of the river .
People love taking pictures here.

International Law and Protest: OSCE-ODIHR

International Law and Protest

An Interview with Omer Fisher,

Questions by Sue Basko

INTRO: For the past few months, I have been assisting an international organization with its plans to come to the US to monitor the G8 and NATO protests, as well as to visit a few main Occupy protest cities. The name of the organization is so long that I only just recently can get it right: OSCE-ODIHR - the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.

OSCE-ODIHR sets standards for how police and authorities should act with regard to peaceful public assembly. Protests are considered public assembly. International law sets these standards.

Here, Omer Fisher of OSCE-ODIHR was good enough to answer my questions:

Sue: The materials from ODIHR- OSCE say that only peaceful protest is protected under international law. That brings the question of what is peaceful and what is violence?

Omer: Only peaceful assemblies are protected under international human rights law. Events where participants use violence or where there is compelling and demonstrable evidence that those organizing or participating in the assembly intend to use, advocate or incite imminent violence are not protected under international law. It is important to note that individual or sporadic violence by participants in an assembly does not automatically turn that assembly into a non-peaceful event, which could face restrictions or dispersal (however, action may be undertaken against the individuals responsible for such acts).

Intentional property damage is considered violent behavior. Other forms of protests (for instance involving stopping traffic) are peaceful, as long as participants do not engage in violent acts. Peaceful assemblies may annoy, give offence, and may involve conduct that temporarily hinders, impedes of obstructs the activities of others (e.g. through passive resistance).

Where an assembly occurs in violation of applicable laws, but is otherwise peaceful, non-intervention or active facilitation may be the best way to ensure a peaceful outcome. Notably, a wide range of options are available and the choice is not simply between dispersal and non-intervention.

Sue: Is kettling illegal under international law? Kettling usually leads to people being held for hours without access to a bathroom, without food, water, needed medicine, etc. Is it legal?

Omer: Kettling is not prohibited under international law but, due to its indiscriminate nature and the effects it has on the rights to liberty and freedom of movement, should only be used exceptionally.

International standards clarify the obligations of the state in relation to persons in detention, who should be treated in a humane manner. Inhuman or degrading treatment is prohibited under international law. The authorities must ensure adequate provision of medical care (e.g. first aid), basic necessities (water and food), and the opportunity to consult with a lawyer. Where detention facilities are inadequate to deal with the number of individuals, detained individuals must be freed, unless doing so would pose a threat to public safety.

Sue: What About Use of Tear Gas, Flash Bangs, Rubber Bullets, LRADs, and on?

Omer: In general, the use of force by the police, including during public assemblies, should adhere strictly to the principles of necessity and proportionality. The UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials state that “in the dispersal of assemblies that are unlawful but non-violent, law enforcement officials shall avoid the use of force or, where that is not practicable, shall restrict such force to the minimum extent necessary”.

Standards on the use of force by the police apply as well to the use of so-called “less than lethal weapons” which might be judged to be legitimate in some situations, but should be regulated through procedures consistent with international standards. This, among other things, means that the use of such weapons should be well controlled, ensuring that they are used only when strictly necessary by police officers who are trained in their use. More generally, such types of equipment should be seen as being towards the end a continuum, which starts from equipment designed to minimize the need for the use of force (i.e., protective gear, shields, helmets, etc.) and then, depending on the threat faced by the police officers or others, may include different types of weapons, disabling chemicals, etc.

Sue: (Here, I asked complex questions about crowd management)

Omer: Some of the questions you asked touch upon operational aspects of policing of assemblies, which would be difficult to comment on without having a complete picture of the specific situation in question. In general, law enforcement officers should not only be skilled in crowd management techniques minimizing the risk of harm to all concerned, but should also be fully aware of and understand their responsibility to facilitate, as far as possible, the holding of peaceful assemblies.

Wearing and using anti-riot gear may be necessary in some cases to protect police officers. Given the potential effect on public perception and community confidence, a widely employed tactic is to deploy police officers in anti-riot gear ready to intervene in locations that are very close to an assembly, but not immediately visible to the assembly participants.

