Storify: Sunday NATO protests, summit

Published: Monday, May 21, 2012

Updated: Monday, August 27, 2012 16:08

Grant Myatt

View the story "NATO Summit: Day One" on StorifyNATO Summit: Day OneOn May 20, 2012, the first day of the NATO summit in Chicago kicked inside McCormick Place. Outside the convention center, several protests against NATO and the summit itself were held in downtown Chicago. Towards the end of the rally, a confrontation between Chicago Police and protestors started.Storified by The DePaulia · Mon, May 21 2012 00:38:52#NATO swag bag. @ljfunk87 @acbrady5 #natochicago http://pic.twitter.com/urXMozf5Katie KormannThe #NATO swag bag includes a #NATO-flag pop tart. #G8 #chicago2012Dylan C. Robertson@TheDePaulia Overheard a cop on Jackson: "This could be a very long day."#NATOChicagoHaley BeMiller

Veterans Protest

A timeline of Sunday's early NATO protests9:50 a.m. Soldiers, children, communists with Marxist Times tucked under their arms 10:15 a.m. Reverend Jesse Jackson arrives 10:20 a.m. ...The morning started with a veterans protest and concert at Petrillo Music Shell, which including former Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello, who also performed at the National Nurses United rally on Friday.
War vets arrive to applause at Petrillo #natochicago http://instagr.am/p/K2o2KhtDIr/Monica CarterAfter walking in, members of Iraq Veterans Against the War began speaking with members of the media.
Photo: Aaron Hughes, one of the organizers of Iraq veterans against the war #NATO march (via @cherylwaity) http://pic.twitter.com/7xHddyY2The DePauliaSoon, musicians took the stage to perform and speak to the gathered crowd.
Concert has started at pavillion in Grant Park. #natochicagoCheryl Waity@TheDePaulia Musician David Rovics: "I don't like the part about the rock throwing and the tear gassing in the headlines." #NATOChicagoHaley BeMiller@TheDePaulia Rovics: "I think nobody here thinks that invading other countries is the way to conduct foreign policy." #NATOChicagoHaley BeMillerAt Grant Park, all protesters demontrating peacefully. Music, dancing, painting.Jenn SchanzThe veterans come to the front to tell their stories. #natochicagoBartosz Brzezińskiwith the PA system out, Tom morello sings "stray bullets" 2 the iraq veterans against the war. #occupychicago #noNATO http://pic.twitter.com/EfuXfWnVPaul Tadalan"We prefer to play here where music was meant to be played." Tom Morello performing in the crowd. #NATOChicagoMonica Carter"They can't shut us up and they can't shut us down." - @tmorello #NATOChicagoMonica CarterFists in the air at Grant Park #noNATO #occupychi #natochicago http://pic.twitter.com/lgEBKlc3Paul TadalanRev. Jesse Jackson of the Rainbow PUSH coalition was also present at the event.
@thedepaulia Rev Jesse Jackson discusses his opposition to #NATOChicago http://pic.twitter.com/st4FYG7WShannon Shreibak@TheDePaulia Rev. Jackson: "We are spending too much on war and not enough on healthcare and education reconstruction." #natochicagoShannon ShreibakThe March
Following the concert, the protestors - led by veterans - began making their way towards McCormick Place.
#NATOchicago http://instagr.am/p/K3CjZstDIr/Monica Carter@TheDePaulia People cheering on the marchers. Protesters invite bystanders to join. #NATOChicagoHaley BeMillerProtestera chant to police "You're sexy. You're cute. Take off your riot suit." #NATOChicagoMonica Carter"off the sidewalk!' police push marchers and reporters off the street #nato #natochicagoBartosz Brzeziński@TheDePaulia Vets: "No NATO, no war. We don't work for you no more." #NATOChicagpHaley BeMillerThe Rally
At the corner of Cermak and Michigan, a makeshift stage was set up for speakers and veterans. Some of the veterans spoke of their experiences in combat zones, while others called for the end of NATO and war.
@TheDePaulia Afghani woman: "War has no further power over us." #NATOChicagoHaley BeMiller@TheDePaulia Mother of soldier tells story of her son who tried to commit suicide in Iraq. #NATOChicagoHaley BeMiller@TheDePaulia After several attempts, he died from hanging. Mother said the papers published that he died in combat. #NATOChicagoHaley BeMillerOne major aspect of the rally was the returning of service medals.
Iraq Veterans Against the War return their medals to a cheering crowd #GDD #NATOChicago http://yfrog.com/odionorjCourtney Sturgeon"I don't want to see people suffer so I'm giving up these medals" veterans rips medals off his chest and throws them away #nato #natochicagoBartosz Brzeziński@TheDePaulia Vet: "We cannot love holding weapons." #NATOChicagoHaley BeMiller@TheDePaulia Vet: "Instead of liberating the people, I was liberating their oil fields." #NATOChicagoHaley BeMiller"we hope today will be the turning point of the war" #natochicago #natoBartosz BrzezińskiDepaul student Jonathan Anderson now on stage to throw his medals away #nato @TheDePaulia http://twitpic.com/9ndx50Bartosz Brzeziński4year Veteran - "I choose life" #nato #natochicagoBartosz Brzeziński

