City, Protesters Reach Agreement On NATO Protest, Route
By Chuck Sudo in News on Apr 5, 2012 2:35PM
There has to be something in the air, because yesterday seemed like a day for opposing sides to find some common ground. We just wrote about DirecTV and Tribune Co. reaching an agreement to bring the latter's local programming back on the air. The City and NATO summit protesters also reached an agreement on a march route for the first day of the summit, May 20.
The City issued a permit to the Coalition Against NATO/G8 War & Poverty Agenda that will allow the march to start at the Petrillo Band Shell, then work its way to State Street South to McCormick Place, the site of the summit. CANG8 were originally granted a march permit for May 19, when it was assumed the G-8 summit was coming to Chicago. The group filed a new request to shift the date of the permit to May 20 after President Barack Obama announced he was moving G-8 to Camp David. The City refused the permit date change request, and the decision was upheld on appeal.
The City rejected CANG8's request to intervene is the Secret Service doesn't allow the march to reach McCormick Place. CANG8's Andy Thayer said he didn't expect the city to agree to that condition.
"The history of these things has been the feds sweep in at the last minute and lay down a very blankety security perimeter."