Sue: Please tell us about your organization, OSCE-ODIHR and what you will be doing in the US, in Maryland, Chicago, and other locations.

Omer: The OSCE is the world’s largest regional security organization comprising 56 States from Europe, Central Asia and North America. The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is based in Warsaw, Poland. It is active throughout the OSCE area in the fields of election observation, democratic development, human rights, tolerance and non-discrimination, and rule of law.

Freedom of peaceful assembly is an important area of work for ODIHR. Our Office relies on its Panel of Experts on the Freedom of Assembly to prepare legal opinions on legislation or draft legislation affecting freedom of assembly in our participating states. In addition, ODIHR, jointly with the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, has prepared the Guidelines on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly, which are intended to provide guidance on the nature of the states’ obligations in respecting freedom of peaceful assembly and on good practices in meeting these obligations.

ODIHR has also worked closely with civil society organizations in a number of OSCE states to train and support them in monitoring public assemblies. Since 2011, ODIHR has deployed international monitors to assemblies across the OSCE area raising particular challenges, with a view to identifying examples of good practices, as well as gaps and problems in regulating and policing assemblies.

A team of ODIHR monitors will be in the US to observe assemblies organized between 18 and 21 May 2012 in connection with the forthcoming G8 and NATO summits. The team will also visit New York, Oakland and Los Angeles to gather information on recent “Occupy” protests. The information gathered during this mission will be used in a report to be published at the end of 2012, which will include the findings from this and similar missions carried out between 2011 and 2012 in a number of OSCE states.

Sue: Please tell me a little about yourself.

Omer: I joined the OSCE/ODIHR as human rights advisor in 2010 and I mainly work on freedom of peaceful assembly. Between 2003 and 2010, I worked at the International Secretariat of Amnesty International in London, first as a researcher on the Balkans, and subsequently as senior research policy advisor.

CHICAGO NATO SCORECARD

Photo by Luke Rudkowski. twitter: @lukewearechange

CHICAGO NATO SCORECARD

Where we'll be awarding points to Protesters, Police, and the Public.

RUNNING TOTALS:
PROTESTERS: 60
POLICE: -50
PUBLIC: 38

The Saturday, Sunday, and Monday scoring was cancelled due to the difficult circumstances. With the police harassing and arresting live streamers, announcing arrests of "terrorists" on flimsy charges, and beating protesters, we can assume the police scored miserably low.

FRIDAY MAY 18
Today was the Nurses' rally in Daley Plaza. These wonderful Nurses paid for 16 busses full of people from all over the U.S. to come to Chicago to participate in the protests. This has been a great chance for Occupiers all over the nation to get together with their friends. The atmosphere is one of a happy group at summer camp: singing, dancing, chanting, marching, and eating shared meals.

The City had carefully negotiated away the Nurses' right to hold a march after their rally. So, after the rally, the Nurses did not march -- but a thousand or more other people did! They left the Nurses behind, and marched off chanting, "Whose streets? Our streets!"

The marchers tried to cross the river onto North Michigan Avenue, and police were out in droves. On the bridge, a protester climbed up to remove a NATO banner. He cut the banner in two, and people cheered. Police arrested him and the crowd de-arrested him. A chubby lady police officer on a bike tried to taze someone (why?) and fell off her bike (hooray!?) and had to be helped up. Reportedly, another police officer was injured and was assisted by a volunteer medic.

The march became split in two, with most south of the river. They marched to LaSalle and Jackson and sat for a while, and then onto the Horse. As always in Chicago, this march went real far real fast and this time, in the blazing hot sun and humid air.

There were way too many police and other law enforcement officers of various types. Bike police were used to blockade streets and funnel the protesters in certain directions. The protesters did get to their desired locations. When police bikes blocked the way to The Horse, and it looked like a kettle, a girl shouted out that they wanted to go to The Horse. A white shirt gave the okay, the police bike line opened up, and the marchers continued on the The Horse. This looked to me like a pretty good job of facilitating the protest.

