The private militiary firm formerly known as Blackwater (now known as "Xe") has been increasingly on the defensive: some of the company's guards face manslaughter charges, and the company lost a key Iraq government contract to rival Triple Canopy (originally incorporated in Chicago).

"Blackwater" North, the company's installation in Illinois' Jo Daviess county, has seen peace activists in the Midwest launch vigorous protest activity in recent years. Activists wrote a new chapter in the struggle against Xe, with a recent "Stop Blackwater" conference and civil disobedience action at the Xe site, which saw 22 people arrested.

Video: Blackwater (Xe) Protest, Arrests at Illinois Facilities