'We Have to Train for Mass Arrests'

God knows Chicago has ugly fascist history with protests, we have to fight back.

Courtesy: existentialistcowboy.blogspot.com

(CHICAGO) - Chicago will host the NATO/G8 Summit in May 2012. That's almost a year away, but the city has already started it's campaign to paint the protesters as a security threat in order to justify an overwhelming police presence. In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy highlighted his concern about protests in the windy city:

“We have to train for mass arrests,” McCarthy said.

“We have to train 13,000 police officers in arrest procedures and containment procedures.”

Mass arrests? Of peaceful protesters? 13,000 police officers? That's about one police officer for every two and a half protesters, if organizers meet their turnout goal of 35,000.

And, if past experience is a guide, those will be heavily armed, jack-booted riot police lined up behind shields, with helicopters circling overhead, and perhaps a sonic cannon or two on the streets. Lately, police presence at peaceful protests is more suited to a war zone than the streets of our cities. It can only be justified if protesters are vilified, painted as violent and somehow out of control.

So we have to fight back.

Defending Dissent Foundation has joined with protest organizers to demand that Chicago respect the protester's right to dissent. In a letter to Mayor Emanuel, we demand that the city grant permits to rally and march to the summit, and a guarantee that there will be no spying, infiltration of organizations or other attacks by the FBI or partner law enforcement agencies.

The letter will be delivered to the Mayor on Thursday, July 28.