Later in the evening, the Occupiers held their GA, with the Horse surrounded by gezillions of police.

Will the Police ever be able to regain all the points they lost by raiding the apartments of protesters in the night, holding many of them in shackles in a lock-up? They would have to let them all go with no charges, and kiss their butts, too. Will the Police team do this, or will they lose miserably? It is up to them!

FRIDAY SCORES:

Protesters, for marching after the rally, keeping it nonviolent, and having great spirit: 30
Police, for keeping it nonviolent and facilitating the protest: 30
Public: For their kind patience: 20

THURSDAY MAY 17
Today, protesters continued with peaceful and clever protests. Some protested about oil drilling by covering themselves in a fake oil mixture or lying on the sidewalk playing dead. A different protest used model drones.

The Chicago Police were not so well-behaved. Police without a warrant raided two apartments in Bridgeport, where a group of protesters and Occupiers were staying. The report is that the residents were shackled hand and foot, held for hours while police stole their beer-making kit and repeatedly called one resident a "Commie fag." The police then reportedly denied making any arrests and only admitted doing so around 5pm, after the NLG had visited some of the arrestees in jail.

Also during the day, Citizen Journalist Luke Rudkowski asked Chicago Police Superintendent Gary McCarthy if Chicago Police would be acting as agents provocateurs dressed as protesters in the protests. Rather than giving a wholehearted denial, McCarthy reportedly became angry and ended the press conference. The question is very legit since police agents provocateurs tend to start riots and are very commonly used.

In the evening, there was a spirited march to protest the harassing police raid on the activists' apartments. As usual, the march went way too far way too fast. Police were nowhere in sight.

The scores have the Protesters taking a good lead, due to their continued nonviolence; the Police take a huge drop in score due to their shockingly bad behavior in allowing a few Bridgeport cops to harass protesters, and the public gets a boost for patience.

THURSDAY SCORES:

Protesters, for continuing to keep it nonviolent and spirited: 10
Police, for egregious violations of rights in conducting a warrantless raid, lying to the public, and probably planning to use agents provocateurs. All very terrible police behavior all in one day: -100
Public, for their patience in allowing the protesters to gather at the convergence center church: +10

WEDNESDAY MAY 16
Today's big protest was run by Occupy Chicago and another local group. The protest was against foreclosures. The protesters staged a clever bit of moving furniture into Daley Plaza. A Chicago man whose family is facing eviction led chants. Police were present but in moderate numbers. No arrests were made.

WEDNESDAY SCORES:

Police, for not overdoing it and no arrests: 10
Protesters, for putting on a clever, meaningful show: 10
Public, for sending actual foreclosure victims to protest: 10

TUESDAY MAY 15
The NATO protests were off to a rousing start as out-of-towners led a crowd, mostly young men, on an FTP march through the south side. The march went on for about 5 miles, with the crowd dwindling along the way. Protesters pushed over trash bins, put a wooden horse barrier and sandbags in a street. Police calmly followed behind them moving those things back.

An 80-year old man hit a protester, who hit back. Police took the old man aside.

Protesters jumped the CTA el turnstile, ran up to the platform, and then ran back down again.

Police on bicycles did blockade maneuvers. A police car followed behind protesters in the street announcing over loudspeaker to get on the sidewalk for their own safety. Protesters took to running down dark alleys and subterfuge techniques to continue their run. As usual in Chicago, the march went on way too far and way too fast. This makes protesting in Chicago sort of like a sport, somewhere between Parkour and a mini-marathon.

