Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by T. HuMaN on April 27, 2012 at 12:00am

THAT'S WHAT AUTHORITARIANS DO!

Permalink Reply by Amaterasu Solar on April 27, 2012 at 12:17am

Yep.  Indeed.  That's what Authoritarians do.  [sigh]

Permalink Reply by guest_blog on April 27, 2012 at 1:34am

Andy Thayer, a spokesman for the Coalition Against NATO-G-8, accused the federal government of creating the Red Zone to send a “message of intimidation” to protesters expected to descend on Chicago for the summit.

“It’s reminiscent of what happened prior to the Trans-Atlantic Business Dialogue, when the city got all Rambo-ed up as a way of scaring people from exercising their First Amendment rights,” Thayer said.

“If security measures are necessary, there are ways to go about it rather than getting hyper-militarized in a very visible way. It does nothing to stop any violence, but it does send a message of intimidation. This is a political show. It’s not about security.”

Despite the unsettling image of uniformed federal agents on the streets of Chicago, Thayer said his message to protesters is the same as it was after Mayor Rahm Emanuel rammed through his “sit-down-and-shut-up” ordinance to reign in the demonstrators.

“Don’t allow the city or the feds to intimidate you from exercising your freedom. It’s your right to be on the streets of Chicago on May 20,” Thayer said.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/12151651-418/local-nato-hosts-re...

Permalink Reply by Amaterasu Solar on April 28, 2012 at 4:33pm

Of COURSE this is what They're doing!  Intimidation is a tool They LOVE to use.  If I was in Chi-town, I would be there on the streets.