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 i