A statement being circulated by SDS states, “While students are forced to work and go to school full-time just to pay for books, our government is pouring trillions of dollars into wars and occupations abroad that result in thousands of deaths, claiming that there is no money to be found for social services like education, housing and health care. Ending the wars would mean trillions of dollars of savings annually that could be spent on human needs here in the United States! We want money for education, not for war!”

Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), a member of the Coalition to Protest the NATO & G8 War & Poverty Agenda, has been working for months in anticipation of this protest. Stephanie Taylor, a member of SDS’ National Working Committee explains, “We have students coming here from coast to coast. We have traveled to meetings in Chicago and have been projecting this protest for months. Protesting NATO is important for the student movement because money for education is being annihilated while our country spends trillions of dollars maintaining the war and occupation of Afghanistan.”

Some SDS chapters will be joining with area organizations and the Occupy movement to bring folks down, while others will be organizing multiple-car caravans. SDS members in Milwaukee are bringing a bus of students and Occupy protesters.

Chapters throughout Florida that are involved with the Coalition to March on the RNC will also be attending. Dave Schneider from Gainesville, Florida SDS says, “We’re bringing up three cars from chapters throughout Florida to march with students from around the country. As we build for the Republican National Convention protests later this summer in Tampa, we understand the significance and impact of national demonstrations.”

SDS affiliates from the Revolutionary Student Union (RSU) in Utah will also be joining in on the day’s events. Recently, Gregory Lucero, an activist with RSU was visited by the FBI who attempted to make probing questions about the people and organizations involved in the NATO protests. While Lucero did not answer any questions, it is clear that the FBI is continuing its attacks against the anti-war and international solidarity movement.

Stephanie Taylor said, “The most important thing is to be on the streets to oppose the war policies of the United States and its lackeys. It’s time for our country to put people before profits, we need to stop the NATO war machine and students have an important contribution to make in that.”

#ChicagoIL #AntiwarMovement #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #CoalitionAgainstNATOG8WarPovertyAgenda

Chicago, IL – Once again bowing to public pressure, on April 4 the city of Chicago granted permits for a rally and march against the NATO summit planned here in May. The Coalition Against NATO/G8 War and Poverty Agenda (CANG8) also demanded the city waive the nearly $40,000 in fees to use a public park,and give a more favorable march route as well.

The permit is for a rally at noon on Sunday, May 20 at the Petrillo Bandshell in Grant Park – without the onerous fees and with the changes to the march route that the protesters insisted on.

Joe Iosbaker of CANG8 stated that the group was again victorious and warned the mayor and the Secret Service to respect the right to protest. “NATO is responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands in Afghanistan and Libya. These generals are spattered with the blood of the Arab and Muslim people, including those killed in Pakistan by U.S. drone strikes. And in Afghanistan, 250 children die every day from malnutrition.” Iosbaker continued, “We have the right to march against these masters of war.”

CANG8 has called for the Secret Service to respect the march route granted by the city. “Declaring the summit a National Security Event doesn’t allow them to suspend the constitution,” Iosbaker said.

CANG8 also calls on the mayor and the Chicago police to stop threatening mass arrests and to stop painting protestors as dangerous.

#ChicagoIL #NATO #JoeIosbaker #CoalitionAgainstNATOG8WarPovertyAgenda #NATOG8Summit2012 #permits

Pete Shell, one of the conference organizers said, “We advanced the organizing for the mass mobilization on NATO and the G8 in Chicago on May 20.” The opening speaker on Saturday morning was Joe Iosbaker, an activist from Chicago with the Coalition Against NATO/G8 War and Poverty Agenda (CANG8). Iosbaker called out, “If you’re going to Chicago to protest NATO, please stand.” Hundreds rose to their feet in response.

Over 150 people came from New York’s Muslim community, including South Asians, African Americans and Arabs. Malik Mujahid, a leader in UNAC, is also a founder of the Muslim Peace Coalition and has led UNAC to build the alliance between their community and the anti-war movement. There were also Filipinos, Colombians, Puerto Ricans and many other nationalities, but the Muslim community turned out in such numbers because the conference addressed the U.S. government’s war against Muslims. Marlene Jenkins and Shahina Parvee spoke about the FBI spending years entrapping their sons, who had done nothing to harm anyone. Judges refused to allow them to use evidence of entrapment in their defense cases, and both men received 15 year prison sentences.

