Chicago braces for violence at NATO summit

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

Chicago braces for violence at NATO summit
By Andrew Stern
updated 5/15/2012 10:18:54 PM ET

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Chicago police, who have a reputation for dealing toughly with protesters, will be prepared for the worst with new riot gear, including "sound cannon", if demonstrators at the NATO summit get out of line this weekend.

America's third-largest city and President Barack Obama's hometown has never hosted anything like the meeting starting on Sunday, which will draw representatives from some 50 countries, including leaders of the 28 members of the military alliance.

~snip~

They have also ordered armor for police horses and acquired two long-range acoustic devices that can be used as "sound cannon" to disperse crowds.

Critics say these devices can cause hearing damage. A police spokeswoman said they would be used to deliver messages to crowds.


Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47439309

[HereSince1628]

1. There's a new application of an old euphemism...sound weapon delivers "messages" to crowds

In 68 the CPD delivered their messages with tear-gas and nightsticks.

[gratuitous]

2. If the Cops are really interested in preventing violence

I'd suggest they all stay home, particularly the ones who like to show up at these demonstrations dressed in black with their faces covered. It's been my experience lately, that that's where a lot of the violence originates.

[EFerrari]

3. As NATO Meets in Chicago, Bill Ayers & Bernardine Dohrn Condemn "Militarized Arm of the 1 Percent"

Legendary Chicago activists Bernardine Dohrn and Bill Ayers talk about this week’s protests in Chicago, where NATO will hold its largest summit to date. Thousands of protesters from a diverse coalition of organizations including unions, antiwar groups, immigrant rights organizations and Occupy are expected to march in the streets. Chicago is preparing a massive security operation, with the Department of Homeland Security declaring the summit a "National Special Security Event." Civil liberties advocates have warned it could provide the first public test of a new law that expands the ability of the Secret Service to suppress protests in or around certain restricted zones. "We think that NATO should be meeting in an underground bunker or on a remote island," Dohrn says. "[Chicago] is being treated as really a practice military zone ... [while] we don’t have money here for community mental health clinics, we don’t have money for public libraries or for schools, we don’t have money for public transportation... We want peace and not permanent wars abroad and military war games and [the] national security state at home." [includes rush transcript]


http://www.democracynow.org/2012/5/16/as_nato_meets_in_chicago_activists

[gratuitous]

4. "A practice military zone"

I am SOOO stealing that.

[pinboy3niner]

6. These guys may have first dibs: National Guard Troops Coming To Chicago For NATO Summit

April 18, 2012 5:56 AM

CHICAGO (CBS) — National Guard troops will be dispatched to Chicago for the NATO summit next month.

As WBBM Newsradio’s Bob Conway reports, guard officials say between 500 and 600 National Guard troops will be deployed as part of the summit support team.

National Guard Major Tony Scott tells the Chicago Tribune that the guard troops, among other functions, will assist in transporting NATO delegates and their staff to various locations, primarily from downtown hotels to McCormick Place.

Guard troops will also be conducting a domestic response drill at an undisclosed location outside Cook County, available however in the event of any summit related trouble, the Tribune reported.

...


http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/04/18/national-guard-troops-coming-to-chicago-for-nato-summit/

[Judi Lynn]

5. Thanks for posting that link. Sounds as if Homeland Security is actually hoping for some "action!"

"Chicago is preparing a massive security operation, with the Department of Homeland Security declaring the summit a "National Special Security Event.""

Good grief!

[EFerrari]

9. So they are calling the invasion of Chicago

a "National Special Security Event"? Orwellian.

[Bacchus4.0]

11. leaders of the 28 NATO countries will be there

what do you propose they call it? an open house?

[EFerrari]

12. I'd be okay with The Vultures' Picnic. n/t

[Bacchus4.0]

16. you can make a sign for the protest n/t

s

[AngryAmish]

7. I was talking to a few cops at the bar last week

They are afraid. They are complaining that they are getting no leadership from the department. One guy said he is putting dog collars around his cuffs (because of the protester's lice he said).

This is not going to end well.

[EFerrari]

8. Yes, those delicate flowers have no defense against

brutal peace signs and loaded cameras.

[Poll_Blind]

10. "Chicago braces for POLICE violence at NATO summit" There, all fixed. nt

PB

[Nuclear Unicorn]

13. Anyone wearing a mask should be unmasked and handed over to the authorities

[socialist_n_TN]

14. Does that include the cops?

nm

[Nuclear Unicorn]

15. All the more so if that is a genuine concern.

Perhaps unmasking and photographing for reporting later as well.

[socialist_n_TN]

17. How about the uniformed cops with no nametags and........

those helmets with darkened visors?

[Nuclear Unicorn]

18. I thought the concern was about people posing as protesters?

If there are people who are not protesters posing as protesters while they wear bandanas over their faces the quickest way to get them to stop is to deny them their anonymity. My suspicions are they're anarchist trouble-makers doing what anarchist trouble-makers have always done but even still their black masks are giving a black eye to people who have a legitimate right to protest.

The legitimate protesters will gain much credibility and risk nothing by exposing those people who wear masks to hide their vandalism etc.