TUESDAY SCORES:

Police, for restraint and patience: 10
Protesters, for nonviolence and interracial camaraderie: 10
Public, for old man hitting protester: -2

G8 CAMP DAVID PROTESTS WEBSITE - FULL INFO

G8 CAMP DAVID WEBSITE

FULL INFO AND SCHEDULES

Amnesty Intl Shadow Summit Afghan Women's Rights

SHADOW SUMMIT FOR AFGHAN WOMEN'S RIGHTS

CHICAGO SUNDAY MAY 20, 11am - 1pm

AMNEST INTERNATIONAL

Afghan women's and girls' futures are at grave risk as the U.S. and allied forces make plans to withdraw in 2014. The NATO Summit taking place in Chicago on May 20 & 21 will focus on this transition but Afghan women will not be at the table for these critical discussions.

Please join Amnesty International USA for our Shadow Summit as we bring Afghan women's voices to the forefront on Sunday, May 20 from 11 am to 1 pm with registration and light brunch at 10 am.

It's a crucial time for President Karzai, President Obama, world leaders and the media to see that people care deeply about the fate of women's and girls' human rights in Afghanistan. Speakers and panelists include Afifa Azim, Executive Director, Afghan Women's Network; Manizha Naderi, Executive Director of Women for Afghan Women; and IL Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. Jerome McDonnell, host of WBEZ's Worldview, will moderate the panel. After the Summit, please join us for a family-friendly action as we fly kites to demand Afghan women’s rights.

This event is free and open to the public, but advance registration is strongly recommended. To register and for more information, please visit www.amnestyusa.org/afghanwomen.

We need you!

When: 11:00 – 1PM CDT on May 20th - the first day of the NATO Summit. Registration and light brunch begin at 10AM.

Where: Swissotel Hotel, Lucerne Ballroom, 323 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60601

Note: After the Summit, please join us for an action as we fly kites to demand Afghan women’s rights.

Let us know you're coming: www.amnestyusa.org/afghanwomen

Ask questions: aiusamw@aiusa.org

Help spread the word!
· Forward this email
· Facebook: http://on.fb.me/L2qatE
· Tweet #Chicago2012 - every day in the lead up to the Summit

Why? With the withdrawal of U.S. and allied forces from Afghanistan, Amnesty International is concerned that the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan are in grave jeopardy. Violence against women is rampant, and in areas under insurgent control, torture, beatings and other brutal punishments are common. Women candidates, politicians and human rights defenders increasingly are targeted, intimidated, threatened and attacked. In 2010, more than 74 schools, including 26 girls’ schools and 35 mixed-gender schools, were destroyed or closed due to insurgent violence. At stake is the future of Afghanistan after billions of dollars and tens of thousands of lives sacrificed. We believe if women’s progress cannot be sustained, then Afghan society will fail. The U.S. government, Afghan government and other stakeholders must commit to clear, measurable steps to ensure that women’s and girls’ rights are protected and that positive momentum is maintained.

Transportation to May 20 NATO Protest

TRANSPORTATION TO MAY 20, 2012 NATO PROTESTS

click to view:

MAP OF GRANT PARK Petrillo Bandshell Location in downtown Chicago

Petrillo Bandshell is located in Grant Park. It is one and a half blocks east of Michigan Avenue, behind the Art Institute, and then across Columbus Drive. It is between the east-west streets Jackson Drive on the south and Monroe Street on the north. It is just south of the eastern side of Millennium Park.

WALKING: Located in heart of downtown.

BIKES: Bike racks located in locations in park and on Michigan Avenue.

Bike facilities located at McDonald's Cycle Center in Millennium Park near Randolph Street and Columbus Drive. It is #3 on THIS DETAILED MAP OF MILLENNIUM PARK, near the top left. Bike parking, lockers, showers, bike repair, outdoor eating tables.

CTA TRAINS:

Red Line - exit Jackson and State. Walk east on Jackson 4 blocks.

Orange (Midway), Brown, Green, Purple, Pink Lines - exit Van Buren/ Harold Washington Library, walk east on Van Buren 4 blocks; then one block north.

Blue Line (O'HARE) - exit Jackson and Dearborn, walk east on Jackson 5 blocks.

METRA South Shore Train - exit Van Buren Street. Walk 2 blocks east and one block north.

