Hundreds of police officers show up for canceled protest (Chicago)

[struggle4progress]

October 28, 2006 - ...

It's a mix up that will cost tax payers tens of thousands of dollars. The anti-war demonstration at Washington Square was supposed to start at noon and the Chicago Police Department was ready. But the protesters were a no show, and police say it was a big waste of time and money.

They waited patiently on foot, on bike and in the streets. Hundreds of Chicago police officers were ready to make sure Saturday's anti-war demonstration stayed peaceful. Their job was easier than expected -- because no one showed up ...

The organizer of the protest, John Beacham, says his group instead decided to pass out anti-war flyers throughout neighborhoods. He says the mix up is the city's fault ...

"The city is usually spying on us and watching us carefully, so we just figured they understood there wasn't a demonstration today," said Beecham ...

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=47058...

[Monkeyman]

1. Only 50 people showed up

John did not get the message out

[XNASA]

2. Everyone I know calls that park 'Bughouse Square'.

Not Washington Square.

No wonder the confusion.

[Monkeyman]

4. yep lol watch the news cops look bored

[barb162]

16. Yeah but if someone had to look at a map to find it

better call it Washington Square. Or they should have written an intersection for the suburbanites. Oh well

[Bozita]

3. Chicops in their Michelin-man riot gear NEVER miss an anti-war protest

Must be another one of those dratted intelligence goofs.

[saigon68]

28. Michelin-man riot

LOL

[Dora]

5. Fascinating, and bravo.

Something civilly disobedient in that, I think.

Apparently, if we apply for a permit to protest, we're obligated to fulfill that protest by putting ourselves under their armed watch.

Yeah, I'd like to skip that action too. Putting all the cops in one place while engaging in a scathingly polite action by canvassing elsewhere is a stroke of genius.

I want in on that.

[Ian David]

35. So, you send one or two people to be the sacrificial protesters.

That way, someone has shown-up.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

6. I have to ask this question.

Why are they soooo afraid of peace?

[razors edge]

7. I love it

sounds like a good way to get them where it hurts, the pocketbook that protects the status quo, and make them look like fools, and get publicity of the spying all at once.

And nobody gets shot.

[Robbien]

8. There was never a call for a protest march this weekend

I just double checked the internets and didn't see a call to protest in Chicago.

This had to be a mixup on the Police side. Usually when there is a march there is a big buzz around the net and in real life. There was no buzz.

It is a sad world when a no-show protest gets more network news time than an actual protest does.

[Hardrada]

9. LOL!

Yes, show up somewhere else!

[tblue]

10. Bwaaa-hahahahahaha! They oughta try cleaning up their own backyard first.

2 Chicago police officers charged in narcotics case
http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/news/state/158...

[saigon68]

32. They are 'LIBERTY OFFICERS

[Pastiche423]

11. lol!

I wanna see photos!

[NVMojo]

12. Bush's jackbooted thugs fucked up

[alcibiades_mystery]

13. Oh stop it

These were regular Chicago cops looking for some overtime.

Jackbooted thugs. Please. And I've had my ass kicked by cops at protests, and I still know it's not like that.

[reichstag911]

15. Apparently,...

...you've never had the pleasure of dealing with "regular Chicago cops," who are, for the most part, "jackbooted thugs." And their overtime is at the expense of our free speech and our tax dollars.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

27. I was there three years ago when the thousands of police were nuts.

cameras knocked out of people's hands, people herded like cattle and not permitted to leave, false arrests, threats and NOT ONE CHARGE THAT STUCK.
Just walking through down town was scary. Every single corner had a dozen heavily armed, blackbooted thugs, in full body armor, looking like robocop. They were not there to preserve this order, they were there to create disorder (Sorry, RIchard J)

and YES, they were jackbooted thugs.

[saigon68]

29. They are "Bear Fans too"

P.S.

"The Bears still Suck"

[ChairmanAgnostic]

33. & urlacher is the most over-rated player on the field

[saigon68]

39. LOL

They (Da Bears) won again today

[alcibiades_mystery]

14. This is a brilliant action

Hold a protest, get them out in force, and never show up!

Fucking hilarious.

[fooj]

17. This is hysterical! Way to go, protesters...

Who looks like the assholes NOW? BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

[Temporary1]

18. I know a bit about the monitoring personally

my sister works for DHS and I know a few of the guys who do that kind of stuff. I would find it hilarious if that happened here in atlanta.