Meredith Aby of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression spoke about being raided by the FBI in an investigation sparked by her anti-war organizing. “This conference took strong stands against political repression.” Showing that the anti-war movement won’t be intimidated, Aby continued, “I’m also excited that so many are organizing to march in Chicago against the U.S. and NATO wars in Afghanistan, Libya, and their threats of war against Syria and Iran. This will be the largest national anti-war protest in years.”

#StamfordCT #AntiwarMovement #CommitteeToStopFBIRepression #UNAC #CoalitionAgainstNATOG8WarPovertyAgenda #ChicagoNATOSummit #UnitedNationalAntiwarCoalition

Chicago, IL – The White House announced today, March 5, that the G8 summit, scheduled for Chicago on May 19-20, will be moved to Camp David, although the NATO summit will still take place in Chicago.

Joe Iosbaker, an organizer of the protest stated, “We are going to march on the warmakers' summit. They are changing their plans, but we will not change our plan to oppose those who are waging wars abroad, while impoverishing us at home.”

Iosbaker urges activist to go all out in building for the protest, and said that plans for the protest might change based on NATO announcing a new time for their summit.

The Coalition Against NATO/G8 War & Poverty Agenda (CANG8) and Occupy Chicago issued the following statement:

The G8 moving to Camp David represents a major victory for the people of Chicago. The leaders of the 1% are moving because of the overwhelming resistance to the NATO/G8 war and poverty agenda in Chicago. Our city is filled with tens of thousands of people who are struggling to keep their heads above water, fighting against the effects of the economic crisis caused by the leaders who would have been gathering here. The communities of Chicago are fighting to save their schools, keep healthcare available, and to defend their jobs from cutbacks that are a hallmark of the governments of the G8.

The city has carried out a campaign to intimidate and vilify protesters, claiming that protests lead to violence. In fact, the main source of violence in the world today is the wars being waged by NATO and the US.

We will march on May 19 to deliver our message: Jobs, Housing, Healthcare, Education, Our Pensions, the Environment: Not War! We and tens of thousands will be in the streets that day for a family friendly rally and march, with cries so loud they will be heard in Camp David and across the globe. We will be in the streets that day to fight for our future, and speak out against the wars and their cutbacks that are designed to benefit the 1% at the expense of the 99% of the world.

#ChicagoIL #AntiwarMovement #NATO #G8 #OccupyChicago #CoalitionAgainstNATOG8WarPovertyAgenda #NATOG8Summit2012

At 12:30 today, Rahm Emanuel officiated over the death of the Bill of Rights in the City Council chambers.

Ordinances designed to severely restrict First Amendment rights of speech and assembly were presented on December 14th. The stated target was to prepare to repress protesters during the summits of NATO and the G8.

At first, aldermen and the media all agreed that no one would oppose Emanuel on this.

In response to mayor's attack on civil liberties, the Coalition Against NATO/G8 War & Poverty Agenda (CANG8) joined together with Occupy Chicago and several unions to unite our efforts to defend of civil liberties in Chicago. By last week, aldermen had felt so much pressure from constituents that they had to speak out.

Emanuel then moved to withdraw first one, and then another, of the most criticized pieces. Protests continued to grow; Emanuel retreated further; the protests mounted, and he retreated even further.

Finally, a version was reached that the council opposition could vote for, hoping that the movement would not condemn them. The final version is still a significant attack on democratic rights; its passage is a defeat for our movement.

The mayor has not achieved his true objective, though. Emanuel looks at the new Chicago he has inherited, with protesters in so many places, and he wants to put the genie back in the bottle. It’s not possible.

We have the right to protest against war, austerity, and inequality. Mayor Emanuel, you’ll see us in the streets of Chicago: our streets.

#ChicagoIL #civilLiberties #FirstAmendment #OccupyChicago #MayorRahmEmmanuel #CoalitionAgainstNATOG8WarPovertyAgenda #CANG8 #NATOG8Summit2012 #BillOfRights

Chicago IL – In a surprise move Jan. 12, the City of Chicago granted permits to the Coalition Against NATO/G8 War and Poverty Agenda (CANG8) for a rally and march on May 19. CANG8 is mobilizing against the summits of NATO and the G8 occurring in Chicago that weekend.