CTA BUSSES:

Lines 3, 4, 6, 14, 26, 143, 145, 147, 148 - exit Michigan and Jackson. Walk east on Jackson one and a half blocks.

DRIVING: Not recommended.

NATO PROTEST PRAYER SERVICE

NATO Summit Protest March

Sunday, May 20, 10:00 am

Methodist Temple, Washington and Clark

Prayer Service - Blessing for the March

10:00 am Outside

After the prayer blessing join the march to Grant Park for the NATO Summit Protest.

_____________________________________________

Bring your families, children, musical instruments, signs, props, cameras, balloons, bicycles, horns, kazoos,

funny hats and all other merry-making apparatus.

After the prayer blessing join the march to Grant Park for the NATO Summit Protest.

_____________________________________________

Why are we protesting NATO?

NATO is a military collective of 28 nations, bound together by an all-for-one and one-for-all alliance, a

policy that provides the rationale for a constant state of combat. NATO action has contributed to an

unprecedented proliferation of weapons and weapons commerce worldwide; increased international

geopolitical tensions and economic catastrophes. Worst of all - the existence of NATO has diminished

commitment to the enterprise of peaceful diplomacy.

The US gave NATO over $800 million in 2011. As the European Nations step up their austerity programs

and cut their defense budgets, we taxpayers in the US will be required to fund even more weapons, more

drones, more wars and more money for the $1 Billion NATO headquarters currently under construction in

Brussels.

Using Chicago as a "Global Crossroads" NATO comes to us to plot their next wars. We gather in protest to

tell NATO to SHUT IT DOWN. Close the doors. We can't afford you anymore. We don't need you

anymore. We want to spend our money plotting peace, not war.

We gather in protest to say WE ARE SORRY to those countries whose innocents have been victimized by

NATO. We are sorry for giving our hard-earned dollars to an organization that has killed your innocent

children, your mothers, your fathers, your sisters and brothers. And WE ARE SORRY to our own children

and grandchildren and fellow citizens because we have been silent about our government funding a war

machine instead of saving our air and water and plants and animals and giving our grandmothers and

grandfathers a secure and healthy dotage.

- MLK, Jr.: "History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident

clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people."

FREE BUS trips to Chicago NATO

FREE BUS trips to Chicago NATO

THIS WAS IN 2012 -- THIS ALREADY HAPPENED.

UPDATE MAY 12, 2012:

BUS DEPARTURE AND RETURN SCHEDULE

Free Busses to Chicago NATO. Paid by National Nurses United. From various cities - must get 50 people signed up at a city to run the bus. New York, Los Angeles, Oakland, Washington, DC, Atlanta, Portland, Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, etc.

UPDATE MAY 12: Many of the busses are full now, but if interested, check the website for info.

SIGN UP NOW for FREE BUS TO CHICAGO NATO:
http://99solidarity.net/chicago/chicago-trip-sign-up/

notes from the 99 Solidarity:

* The Bus trip is free.

* 50 people from each city must sign up and board the bus for the trip to take place. If a city has less then 50 sign ups, then we may have to cancel the bus for that city.

* Meals will be provided on board the bus to and from Chicago.

* We are working on housing and meals while in Chicago.

There are several direct actions and events that we will participate in while in Chicago including:

May 18 – The People’s Summit

May 19 – the 99% Solidarity People’s Convention

May 20 – CANG8 rally and march.

LOTS OF INFO ON HOUSING, WHAT TO EXPECT IN CHICAGO, ETC:

CHICAGO NATO SUMMIT PROTESTS
Transportation to May 20 NATO protest

UPDATE: G8 Camp David
and NATO Chicago Protests

UPDATE: G8 Camp David and NATO Chicago Protests

by Sue Basko

UPDATE MAY 12

TRANSPORTATION TO MAY 20 NATO PROTEST - how to get to Petrillo

UPDATE MAY 6, 2012

FREE BUS TRIPS TO CHICAGO NATO

from NYC, LA, Oakland, and other cities.

