Press Conference today: 2:00 pm, Obama Campaign Headquarters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jtUqmEE_M5I

Media Advisory
Monday, May 21st, 2012

Press Conference today: 2:00 pm, Obama Campaign Headquarters
130 E. Randolph, Chicago
For more information: Joe Iosbaker 773-301-0109

Occupy Chicago and the Coalition Against NATO/G8 War & Poverty Agenda to denounce police violence against NATO protestors

An estimated 15,000 people marched on Sunday against NATO, against war and against the disastrous cuts in social programs that NATO and the G8 bring to the people of the world. This was the largest anti-war march in Chicago in many years, and the largest national antiwar march in recent years as well.

The marchers followed a contingent of veterans, and ended with a moving ceremony in which 40 or more Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Against the War threw their medals back at the generals.

The National Nurses United joined the march, speaking for working people in this country who suffer because of the greed of the 1%. Chicago Action Medical helped protect everyone in the 2 ½ mile march in 90% heat by ensuring that water was available and care was given to any in need.

However, the march was then marred by a brutal display of police violence. The Chicago Police Department beat people in full view of the TV cameras, in what echoes the violence of the police riot of the protests at the Democratic Convention in 1968.

This attack was the culmination of the stupendous and unprecedented military and police presence, at a cost to both taxpayers and the First Amendment.

The press conference today will counter the claims of Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy that the officers under his command acted honorably. “The violence of officers acting under orders from their commanders reveals to all what it means when NATO comes to town, said Brian Bean of Occupy Chicago.” “NATO is a war making organization, and now we feel a degree of the violence that the people of Afghanistan experience daily under their occupation.”

The press conference will call for the immediate release of any NATO protestors still being held in jail.