NATO Summit Protesters Faced Police Raid and Arrests in Chicago On Wednesday
(Photo: Zach D. Roberts / GregPalast.com)
TruthOut Assistant Editor Yana Kunichoff has just filed an alarming report titled, “NATO Protesters Held Without Charge After Raid as Chicago Steps Up Police Activities,” showing that in the lead-up to the NATO Summit protests upcoming this weekend, the Chicago Police Department (CPD) raided the homes of nine Occupy Chicago activist leaders on Wednesday. Some of the activists were held in custody for nearly 24 hours without charge, with only four of them having been released at the time of the publishing of her story.
“I’d like to stress that we have done nothing wrong,” Zoe Sigman, an Occupy Chicago activist told Kunichoff, whose home was raided. “We have been planning to protest NATO and there is nothing illegal about expressing our feelings about a war machine. Now we’re being treated as mere criminals. As if we’re part of an organized crime that they’re trying to take down. Who knows what they’re going to pin on us. We’re terrified.”
Occupy Chicago, in a press release, says that the CPD’s behavior is the hallmark of a “militarized police state.”
Occupy Chicago demands the immediate release of the peaceful protesters terrorized by the Chicago Police Department in Wednesday nights raid. We are getting a taste here in Chicago of what it’s like to live in a militarized police state, with non-violent demonstrators targeted for expressing their First Amendment Rights and for standing up against the NATO war machine.
Kunichoff went on to explain that the preemptive arrests and arraignments were but the “tip of the iceberg” of what’s been brewing in the Windy City, noting that a local ABC News affiliate had reported yesterday that during a protest on environmental issues, “Dozens of uniformed Chicago police stood guard nearby, though they made no arrests. But around the corner a couple blocks away back-ups were apparently standing by. Inside 15 unmarked passenger vans they were dressed in black uniforms with riot gear.”
The takeaway, as is obvious: the tools of imperial repression have made their way home for those protesting the U.S. Empire in Chicago this weekend at the NATO Summit.
As FireDogLake‘s Kevin Gosztola put it,
For all the worries about protesters descending upon Chicago to create violence, it certainly seems like the people of Chicago should be more worried about NATO occupying Chicago. NATO is being used as a pretext to suppress dissent and go after activists. The police squads are more likely to violate someone than a protester raising his or her fist in the air while wearing a mask. In fact, that person wearing that mask just might be a police officer, federal agent, or some kind of hired agent provocateur.
Stay tuned for more coverage from the front lines in Chicago forthcoming on the Antiwar.com Blog.
MoT
May 18th, 2012 at 11:20 pm
So look what the wind blew all the way from Chicago to DC. I guess the nut really doesn't fall too far from the totalitarian tree now does it?
Three Chicago NATO Summit Activists Charged With Conspiracy to Commit Terrorism, Providing Material Support for Terrorism « Antiwar.com Blog
May 19th, 2012 at 5:31 am
[...] tonight at roughly 10:00 PM, making it a grand total of six activists released so far, of the nine detained without charge by the Chicago Police Department (CPD) on Wednesday, previously covered on [...]
Three Chicago NATO Summit Activists Charged With Conspiracy to Commit Terrorism, Providing Material Support for Terrorism « Antiwar.com Blog
May 19th, 2012 at 5:31 am
[...] tonight at roughly 10:00 PM, making it a grand total of six activists released so far, of the nine detained without charge by the Chicago Police Department (CPD) on Wednesday, previously covered on [...]
NDAA Terrorism Charges Used Against Three NATO Protesters in Chicago | Occupy News
May 20th, 2012 at 3:39 am
[...] tonight at roughly 10:00 PM, making it a grand total of six activists released so far, of the nine detained without charge by the Chicago Police Department (CPD) on Wednesday, previously covered on [...]
copywriting
May 20th, 2012 at 3:40 am
That's right, not too far from the totalitarian tree of course. What is still important in this ecuation is that they still affirm that they have done nothing wrong..
