Mass protests vs NATO killers

This city was the scene of an historic outpouring of activism and indignation on May 20, when at least 15,000 people rallied and marched in opposition to the imperialist war policies of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The demonstration took place in defiance of state and ruling-class intimidation, which was engineered by the city administration and the corporate media under the aegis of the White House and the Pentagon.

Chicago, May 20. WW photo: Abayomi Azikiwe

For weeks the local and national pro-business and military-friendly media had been inundated with reports of possible street violence and mass arrests. It was an attempt to discourage people from coming to Chicago for a series of activities that began on the weekend of May 12-13 with a People’s Summit.

But it failed. The week witnessed numerous demonstrations in support of immigrant and workers’ rights and in defense of the supposedly constitutionally protected ability to speak freely and congregate.

During the middle of the week, the home of a local activist in the Bridgeport neighborhood was raided by law enforcement. Three youth were beaten, arrested and charged with outrageously trumped-up charges of “terrorism.” The activists were essentially disappeared until attorneys located them in a lock-up, shackled as if they were dangerous criminals.

Of course, the corporate media played its part by constantly repeating without question the bogus charges of operating a petrol bomb-making factory and planning attacks against the campaign headquarters of President Barack Obama, local police stations and other targets.

Chicago resembled an armed camp on May 19, just one day prior to the large rally and march. On nearly every street corner in the Loop, gangs of local Chicago police, Federal Protective Services officers, Cook County cops and FBI agents looked as if they were prepared to do battle against anyone who appeared to challenge their authority. At an otherwise peaceful demonstration against repression that day, police rammed bicycles and a vehicle into a crowd of several hundred activists in downtown Chicago.

Rally & march, a significant victory

On May 20, in 90-degree heat, people began to gather at Grant Park as early as 10 a.m. for a scheduled noon rally. Numerous organizations set up literature tables, and people mingled freely, talking politics and engaging in spontaneous cultural presentations.

The rally featured more than 40 speakers representing various political and organizational affiliations: immigrant rights, labor, Civil Rights, Black Liberation, Palestinian, peace, international solidarity, housing, women’s, environmental, Filipino and other struggles. Speakers included Larry Holmes of Workers World Party and the Occupy4Jobs Network; Joe Iosbaker of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression; Standish Willis of the National Conference of Black Lawyers; Kathy Kelly of Voices for Creative Non-Violence; the longtime Chicano international solidarity organizer Carlos Montes, who is currently fighting a frame-up in California; Joe Lombardo of the United National Anti-War Coalition; the Rev. Jesse Jackson of the Rainbow/Push Coalition; and representatives of Iraq Veterans Against the War.

After the rally, people began to move into the streets outside the park in preparation for the march. Their signs and banners showed the protest had brought together a broad coalition of forces who work on issues related to police brutality, the environment, anti-foreclosure defense, Palestine solidarity, healthcare and other important causes.

Chicago Action Medical, which volunteered its services May 14-21, looked after people along the three-mile march. National Nurses United joined the march after speaking at the rally. Two days earlier, several thousand nurses had held their own rally in Chicago, linking the military budget and the profit making of Wall Street with the lack of healthcare coverage in the U.S.

Perhaps one of the most energetic sections of the march. was the anti-imperialist contingent — composed of BAYAN-USA, the International League of Peoples’ Struggle, Workers World Party, the International Action Center, the Michigan Emergency Committee Against War & Injustice, Solidarity Iran and the Moratorium NOW! Coalition to Stop Foreclosures, Evictions and Utility Shut-offs, — which was positioned next to the Palestine solidarity delegation carrying the flag of that occupied territory.

All along the route of march Chicago police, Cook County sheriff deputies, Illinois State Police, FBI agents, Secret Service and other law-enforcement groups lined the sidewalks. At certain points the police were dressed in riot gear with batons.

Many cops were openly videotaping the demonstrators. But people on the sidewalks joined in with the march or cheered it on.

Police attack as crowd begins to disperse

When the march reached Michigan Avenue and 21st Street, many people began to head back to their cars and buses. Members of Iraq Veterans Against the War began their own rally, at which they symbolically gave back medals awarded them by the military for service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This act of rejection and defiance was reminiscent of similar actions carried out by Vietnam Veterans Against the War in Washington, D.C., in April 1971. Many soldiers felt betrayed by the U.S. government and the generals for using them for the benefit of the ruling class.

It was at this point that police moved in and began to attack the remaining people. Buses were brought in filled with cops who provided reinforcements to those on the streets.

The attacks on the demonstrators were unprovoked and obviously preplanned. People were surrounded, beaten down and dragged around in the streets. Dozens were detained and some taken into custody.

Activists camped outside police stations all night waiting for word on the fate of their friends and comrades. Several people were beaten bloody by the cops, who were itching to carry out violence on the mostly youthful protesters.

On the following day, May 21, a demonstration outside Boeing Corporate Offices assailed its role in building the war machine and not paying taxes on its profits. The U.S. military budget now exceeds that of all other countries combined — some $800 billion. This great wealth could be utilized to provide housing, healthcare, education and other essential services for workers, youth and the oppressed, who create everything but receive little in return.