“Mayor Emanuel responded to public opinion, which clearly supported our right to protest against NATO’s wars and the poverty that the G8 is pushing onto working people through their cutbacks,” said Joe Iosbaker of CANG8. “It’s the only explanation that makes sense.”

The coalition had been building broad support for their demands for permits since June, 2011 when President Obama announced the summits of bankers, generals and heads of state of the wealthiest nations. CANG8 is planning a family-friendly demonstration to take their message to within sight and sound of the McCormick Place where the summits are scheduled.

###Given with one hand, taken with the other?

However, the cover letters from the city that accompanied the permits threaten that they might be revoked. The cover letters state that Secret Service could “designate specific security zones or areas.”

This threat is very real. For months, the Chicago Police Department and Secret Service have been issuing “security assessments” to downtown schools, churches, businesses and cultural institutions saying that the protestors are so violent that everyone should leave the area during the events.

When anti-war activists first submitted an application for the Daley Plaza, it was denied with a memo that no permits would be granted for public assembly during the period of the summits. A public pressure campaign mounted by CANG8 compelled the city to backtrack on that as well.

Both of these reveal that the joint city-federal agency overseeing the summits want to stop protests from reaching the eyes and ears of the rich and powerful who will be at McCormick Place in May.

In response to the threat of a denial, Iosbaker responded, “The Secret Service should not try to take away what the city of Chicago has finally granted.”

###Resistance to Emanuel’s Threatened Restrictions on Protests

The granting of the permits is set against a backdrop of growing opposition to the repressive moves of the mayor. Mayor Emanuel is demanding changes to city ordinances to make protests harder to organize and to threaten anyone who speaks up with enormous fines and police repression. He proposed these changes in mid-December and declared he wanted the city council to adopt them at their next possible meeting.

At first, the city council leaders lined up to say “yes” to the mayor, but a pressure campaign that drew in Occupy Chicago, SEIU, the Teachers Union and civil liberties advocates forced the politicians to reverse themselves. On Jan. 12, the mayor’s office was also met with a rebellion by alderpersons who, for the first time, have said “no” to Emanuel.

In describing how the granting of permits impacted on the debate in the city council, CANG8 activist Andy Thayer noted, “The issuance of this permit shows that the current ordinances, while not perfect, are more than adequate for large public events in our city, and that the mayor should rescind his proposed anti-protester ordinances.”

The city council is scheduled to vote on Emanuel's ordinance changes at its meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 18. Two committees of the city council are scheduled to discuss the changes on Jan. 17. CANG8 is calling for a national call in day to demand Emanuel stop his efforts to deny the right to protest.

#ChicagoIL #AntiwarMovement #NATO #G8 #CoalitionAgainstNATOG8WarPovertyAgenda #MayorEmanuel

On Dec. 14, the mayor threatened new laws that would hit protesters with arrests and hefty fines, increase curfews in the parks and give new powers for the superintendent of police to deny the use of video and audio recording equipment, among other powers.

“At a time when the mayor should be granting us permits, because we have the right to march against the criminal bankers and the warmongering generals, he’s taking a step in the wrong direction. He’s trying to take away more rights,” said Joe Iosbaker of the Coalition Against NATO/G8 War & Poverty Agenda (CANG8).

Iosbaker continued, “We think this is intended to stop people from protesting.”

One day earlier, the mayor told protesters that he would protect their First Amendment rights. He also said, “I…think that…out there is an angst about middle class, working and middle class, holding on to their economic security for themselves and their children.”

Ironically, NATO, the G8, and the Emanuel administration are all carrying out attacks on working class people. The U.S. government and NATO are waging an unjust war in Afghanistan. The bankers of the wealthy nations are forcing poverty on the 99%. Emanuel, like them, is closing schools and clinics, laying off workers, and giving tax breaks to the wealthy.

Iosbaker said, “He can threaten us, but we won’t back down, because we have the right to march against war and austerity.”

