NATO Protest March and Night Marches 5-20-2012 (56 images)

The NATO March started with a rally at Petrillo Bandshell and moved down toward McCormick Place. The march was lead by a group of veterans. They held a ceremony where they folded an American flag they carried through the streets, and gave it to a woman whose soldier son committed suicide. They began hurtling their war service medals toward McCormick Place, asking for forgiveness and healing and expressing their disapproval of the Iraq and Afghan occupations. It was an emotional and moving...
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The NATO March started with a rally at Petrillo Bandshell and moved down toward McCormick Place. The march was lead by a group of veterans. They held a ceremony where they folded an American flag they carried through the streets, and gave it to a woman whose soldier son committed suicide. They began hurtling their war service medals toward McCormick Place, asking for forgiveness and healing and expressing their disapproval of the Iraq and Afghan occupations. It was an emotional and moving statement. Soon after the ending rally, hundreds riot police flooded in to disperse the crowd of mostly peaceful protestors. From my perspective, people became scared and threatened by the presence of so many police in full riot gear, and tensions were high. Some protestors held their ground peacefully. Chaos broke out in the crowd, but I could not see what was happening. As much as I wanted to stay and continue to observe, I had no access to water and needed to retreat. After some needed subsistence, I headed with my team back into the loop and came across a small march that grew quickly as we went through the loop. There were some intense moments. Many of the protestors were running, and things because chaotic. A journalist I met a few nights ago was pushed by a police officer with a baton. Eventually the march was allowed to continue, and the protestors gathered in front of the Art Institute, where Michelle Obama had been hosting NATO delegates.
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