Eight protesters were arrested outsidethe Obama campaign headquarters in the U.S. metropolis of Chicagoon Monday, as a full week of demonstrations begins in preparationfor the upcoming NATO summit this weekend. After a morning rally outside the office building housing the Obamacampaign headquarters, dozens of protesters rushed inside the lobbyand disregarded security guards' calls to leave the premises. The demonstration was organized by Catholic Worker Movement, one ofthe many groups that have planned a series of events to protest theChicago NATO summit that will take place on May 20-21. "We are here today to boldly proclaim our desire to live in a worldwhere we say no to NATO and yes to community," said Catholic WorkerMovement participant Chantal de Alacuaz. Chicago police soon arrived at the scene and arrested a total ofeight protesters, who were handcuffed and taken to squad cars astheir fellow demonstrators cheered in support. Police say thosearrested will likely be charged with criminal trespassing. Other organizations that plan NATO protests this week includeOccupy Chicago, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Coalition AgainstNATO/G8 War & Poverty Agenda (CANG8), Chicago Teachers Union,National Nurses United, the People's Summit, and Network for a NATOFree Future. Occupy Chicago, a branch of the larger Occupy Wall Street movement,has been particularly critical of NATO, calling it the " armed wingof the global one percent" and pledging a Week of Action to counterthe upcoming summit. "We seek to show how NATO policies trickle down to hurt people inevery community in Chicago," Occupy Chicago participant JackieSpreadbury said about the reasons behind such demonstrations. "Instead of funding death and destruction on the other side of theglobe, our tax dollars should support services in our community.Our actions will raise to the international stage local battlesaround housing, education, and healthcare," Spreadbury told Xinhua. Other protest groups similarly find fault with NATO's engagement inhigh-cost military conflict, especially when they argue people inlocal communities are facing significant issues of poverty andinequality. Every day this week those groups have scheduled protests, and whileparticipants pledge to remain nonviolent, they do not rule out morearrests. Protesters say the largest demonstration will be the CANG8 March onSunday, which they believe will draw more than 3,000 people.Members of Iraq Veterans Against the War plan to return theirmedals earned in Afghanistan to generals assembled at the NATOsummit, and thousands of their fellow protesters will accompanythem on the three-mile march. The City of Chicago has taken great steps to prepare for the NATOprotests, which have customarily been held at every NATO summit. Chicago police have undergone intense security training for boththe summit and its protests, while some Chicago businesses haveencouraged employees to either work from home or trade their suitsfor casual clothes, so as to blend in and not become targets ofprotesters who could potentially turn violent. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Aluminum Foil Bags Manufacturer , Padded Mailing Envelopes Manufacturer for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Bubble Wraps.
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