#ChicagoIL #AntiwarMovement #JoeIosbaker #RahmEmanuel #CoalitionAgainstNATOG8WarPovertyAgenda #CANG8

Chicago, IL- After months of avoiding organizers planning the protests against the NATO and G8 Summit next spring, Mayor Rahm Emanuel finally got an earful Dec. 13. Thirty people from the Coalition Against NATO/G8 War & Poverty Agenda (CANG8) packed a meeting of the Public Building Commission (PBC), which Emanuel chairs. Joe Iosbaker, Andy Thayer and Newland Smith of CANG8 all spoke to the commissioners and pressed the demands for permits to march on the summits of bankers, generals and politicians.

Iosbaker had applied for a permit for Daley Plaza back in June. The plaza is one of the few places in the Loop (Chicago’s downtown) where large crowds can assemble. The realty company, MB Realty, that manages the plaza at first told Iosbaker he had correctly submitted the application. Five months later, they told him that the city would not allow any protests to occur in the plaza during the dates of the NATO/G8 summits. Then, the Public Building Commission, which owns the plaza and employs MB Realty, responded to a letter from the National Lawyers Guild. They now say that the reason for denial is a regulation that a permit for May protests must be submitted after the first of the year.

According to Iosbaker, the letter from MB Realty was a moment where, “… the curtain is pulled aside, like in The Wizard of Oz, and the real intentions of the administration are seen: they want to deter protests.” According to Iosbaker, to achieve this objective, the Emanuel administration “… is preparing to deny permit applications. They informed their agents at MB Realty that they would not be allowing permits that week. However, MB Realty wasn’t sufficiently coached,” and so they blurted out the truth.

Andy Thayer scored a victory by forcing an exchange with Emanuel. Thayer asked whether the mayor, “…would commit to permits for either Daley Plaza or Grant Park [the only two venues in the Loop large enough for the expected turnout]. The Public Building Commission’s Executive Director tried to protect Emanuel, but Thayer insisted that, “the mayor should be able to speak for himself instead of hiding behind his staff.”

Emanuel then made three points. He said, “Protesters’ First Amendment rights will be respected; they can apply for permits after the first of the year; and permits will be granted as appropriate.”

Thayer retorted, “Without permits for venues, the right to assemble is meaningless.”

Finally, Newland Smith of CANG8 and the Episcopal Peace Fellowship quoted statements from Episcopalian, Methodist, Catholic and Jewish scholars and leaders about the need for people of faith to challenge the hardship brought on humanity by the policies of the G8 wealthy nations; and to oppose the wars waged by the powerful nations of NATO.

#ChicagoIL #AntiwarMovement #PeoplesStruggles #JoeIosbaker #RahmEmanuel #CoalitionAgainstNATOG8WarPovertyAgenda #CANG8

### Call for action: Defend the right to protest against the NATO & G8 summits

The City of Chicago will host the NATO/G8 Summits in May, 2012. We need the largest, most powerful protests against their wars and impoverishment of people. The Coalition Against NATO/G8 War & Poverty Agenda (CANG8) has already made plans for two permitted, family friendly rallies and marches, May 15th and 19th.

We are confident that we will win permits – but not without a struggle for our democratic rights.

The administration of Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department, Garry McCarthy, have already sent a message to us that our protests will be met with mass arrests.

CANG8 in Chicago is leading the effort to secure permits. Up until now, the City has not said that they would refuse us permits.

However, on November 9, we learned of the first denial of a permit application.

Back in June, one day after President Obama announced the summits for next year, Joe Iosbaker of the United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC) submitted permit applications for the two dates of the planned protests. After not communicating to Iosbaker for 20 weeks, MB Real Estate Services sent an email that stated that they are not approving any permits for Daley Plaza between May 15 and May 22, 2012 – the exact dates of the NATO/G8 meetings.

MB Real Estate is a contractor working for the Public Building Commission (PBC), which controls Daley Plaza. The Chairman of PBC is Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

The blanket denial of permits for Daley Plaza – one of the few public spaces in downtown Chicago that can accommodate large gatherings – illustrates a pattern of actions demonstrating contempt for First Amendment rights by the Emanuel administration and its allies.