UPDATE MAY 4, 2012

NATO SECURITY PLAN BOOKLET
click to download

UPDATE: APRIL 28, 2012

According to news reports, Chicago police will not enforce the Illinois Eavesdropping Law during the NATO Summit in Chicago. This means live streamers are free to record audio with their video without fear of prosecution under the eavesdropping law. Please see this news article at the NorthWest Times. This is great news, since many streamers are expected to show up at the summit and protests.

G8 CAMP DAVID: Protests are being held May 18 – 19 in Frederick, Maryland, the second largest city in Maryland. Occupy Frederick is organizing the protests to be legal, peaceful and non-confrontational. Please respect this. Planning is ongoing and help is welcome. Groups that plan to attend should act now to get in on the planing. If you would like to be in on the planning or plan to bring a group, email me and I will connect you to the right people. OccupyPeace@gmail.com

CLICK HERE FOR detailed G8 Camp David May 18-19 PROTEST SCHEDULE

Want an inside look at Camp David? See this blog: ABOUT CAMP DAVID

The parks surrounding Camp David will be closed during the G8. Some camping has been arranged elsewhere. Again, email. Since Frederick is a major city, there are also plenty of hotels.

Friday, May 18 is an Economic Forum planned by Occupy DC in conjunction with Occupy Frederick. Saturday, May 19 is a family-friendly block party with music, information, etc.

As information becomes finalized, I will post it here and it will also appear on this site: http://www.occupyg8-2012.org/

NATO CHICAGO:

The main protest is on Sunday, May 20, starting at noon. This is a legal, permitted, insured, family-friendly, safe protest event. Please respect this. It has taken many people a great deal of hard work and great expense to put this event together - so please respect it.

Sunday May 20 Schedule:

12 noon - RALLY in Grant Park by Petrillo Bandshell. This is in downtown Chicago one and a half blocks east of Michigan Avenue, between Monroe Street and Jackson Drive.

1:45 PM - 4:00 PM – MARCH kicks off after the rally. This is a fast 3 mile march that takes 2 hours and 15 minutes. The march will be in the street on a designated route and no off-shoots or detours will be allowed. The march heads toward McCormick Place, which is patrolled by the US Secret Service, which has said it will have snipers, drones, etc. Please be aware. The march is planned to be peaceful, lawful, permitted, and family-friendly. Please help keep it that way.

7 PM new indoor location please email if interested World Indie Media First Amendment Event for live streamers, youtubers, bloggers, indie radio and TV, podcasters, indie filmmakers, indie music, indie writers, photographers, etc. This is not a protest, but a First Amendment gathering. IF YOU WISH TO HELP OR ATTEND, PLEASE EMAIL: OccupyPeace@gmail.com

ABOUT CHICAGO:

Where to Stay: Chicago has no Occupy camp and there is no place to set up a camp in Chicago. Some people not from Chicago have posted about camping in Chicago, but this is pure fantasy. There is no place anywhere near Chicago to camp. There is, however, a fantastic all-ages hostel right downtown. You will need a reservation. There are group rates. The hostel serves free breakfast and has a kitchen and social rooms. If you plan to cook in the kitchen, there is a Jewel Foods, which is a big grocery store, about 4 blocks south of the hostel on Roosevelt and State.

There are also hundreds of hotels in all price ranges. I strongly suggest you stay actually in the downtown area bounded by Lake Michigan on the east, Franklin Street to the west, Congress to the south and Division Street to the north. Some Public transportation to the south may be cut off during the summit, so you are best to stay downtown or north of it.

Chicago Police: I have heard stories about Chicago from people who obviously know nothing about it. Chicago police are very friendly and have a commitment to facilitating protest. They will usually be very present, but they lay back and do not bother people. However, they will not tolerate any going in the street or “taking” a street at an unpermitted protest. Also, they will not tolerate any form of property damage or vandalism, throwing anything, acting rowdy, or going where you don't belong. Neither will people from Chicago tolerate any such things. I have been told that holding tents are being erected on the grounds of Cook County Jail, for use for protest arrestees. To be blunt – if you don’t follow the law in Chicago, you will end out spending your trip in one of those tents. There are lots of fun and interesting things to do in Chicago, and I hope you choose to do those things instead.

