Chicago 2012 G8 & NATO Summits

It was recently announced that former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will lead the way as the Chicago G8/NATO Host Committee begin to prepare for the complex layer of events that will unfold here in just 3 months. City officials then downplayed local news and blog coverage about possible chaos in the streets during the events, calling the coverage unproductive.

President Obama and the mayor are in an excellent position to promote Chicago to the world; after all, the summits are the most significant international event to be held here since the World’s Fair of 1893. Government officials remain positive about their opportunity to host leaders from all over the planet and thus show off an impressive, major US city with little past international notoriety.

But discussion among local business owners, beat cops, and everyday citizens show that most aren’t interested in promoting the city to the world. And most are worried about domestic and international terrorism, extreme civil unrest, and crime waves in the neighborhoods during the event window as the police will likely be otherwise occupied.

Nevertheless, the summits are being held here and are almost upon us. The decision of the mayor and the president to thrust Chicago into the international limelight is bold, perhaps crucial to secure our city’s financial future, and risky all at the same time.

Recently on local news in Chicago a Fraternal Order of Police spokesman asked the question, “Why in the world are we doing this?” He was speaking about the G8 and NATO Summits to be held in May, and the question may be one without a good answer.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel says Chicago will be showcased to the world. And of course, it’s the President’s hometown, not to mention a vibrant urban center with excellent transportation and infrastructure.

The G8 gets a new host country among its members annually, and this year it’s the USA. President Obama has selected Chicago as the venue, some say at the urging of the Mayor.

Because of widespread protest and violence at some past Summits, many host countries have held the events in more quiet and remote locations. This indeed has had a chilling effect on the number of protestors and thus the size of rallies and encampments.

But Chicago is a large city with two major airports and thousands of daily flights. It is centrally located in the USA, and is also close to Toronto, a major Canadian city that could provide another point of entry for international travelers interested in protest activism. The weather in May is pleasant, and the joint meeting of NATO creates a rare two-for-one affair for both media and protesters alike.

The potential for civil unrest, widespread property damage, and even international terrorism is perhaps greater than anything comparable in recent times. And it will all unfold in a major US urban center, the third largest US city.

The dates are official!  The G8 Summit will be May 19-20 and the NATO Summit will be May 20-21, 2012.  This is the first time in more than 30 years that the events will coincide.  At least 4,000 dignitaries and journalists will come to Chicago for the spectacle, along with the many anticipated protesters.  

We suggest planning for travel disruption and taking safety and security precautions about 3 days before the Summits, and about 2 days after.  So, mark you calendars for the key days of May 16-23.

 Three articles appeared in the Chicago Tribune today regarding the G8 and NATO Summits that are coming to Chicago in May of 2012.  Several newscasts on local channels also made mention of the Summits recently, including news that Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants to double the maximum fine for resisting police to $1,000. 

Columnists John Kass and Phil Rosenthal both dedicated their Sunday columns to the events, neither sounding particularly cheery about the events and what may happen as they unfold. 

Rosenthal made comparison to the 1968 Democratic National Convention held in Chicago, where there was widespread violence and where harsh police tactics bruised the city’s reputation for years.  His column called the Summits a “roll of the dice” for Chicago.

John Kass concentrated on the Mayor’s recent move to suspend spending oversight and to consolidate his governmental powers in order to move nimbly during periods of civil unrest.  Kass lamented that most leaders are reluctant to cede powers once attained, although Mayor Emanuel calls these moves important only to the upcoming Summits, and therefore temporary in nature.

One source quoted in one of the columns said that for the average person, the Summits will represent massive disruption.

–as compiled from NPR and other sources

Chicago Police have called the Occupy Chicago demonstrations a dry run. That’s because police are preparing for some big events next spring that come with a lot of protesters. Chicago will be hosting the G8 and NATO summits.

It won’t be until May that some of the world’s most powerful military leaders and politicians arrive in Chicago to discuss Afghanistan war policy and economic global issues. Even so, members of Occupy Chicago and others have already begun protesting the summits, as they did recently during a rally at Chicago’s city hall.

It’s the first time since London in 1977 that the NATO and G8 summits will be held in the same city at the same time. Mayor Rahm Emanuel says it’s an opportunity for Chicago to showcase itself both culturally and economically.

The Secret Service, the FBI and FEMA are planning the events, but Gary Schenkel, the head of Chicago’s Emergency Management Communications team, says his office will coordinate the city’s fire, police and other departments.

Chicago does have its own reputation for conflict between police and protesters during political events. One of the more infamous examples occurred in 1968 during the Democratic National Convention and there were mass arrests during a protest of the Iraq War.

Police superintendent Garry McCarthy told a Chicago city council committee that the department is preparing for mass arrests during the summit, but he says police will treat protesters as they have during Occupy Chicago.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel says he can understand why people have this sense of angst about the economy, overall, but that he has a responsibility as mayor to ensure that their First Amendment rights are protected, and to make sure that the law is enforced.

Protest groups say they don’t know what the city is going to do about issuing permits, but they won’t be deterred in their efforts to march against NATO and G8, just as they will continue their Occupy Chicago rallies.