One time they were running a simulation and they had the counterterror team looking for supects in the terror team although there wasn't one; kind of a practical joke on DHS's part...

[Kali]

19. fucking BRILLIANT

I love it.

[goforit]

38. here here!!!

[Blue_Tires]

20. what else do you expect from the police department that

sent 15,000 men to apprehend the Blues Brothers??


EDIT: now that i think about this story, the part about the nazis showing up a Wrigley comes to mind

[NuttyFluffers]

22. utter genius. could have great potential in the future.

file for protest permit, mess up schedules, mess up locations, show up at an unscheduled place, an unscheduled time, give the cops some easy overtime (we'll call it "bribery" -- and the cops can owe the protestors later! ), keep the media on their toes or just laughably out of the loop... lots of potential.

[Jed Dilligan]

30. My thoughts exactly

10 cities on the same day would be nice!

[TygrBright]

23. bwahahahahahahahahahah!!! I LOVE creative subversion...

...this is CRUNCHY!

Beyond snaps, Chicago peace activists-- a whole castanet orchestra fer you!

appreciatively,
Bright

[Fredda Weinberg]

21. It only makes it harder

From the facts in the article, this was an irresponsible act that diminishes our respectibility. Fortunately, the public has already turned against the war.

[Occulus]

31. You've GOT to be kidding. n/t

[PATRICK]

24. Incite a riot

leave a single box of Krispy Cremes in the middle of the street.

[Jose Diablo]

25. Don't forget the coffee

Donuts and coffee, it's Captain Crunch for the cops.

[Vinca]

26. What if they gave a war and nobody came? nt

[Ian David]

34. Oh, that's just harsh. They did it accidentally on purpose.

"The city is usually spying on us and watching us carefully, so we just figured they understood there wasn't a demonstration today," said Beecham ...

Oh, wicked, wicked Beecham. Oh, he is a naughty person, and he must pay the penalty, and here in Chicago, we have but one punishment for not telling the cops you've canceled a protest. You must tie him down on a bed and spank him.

[PATRICK]

41. Did they give 24 hours notice? if not

can the organizations be billed for city employee overtime and truncheon waxing?

[PaganPreacher]

36. So, nobody showed up for his protest/party. Beecham gonna pay!

Beecham applied for the permit, paid the fee, and nobody showed up. Now he is trying to turn a turd into a Twinkie; "Well, we changed our plans months ago, and never intended to protest at all. The police should have known that, since we are monitored so closely".

I guess he is not monitored so closely after all. Looks like he is not as important as he thinks he is! Then again, who of us is?

The City of Chicago will certainly go after the responsible party to recoup the expenses (police overtime, etc.). Beecham's sig is on the application. He had better have deep pockets!



The Pagan Preacher
I don't turn the other cheek.

[Gabi Hayes]

37. who you going to believe, preacher?

"We never got a permit from the city," said John Beacham, Illinois Anti-War Coalition.

The police showed us what they say is the permit -- approved months ago -- with John Beacham's name right at the top.

"I know nothing about that. We applied for a permit and there was never any confirmation of the permit from the city and a long time ago we decided not to have a demonstration," said Beacham.

[PaganPreacher]

40. Why, I'm going to believe Beecham!

"We applied for a permit".

He admits the only part that can be confirmed by evidence- the signed permit. His confirmation is the receipt for his permit fee, unless the dog ate it.

Lookin' for that lawsuit from the city. A fool and his money are soon parted, ya know.




The Pagan Preacher
I don't turn the other cheek.

[Ian David]

42. What if he sent a couple "designated protesters" to the site?

"Hey, it's not true that nobody showed-up. We had at least two people."

[lonestarnot]

44. LOL

The got all that blood thirst worked up for nothing. Tisk tisk. No beat'ns, what a shame.

[PaganPreacher]

46. I think two protesters would have felt like Custer at Little Big Horn!

{Protesters looking around nervously}

"Ummm..... I think they've got us surrounded!"


The Pagan Preacher
I don't turn the other cheek.

[lonestarnot]

43. heh heh heh... missed the riot did they?

[Matariki]

45. UGH - that talking pop-up was annoying

too annoying to actually read the article in fact.

[MetaTrope]

47. Gotta love Daley's Machine...makes the Bush admin look like the Green Party