Storify: National Nurses United protest

Published: Friday, May 18, 2012

Updated: Monday, August 27, 2012 16:08

Matt Harder

View the story "NATO Summit - Friday: National Nurses United protest" on StorifyNATO Summit - Friday: National Nurses United protestOn Friday, May 18, National Nurses United, joined by members of the Occupy movement, marched and rallied in Chicago's Daley Plaza to protest against the current financial crisis affecting nurses and other public health care programs, as well as advocating for the "Robin Hood tax."Storified by The DePaulia · Fri, May 18 2012 23:23:47National Nurses United rally outside Daley PlazaThe Daley Plaza itself is a grand spectacle-a visually intimidating building hovering high above Chicago, scattering brilliant beams of s...OccupyChicago, OccupyWall St, LA and others joined National Nurses United against #Nato summit May 18 #Chicago http://twitpic.com/9mkpp3Khalid KhanNurses to Kick Off First Official NATO Protest http://bit.ly/KGWK5C #NATORedZoneNBC Chicago

The March

The march from the Sheraton to Daley Plaza started around 11 a.m.
Nurses from the National Nurses United Protest on their way to Daley Plaza earlier this morning. #NatoChicago http://pic.twitter.com/HhuwAA0VThe DePauliaNational Nurses United protesters assembling at Cityfront Plaza. March steps off at 11am, toward Daley Plaza. Expect street closures. #NATOMike Pries

Rally

Once at Daley Plaza at around noon, crowds gathered to rally for health care reform and the so-called "Robin Hood tax." A rough estimate, according to the Chicago Journal, was around 2,500 people gathered, while other Chicago media outlets estimated the crowd to be in the hundreds.
The rally is starting! NNU's Karen Higgins welcomes everyone! She explains why RNs care: We see people suffer & that's unacceptable to us.NationalNursesUnitedPic: National Nurses Union rally at Daley Plaza in #Chicago #noNATO http://pic.twitter.com/fi0r4TcuCODEPINKNational Nurses protest happening now in Chicago #NATO near my office. http://pic.twitter.com/3uSM2m5uJessica KumarJohn Nichols of "the Nation" says " this is the fight of our lifetime.And we're going to win it. Solidarity!" #noNATO http://pic.twitter.com/faUOr2yePaul TadalanThe National Nurses Union has a permit until 2. Cpd will disperse crowd at that time. State police w cameras here too. #ows #nonatojohnknefel

Robin Hood Tax

In its most basic form, the "Robin Hood tax" would place a small tax on Wall Street. The funds raised could then be used to pay for health care and other programs. According to NNU, a .5 percent on Wall Street transactions can yield as much as $350 billion in revenue to be used for other programs.
Hundreds gather for National Nurses United rally on Daley Plaza in "Robin Hood tax" hats to promote stock tax to pay for healthcare. #NATOldonovan.Sun-TimesAs a visual aid to the "Robin Hood tax," protestors dressed up in green hats like Robin Hood of English folklore.
National Nurses United for the Robin Hood Tax! http://pic.twitter.com/fGYH9rzQGGJ National Nurses United say robin hood tax could generate $350 billion a yearSarah MammoserNational Nurses United protest cuts to medicare in Chicago: #solidarity #weareone #natosummit http://pic.twitter.com/F5Stu5Wmcollin grasley

Tom Morello

As part of the rally, musician and activist Tom Morello - former guitarist for Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave - performed for the protestors and invited some to sing on stage with him.
Tom Morello @TMorello expresses his feelings at #NATO protest with his finger. @NATOSummit http://pic.twitter.com/5BKLOsAvMason Johnson@TheDePaulia Morello: "This town is our town." #NATOCHICAGOHaley BeMiller@TheDePaulia Morello: Wall Street has "torpedoed" the international economy. #NATOCHICAGOHaley BeMillerWhether you're for, or against #NATO, Tom Morello is in Chicago and is here to stay. http://pic.twitter.com/xBZzleeKMatthew M RyanGreat song -- @Tmorello sings "This Land is Your Land" and the Daley Plaza crowd joins in singing chorus. #robinhoodtax #rht #m18NationalNursesUnited@thedepaulia Morello invites demonstrators onstage for the final song of his 30-minute set http://pic.twitter.com/weKdSuLgShannon Shreibak

Clown Bloq

Meanwhile, protestors dressed up as clowns - called the Clown Bloq - arrived at the NNU rally. Clown Bloq is a group affiliated the Occupy movement.
Clown Bloq makes a statement at NATO protest eventThey gathered at the corner of Washington and Dearborn Streets armed with bulbous red clown noses and huge painted smiles on their faces....@TheDePaulia clowns getting ready #NATO http://pic.twitter.com/aFBbl6xCColleen ConnollyAlthough the clowns bring a certain lightheartedness to a potentially violent protest, they aren’t all about fun and games. On their website, they declare “we are not a joke.”Clowns, Robin Hood, Green Lantern?! Is this a NATO Protest or a kids birthday party? http://instagr.am/p/KxrsnexWDA/Tim

More Photos

Photos: National Nurses United protestPhotos from the National Nurses United protest on Friday, May 18, 2012.

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