Testimony starts on Chicago summit protest permits

Delegations for dozens of world leaders visiting Chicago for the NATO Summit will test city resources, a local transportation official testified Tuesday during a hearing on an appeal from protesters seeking a permit to march during the event.

“Fifty heads of state is a significant traffic challenge to the city of Chicago,” Chicago Department of Transportation Assistant Commissioner Michael Simon said.

Activists are appealing a city denial of their request to hold a march during the NATO Summit. Organizers have promised to file a lawsuit if the city rules against them. Activists had been granted a parade permit for Saturday, May 19, to coincide with the G-8 Summit, a meeting of world leaders that is smaller than NATO and routinely attracts huge protests.

But they want to change the date because the G-8 has been moved from Chicago to the Camp David presidential retreat near Washington. NATO is scheduled May 20-21 in Chicago.

Chicago officials say there won’t be enough officers to watch a large march along the requested route on May 20. The protesters have refused to agree to an alternate route suggested by city officials.

Activist Andy Thayer said at a news conference before the hearing that protesters are going through the system to give the city “a chance to do the right thing.” A permit is important to give protesters “safety to exercise their freedoms,” Thayer said.

But he said protesters will be in the streets May 20 with or without a permit.