"No NATO, No War": U.S. Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan Return War Medals at NATO Summit Democracy Now! Daily Digest for 05/21/12‏

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Democracy Now! Daily News Digest
May 21, 2012

"No NATO, No War": U.S. Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan Return War...

We broadcast from Chicago, site of the largest NATO summit in the organization’s six-decade history. On Sunday, veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, as well as members of Afghans for Peace, led a peace march of thousands of people. Iraq Veterans Against the War held a ceremony where nearly 50 veterans discarded their war medals by hurling them down the street in the direction of the NATO summit. We hear the soldiers’ voices as they return their medals one by one from the stage. Watch/Listen/Read

Scott Olsen, U.S. Vet Who Nearly Lost Life at Occupy Protest, Bring...

We’re joined at the NATO summit in Chicago by Scott Olsen, who survived two tours in Iraq but almost died when he was hit with a police projectile at an Occupy Oakland protest last year. Olsen returned four of his medals at Sunday’s antiwar march. Watch/Listen/Read

U.S. Army Vets Join with Afghans for Peace to Lead Antiwar March at...

Sunday’s antiwar march at the NATO summit in Chicago was led by members of Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) and Afghans for Peace. We speak with Suraia Sahar, a member of Afghans for Peace, who marched alongside Afghan war veteran Graham Clumpner during the anti-NATO protest in Chicago. Watch/Listen/Read

Chicago Activists Denounce Massive Security Apparatus at NATO Summi...

Hundreds of protesters marched to the home of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, President Obama’s former chief of staff, on Saturday to oppose Emanuel’s cutting of social services while funding a massive security operation during the NATO summit. The day earlier, a group of nurses led a march in downtown Chicago to protest austerity cuts. Watch/Listen/Read

Chicago Police Face Accusations of Entrapment, Brutality in Crackdo...

Dozens of anti-NATO protesters have been arrested in Chicago over the past several days, including five men who were jailed on domestic terrorism charges. Three of the men were accused of plotting to attack President Barack Obama’s campaign headquarters, Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s home and other targets. Their lawyers say they were entrapped by government informants. The Chicago police have also been criticized by activist groups for using violent force to break up protests and accused of targeting independent media activists who have been streaming the protests live over the internet. On Saturday night, three helping to livestream video of the protests were detained at gunpoint. Watch/Listen/Read

As NATO Coalition Unravels in Afghanistan, Global Activists Questio...

Delegates from more than 60 countries are taking part in this year’s NATO summit in Chicago. Many international peace activists have also traveled from across the globe to take part in the protests in the streets. We speak with German peace activist Reiner Braun, chair of the international coalition, "No to War, No to NATO." Watch/Listen/Read

Guitarist, Activist Tom Morello: "Music Can Help Steel the Backbone...

The musician and activist Tom Morello has performed at a number of rallies and concerts over the past three days at the NATO protests in Chicago. Morello is the longtime guitarist of Rage Against the Machine who also performs as the Nightwatchman and with his other band, the Street Sweeper Social Club. Watch/Listen/Read

Rev. Jesse Jackson at NATO Protests: "People Are Searching for Alte...

Rev. Jesse Jackson of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition joined Iraq Veterans Against the War and Afghans for Peace at the head of Sunday’s anti-NATO march in Chicago. Watch/Listen/Read