Transportation: You don't need a car in Chicago downtown area. If you fly into Midway, you take the Orange Line CTA train downtown. If you fly into O'Hare, you take the Blue Line CTA train downtown. These trains are connected into the airports, though hearty walking is involved.
CTA TRIP PLANNER.

Bikes: While downtown, you walk or might take any train or bus line or hail a cab. A bike is also great and there are bikes for rent. THIS PLACE rents bikes, skates, etc. and does Segway and bike tours. THIS PLACE also rents bikes. In Chicago downtown, you'll see lots of groups touring on Segways, people riding carriage-style bikes that hold four people, groups of skateboarders, and bikes.

Eating: Chicago downtown is full of thousands of places to eat at all price ranges. Great food in lower price ranges can be found at Subway, Cafe Baci, Panera, Corner Bakery, hundreds of other places. As a Chicago tradition, most places post a menu outside so you can check prices and selection.

FACILITIES:

Occupy Chicago – outdoor day time HQ is Lasalle and Jackson, but only when an actual gathering has been called. Indoor HQ is at 500 West Cermak. Occupy Chicago has never had a camp.

MultiKulti – 1000 North Milwaukee. Indie Media Center that can be used by people coming for protest. Also has drum circles, jam sessions, events.

Chicago Cultural Center - Michigan Avenue, entrances on Randolph Street and Washington Street. Randolph Street entrance has Visitors Center with maps, brochures, and helpful people.

MORE INFO ON CHICAGO AND NATO PROTESTS
WORLD INDIE MEDIA GATHERING

G8 Protest Schedule May 18 - 19, Frederick, MD

G8 Camp David Protest Schedule May 18- 19, 2012 Frederick, Maryland

Click to see Update info on G8 Camp David and NATO Chicago Protests

Want an inside look at Camp David? Visit this blog: ABOUT CAMP DAVID

Occupy G8 Peoples’ Summit

May 18, 2012

Community Room, C. Burr Artz Public Library

110 E. Patrick Street, Frederick, Maryland

The “Occupy G8 Summit for the People” is an alternative to the G8 that will have speakers (see agenda below) discuss the effect of concentrated wealth on global public policy, the effects of wealth inequality on peoples' well-being and alternative economic structures that would close the wealth divide and create a more democratic, sustainable economy. The Summit will include time for hearing the voices of the 99% who will be in attendance. The public and the press are invited.

This summit will discuss how to:

- Build the international economy from the bottom up, not the top down.

- Highlight the wealth divide that undermines the foundation of the economy and corrupts political decision-making.

- Increase the minimum wage, end poverty and reduce debt to provide a stronger foundation on which to build a new sustainable economy.

- Institute a Robin Hood Tax on the purchase of stocks, bonds and derivatives.

- Build a new economy that is both economically and environmentally sustainable.

- Build wealth at the base by encouraging worker owned co-ops and other democratized economic institutions; and by turning corporate welfare into taxpayer investment where everyone profits from the investment by the commonwealth, not just the corporate owners.

- Recognize that we all share a common destiny and that even the wealthiest require the commonwealth in order to increase their riches.

Schedule

10:00 am – Welcome

Margaret Flowers and Kevin Zeese, co-directors, ItsOurEconomy.US and organizers for October2011.org/OccupyWashington, DC

10:10 am –Global Wealth Inequality

Sam Pizzigati, Too Much

Brooke Harper, Global Trade Watch

Jeremy Weyl, JubileeUSA

11:10 am –Creating a Global Economy Based on Sustainable Resources

Brent Blackwelder, former executive director Friends of the Earth and Steady State

Ruth Caplan,Campaign for Global Water Watch and Alliance for Democracy

Alexis Baden-Mayer, Organic Consumers Association