### Tuesday, December 13th: Take Action

On December 13th, the PBC will meet. We are going to that Commission meeting to tell them:

\* Drop the “no permits restriction” for Daley Plaza during the NATO/G8 summits \* Respect the right to protest against war & austerity

If you are in Chicago, join us at 2:00 pm at the Daley Center, 50 W. Washington Street.

If you can’t be there, call PBC Chairman Rahm Emanuel – Dial 311 (within Chicago). If calling from outside of Chicago, call: 312.744.5000

Help us deliver the message. Tell his office the same thing we will tell the Board in person.

And make plans to be with us in May. NATO and the G8 meet in secret, yet their decisions have global consequences. The ONLY way to have a voice as an ordinary person is to protest outside the meeting. Otherwise you're not counted and that's what they want.

#ChicagoIL #AntiwarMovement #CoalitionAgainstNATOG8WarPovertyAgenda

Chicago, IL – The Occupy Chicago movement and the Coalition Against NATO/G8 War & Poverty Agenda (CANG8) came together 150 strong, Oct. 26, to defend the right to protest against war and corporate greed.

When the Chicago Police Department started mass arrests of people occupying Grant Park two weeks ago, cops remarked to those being arrested that this was practice for NATO and G8 in May 2012. After the second round of mass arrests in Chicago Oct. 22, the media were saying it, too.

Now Occupy Chicago has embraced the need to oppose NATO and the G8 when they come to town next year.

While Occupy Chicago has been dealing with over 300 arrests, CANG8 has faced verbal threats of mass arrests and FBI repression from Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, nine months before the NATO/G8 protests are to occur.

In response, on Oct. 26, the two groups together decided to occupy City Hall. The raucous crowd marched in at 2:00 p.m., picketing and chanting, “It’s called the First Amendment,” and “What do we want? Permits! When do want them? Now!”

The first chant supported the demand that all charges be dropped against the more than 300 arrested in the past two weeks. The second chant refers to the demand raised by anti-war organizers since July for a guarantee of their first amendment right to assemble and march against the generals, bankers and heads of state when the NATO/G8 summit occurs, May 15-22, 2012. CANG8 delivered letters and attempted to meet with the city, meeting with silence from the mayor’s office. Then, repeated calls to city officials in charge of the permitting process were met with a run-around and then, with continued silence.

The occupiers moved to the 5th floor outside of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office. Andy Thayer, speaking for CANG8, explained that organizers expectations are “for permits to take marchers to within ‘sight and sound’ of the NATO/G8 summit.” The immediate demands are for the mayor to publicly commit to giving permits to march to the venue of the summit; for Police Superintendent McCarthy to cease making threatening statements against NATO/G8 protesters; and to respond to the protesters within two weeks.

“The ball is in Emanuel’s court,” said Thayer, challenging the city to break with the stigma of repression which has haunted Chicago since the violent police attack on anti-war students during the Democratic Convention in 1968.

Joe Iosbaker of CANG8, and an anti-war activist whose home was raided by the FBI last year, spoke about breaking news that Northwestern University Law School was moving its graduation earlier by a week in May at the direction of the FBI and Chicago Police. Using the call and response known as “the people’s mic,” or “human microphone,” he said, “We all know the FBI lies. They are telling the law school to be afraid of us. I know personally that the FBI lies, because they raided my home last year based on lies.”

The protesters held the first and then the fifth floors for about one hour before ending their occupation, promising to return in two weeks if Emanuel doesn’t meet the demands.

“The G8 and the NATO military alliance are two of the institutions which bear some of the greatest responsibility for the wars and economic violence traumatizing millions of people around the world,” said Pat Hunt of CANG8. “Previous meetings of NATO and G8 in other cities have seen massive violations of civil rights by police, resulting in millions of dollars of successful lawsuits against the host city governments. As such, the city should forthrightly commit to upholding the First Amendment rights of protesters and rein in the verbal threats coming from police brass.”

“In addition to dropping the charges against Occupy Chicago participants, we will also be demanding that the city allow a permanent First Amendment encampment for the Occupy movement, just as many other major cities now do.”

#ChicagoIL #AntiwarMovement #OccupyWallStreet #OccupyChicago #MayorRahmEmmanuel #CoalitionAgainstNATOG8WarPovertyAgenda #CANG8