Arrests

Once the rally was finished, police began breaking up the crowds, making a handful of arrests.
Police pushing on protest #nato http://twitpic.com/9neeeyBartosz Brzeziński"You must disperse to the West" police #nato http://twitpic.com/9nepqcBartosz BrzezińskiTense standoff between crowd & police at Michigan & Cermak. Lrad in position. Cops briefly readied gas masks. @OccupyChicagomaximilianbravermanSoon, however, a handful of arrests became many arrests.
#nato http://twitpic.com/9nf7a4Bartosz Brzeziński#nato http://twitpic.com/9nfvm6Bartosz BrzezińskiVia our reporter in the field: "people lost teeth, have been bashed in the face, have broken ribs."Chicagoist.comRiot police pushing. Protesters sit down. Medical issues reported #nato http://twitpic.com/9ng604Bartosz BrzezińskiProtesters push against the police #nato http://twitpic.com/9ngb1cBartosz BrzezińskiHowever, the confrontation started winding down.
@chicagotribune and our @aperi_oculos have said the confrontation between Police and #NATO protesters has died downThe DePauliaStandoff between CPD and protestors winding down. Our team of reporters are still on the scene. @WBBMNewsradioLisa FieldingBy about 8 p.m., however, some numbers from the CPD began trickling in.
CPD Supt. Garry McCarthy says 45 arrests so far today. #nato #nonatoSuntimesRT @Suntimes: McCarthy: 4 CPD officers taken to hospitals. 1 stabbed in leg. #nato #nonato #natosummitThe DePaulia

Meanwhile, inside McCormick Place

Obama, Rasmussen kick off 25th NATO summitWith a smile and a nod, President Obama kicked off the NATO summit by welcoming over delegates from 62 countries around the world to Chic...NATO Secretary General Andres Fogh Rasmussen holds brief press conference at McCormick Place #natochicago http://pic.twitter.com/jdEIn1kSLaura FunkRule No. 1 for politicians: Keep promises. -Rasmussen #natochicagoLaura Funk"Freedom of expression is a fundamental value." -Rasmussen #natochicagoLaura FunkStationed at the Young Atlanticist Summit. Afghan president will not speak to press. #natochicago http://pic.twitter.com/Pph0yXFwRyann RumbaughSecurity is tight here at the Atlanticist Summit. Media can't go anywhere without an escort. #natochicagoRyann RumbaughSecretary General Rasmussen and the President address the delegates. #NATOChicagoThe DePauliaAfghan President Hamid Karzai decided not to come to conversation at Hyatt. No replacement speaker. #natochicagoLaura FunkListening to Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili speak at the Young Atlanticist Summit. #natochicago http://pic.twitter.com/yTRwOVZsRyann RumbaughFrom inside the summit: there was a military procession and a moment of silence for coalition forces- honoring their service. #NATOChicagoThe DePaulia

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Storify: Sunday NATO protests, summit

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