Lanital
May 21st, 2012 at 1:57 am
Some of the activists were held in custody for nearly 24 hours without charge, with only four of them having been released at the time of the publishing of her story.
Issue No. 79 – May 22, 2012
May 25th, 2012 at 3:53 pm
[...] antiwar.com (5/18): NATO Summit Protesters Faced Police Raid and Arrests in Chicago On Wednesday [...]
josef
December 7th, 2012 at 1:00 am
great info, tnx ;d
polo ralph lauren soldes
lilymuirden
January 12th, 2013 at 4:25 am
We all could be one of those included in this event. Everyone certainly could be detained for some reason. You have to fill it.
music production school
Spiritual Balance
January 21st, 2013 at 3:04 am
A problem that occurs and is associated with the police is a lot going on lately. There are many people who have had problems and did not want anyone else to know.
LeoKotasi
January 23rd, 2013 at 3:18 am
One of the events that happen to a person it can be a thing that makes others think badly. One is when you are dealing with the police.Clusters HPC
annabelleslessor
February 28th, 2013 at 1:29 am
Demonstrations were mostly done by many people this is very vulnerable to a lot of dangerous things. You should not do and get involved with this.House Cleaning Red Bank
isabellemilligan
March 5th, 2013 at 4:29 am
Den succes, som din virksomhed afhænger af, hvordan du kender og forstår behovene hos eksisterende kunder og potentielle kunder. Markedsundersøgelser skal være bæredygtige og målrettet forskellige aspekter af virksomheden på en regelmæssig basis.
Shoulder Pain Treatment
TeddyMichael
March 5th, 2013 at 11:23 am
Hulle het 'n fantastiese opening bemarking en daar is 'n sterk ramings wat plek sou dit baie vol word. Wanneer die restaurant oopgemaak, eet sleg en die tema was middelmatige sodat mense kom nooit weer terug nie.
Radiant Floor Heating Systems
Houston DWI
March 22nd, 2013 at 12:01 am
Jedna v?c je jistá v podnikání je rostoucí konkurence z. Will stále více a více lidí, kte?í jsou oba snaží prodat stejné zboží. Proto, budete muset najít to, co d?lá vaše firma liší od jiného, ??pon?kud lepší než ostatní.
Houston DWI
Podiatrist Calgary
March 26th, 2013 at 9:49 pm
Person will be doing a lot of crime is incarcerated or detained should be. There are many people who also do the same and get away from the law.
laradods
April 11th, 2013 at 5:27 am
A detention with no apparent reason is already a lot going on lately. It is unfair to the many people who suffer. It must be quickly resolved.charge.com reviews
fat removal houston
April 17th, 2013 at 2:50 am
The problem may be there in the city is the responsibility of the people who were there. You can find a safety that can be lifted and detain people who make trouble.
mayaclimpson
April 19th, 2013 at 2:21 am
Arrest people who always make trouble and feel the citizen is encouraging. At least you can do many things in the city quietly there then.college student storage
Custom Cotton Totes
April 19th, 2013 at 4:40 am
The safety with the use of this bike are the ones who are very great. There are many methods that could be used to detain someone who makes trouble.
alyssadynon
May 13th, 2013 at 5:43 pm
Protest because of the arrest of an innocent person should be sought to know the cause. Cause there are a lot of question should be answered.custom rims
chalosvertune
May 13th, 2013 at 11:16 pm
Cause that could be asked at this person should relate to the existing arrest. The police are doing a good job and properly. In a heavy responsibility.Roomba 780 Review
RobertSuki
May 14th, 2013 at 2:18 am
Arrests made by the police of course is very important and can not be postponed. There are many very strong random why they are doing this arrest.turn offs for men
AnthurMoon
June 5th, 2013 at 12:57 am
The demonstrators should do so in an orderly demonstration the police will not arrest them. Everyone is entitled to voice their opinions, but in an orderly manner.vantasticautodetailing