1000s protest the Chicago NATO summit

(CBS News) CHICAGO - Whatever NATO's ultimate withdrawal timetable from Afghanistan is, it won't be speedy enough for demonstrators outside the current summit in Chicago.

Thousands of protesters walked the sweltering streets of Chicago on Sunday to vent their opposition to NATO and the government leaders meeting just a few hundred yards away.

"We're spending $2 billion a week killing people who are very far away and really haven't don't anything to us," said protester Jeri Sparks.

CBS News correspondent Dean Reynolds reports that as their chants echoed off the facades of downtown skyscrapers, a massive cordon of police - including SWAT teams - marked their every footstep and led them along their approved path.

The ranks of the more violence-prone participants had been thoroughly infiltrated by undercover officers days ago, including three arrested last week who prosecutors accused of conspiracy to commit terrorism.

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There was also a cyber attack on the city of Chicago's website that lasted several hours. The hacker group which calls itself Anonymous claimed responsibility.

"We are actively engaged in actions against the Chicago police department and encourage anyone to take up the cause," the hacker group said in a statement.

But while some demonstrators were looking for trouble, for the most part the protests have been peaceful - something the city police superintendent noted amid the crowds along Chicago's lakefront.

"You're seeing us facilitating peaceful protests, protecting people, providing for the public safety, while at the same time being intolerant of crimes being committed," said Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy.

Hosting the NATO summit is a big deal for Chicago. The city's been on edge for days hoping the police and protesters could mingle peacefully. So far, that appears to be the case.

[Stopfmg]

I wish I could be there.

[Bucklaw1]

The story shows a more accurate view than the previous radio piece;however it is still lacking. Once again It was the police intent to sequester these protestors.Not true. CPD sequestered protestors, leaving them little or no room for an egress. The State of Illinois police came in their turtle wear and intimidated marchers on the sidewalk holding signs. The Illinois State Police, menaced those on the sidewalk protecting a slim stretch of road, when no cars were being allowed through. Firemen were witnessed on the scene with canisters. This was a well coordinated punishment to those protesting. It was poorly covered by your station thus far, and the pictures do not tell the whole scene. If the police wanted individuals to leave why did they provoke a confrontation and why did they need to use force on easily managed protestors? The reporting was lacking. The Illinois State Police are not shown in this video. Shame on you.

[crypticvalentin]

Weekend in Chicago
https://vimeo.com/42522561

[DanBrown55]

The protests in Chicago against NATO and the war in Afghanistan, etc. were led by US military veterans of those wars. How did large new agencies like CBS and Fox miss that detail (ABC and NBC had it right)?

[AOCGUY]

Were led or just that among the protesters were some vets?

[rainbowroosie]

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Says "peaceably to assemble"

[AOCGUY]

correct and peaceably doesn't mean destruction of property mor does it mean preventing the rest of us from exercising our freedom move about freely.

[truthskr17]

I just feel bad for the regular folks and others such as small business owners that might be the victims of violence or property damage. Of course, the 2nd Amendment is not valid in COOK county, IL so these folks are at the mercy of others. We need to take back the Democratic Party and return it to the values of those like Truman and JFK--boot the Marxists and Socialists!!

[cyberneticcodfish]

Why are only the right-wing nutjob comments showing up on this thread?

Because CBS is a sellout.

[cattiej]

so are you by making a comment....
I wish I could have been there to protest but my age and health and the fact that I live almost 900 miles away prevented me from doing so. I wish all the protests will continue to protest because we ARE billions of dollars in debt here in our country and that nasty Karzi sits here on with the President on our soil and probably is agreeing to take more money from our country funds. I will not vote for Obama, he promised to end the war if he became President, he wrote me a letter saying so, he lied, thousands have died Shame on him...and shame on our countrymen and especially the politicans we elected to protect us and our country..We have made enemies around the world with continueing the war, many countries are probably laughing at us behind our backs..people say these "hero's" are protecting us, no they are not,,they are making more enemies for we true Americans. Just like the protestors during the Vietnam era, many of these protesters are former military personnel...they know the truth...I would like to see CBS interview some of the people wh have been at war in Afghanastan and Iraq..meanwhile, Aftghanastan, a country that bankrupt Russia, continues to send their foul illegal drugs to our stupid Americans who are so weak minded that they take them and many end up dead...do they ever wonder why the drug dealers make drugs so easy for them to buy...probably because maybe many of the drug dealers want more Americans to die..this is a convinent way, and the druggies, pay for the privilage to die by their own hand....what a mess our country is in...Bush lied, thousands have died, Obama lied and more thousands have died...his kids live in the White House and are protected..who is protecting the millions of children in Iraq, Afghanastan and Pakistan..I think the war will continue, perhaps the "draft" will be brought because I think young men and women will get the message that this war may cost them their lives or their limbs..again, what a mess, God Help Us All..

[hesrperus99]

Slanted, misquoted, biased and short-shrift. Just what we've come to expect from a once respected news source. But don't worry, CBS doesn't matter anymore.

[kaylag04]

Those darned tea-partiers and their un-civil public discourse! Hey, wait a second!

[BRIANSD]

How laughable, there is no threat, a total waste of time and resources. Some cop is going to lose it and beat the hell out of one of these "protesters". The protester that gets his ass kicked will have it coming. I am still trying to figure out what people are protesting about, not much talk about that.

[iamproteus]

They don't know either!

[cyberneticcodfish]

If you don't understand why they are protesting, either you are a complete idiot, or you are paid to say such moronic things.

Which is it?

Only someone with their head completely submerged in the sand could not know why they are protesting. Or someone so deluded and brainwashed that they don't want to understand.

You're a fool and I'm ashamed you're American.

When one American's rights are suppressed, ALL American's are diminished. If you cannot stand up for those you disagree with, just on the principle of their Constitutionally guaranteed rights, then you must not have any principles to speak of.