Politics

Chicago Beginning to Look More Like Fort Knox Leading up to NATO Summit

View more videos at: http://nbcchicago.com.

Earlier in the week, The Blaze reported on how the upcoming NATO Summit in Chicago, along with the myriad protests that are mounting against it, is impacting local businesses. From Secret Service mandating certain institutions within close proximity to the summit close outright, to possible drone-sightings in the gray skies above the Windy City suburbs, security measures are ramping up.

To this end, the sidewalks surrounding historic McCormick Place, where official summit business is slated to take place, is beginning to look more like Fort Knox as work crews have begun furiously assembling anti-scale fences (also mandated by Secret Service) around the perimeter. NBC Chicago reports that palettes of fencing also turned up near Grant Park.

Now, some of the city’s most visually pleasing landmarks are ensconced in metal or plywood. It is difficult to imagine how this, combined with the fact that a number of business are closing down, boarded-up, or simply operating in “contingency mode,” reinforces Mayor Rahm Enamel’s vow that the “city would remain open for business” during the Summit.

“Just as I was riding my bike up here, I was like, ‘Here we go. Here come the fences,’” South Loop resident Geomele Moya told NBC. “It makes me feel secure. It makes me feel the city has a plan. And I’m not intimidated by it (the fencing). I feel it’s a real exciting event for the city and they have a good idea of how to make sure things go smoothly.”

Even salon owners do not feel safe from potential vandalism.

A company that provides plywood, BB Board Up, told the network that they have been “busy” all week boarding up clients’ brick and mortar business all around the downtown area.

Aniko Salon and Spa in Chicago’s South Loop business district is one of those businesses.

“We chose to shut down in the best interest of the safety of our guest and employees,” said owner Sally Fernandez. “Maybe nothing will happen, and that would be terrific, but we just wanted to be cautious.”

J.C. Restoration Inc. has also reportedly signed contracts with roughly 40 downtown buildings to board up windows that might prove tempting for protesters to smash.

“The commercial real estate community downtown is definitely fearful of what could happen” client advocate Mike Collins said in the interview.

NBC also reports that across the city, the presence of military and law enforcement can be felt. Thus far, three Air Force helicopters were spotted hovering the Chicago skies on Wednesday, while the U.S. Coast Guard are patrolling the lake to help secure the waters near McCormick Place.

Comments (30)

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  • AZhunter
    Posted on May 18, 2012 at 9:30am

    I do need to ask. Why doesn’t Obumma have all the guards carrying stop signs instead of guns? Libs want all guns outlawed right? Lead by example.
    Anyone remember the story a while back of the illegal border crossed that told Border patrol he was a terrorist headed to Chicago and was ordered released by the DOJ? Can you say false flag attack?

    Report Post »  
  • christopher.duncan2388
    Posted on May 18, 2012 at 8:50am

    So glad I live in Texas and don’t have to worry about this ****

    Report Post » christopher.duncan2388  
  • lukerw
    Posted on May 18, 2012 at 7:33am

    The… Easy; Simple; Permanent… Solution is usually the Best Choice!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • BeingThere
    Posted on May 17, 2012 at 10:29pm

    You mean they removed all the gold from Chicago???

    Report Post » BeingThere  
  • Blazen420
    Posted on May 17, 2012 at 10:29pm

    Chicago has never looked inviting to me.

    Report Post »  
  • patricius
    Posted on May 17, 2012 at 9:27pm

    “Beginning to Looking …” Oy.

    Report Post » patricius  
  • FromSeaToSea
    Posted on May 17, 2012 at 7:27pm

    DHS and NATO want US Citizens engrained with the overwelming brass knuckle force of the new police state. We are suppose to go Whoa. The plan is for You to become a citizen on the UN and all US heritage to be destroyed.

    “It is the sacred principles enshrined in THE UNITED NATIONS CHARTER TO WHICH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL HENCEFORTH PLEDGE THEIR ALLEGIANCE,” said President George Bush, Sr. addressing the General Assembly of the United Nations, February 1, 1992 President George Bush, Sr

    “Communism and Zionism are Rothschild proxies: two pincers in the bankers’ plan for world government dictatorship, currently masquerading as globalism.” Dr. Henry Makow, “The Cult That Hijacked the World” (p.104)

    Don’t forget we the Constitutional citizens of the US have 200 million guns and growing.

    We also have the only legitimate authority. The Constitution on the US. Many of the so called laws are illegal Washington enacts.

    “This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun registration! Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future!” Adolf Hitler

    “It is the DUTY of the Patriot to protect his country from ITS government.” Thomas Payne

    “THE STRONGEST REASON for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, TO PROTECT AGAINST TYRANNY in government” . Thomas Jefferson:

    Strap on a Pea

    Report Post »  
  • FromSeaToSea
    Posted on May 17, 2012 at 7:11pm

    Rahm, Israeli, as mayor. Bernstein owns Sears Tower. I thought maybe we would see a false flag so Obummer could FEMA everyone on this blog.

    Report Post »  
  • vox_populi
    Posted on May 17, 2012 at 6:56pm

    We created NATO to face down the Soviet Union. The existential threat has been gone for twenty years. Time for Europe to pay for its own military forces, time for the United States to give up imperial dreams.

    Report Post » vox_populi  
  • jackact
    Posted on May 17, 2012 at 6:44pm

    As Americans begin to understand the utter brutality of Chicago politics and glimpse its sickening manifestation in the man-boy president, an engaged voter is born.

    Report Post »  
  • NHwinter
    Posted on May 17, 2012 at 6:26pm

    Is this what America has come to? OWS is so violent that they need all this protection against OWS? Just like the Tea Party, right!!! Evil is good, and good is evil. This meeting is a bunch of elite, arrogant snobs that think they know what is best. Yes, put them in the desert at one of the FEMA camps and leave them there. They are not worth the money that is being spent to protect them. Drones? Hitler would have loved Drones.

    Report Post » NHwinter  
  • moussiagilda
    Posted on May 17, 2012 at 5:14pm

    Your little obvious messing-arounds with my words. Tsk, tsk, tsk. It makes me complain, in divine ravishment.

    Report Post »  
  • moussiagilda
    Posted on May 17, 2012 at 5:13pm

    This is odd, or not, but I think my more liberal-sounding comments are the ones that automatically get posted. Post what I wrote.

    Report Post »  
  • moussiagilda
    Posted on May 17, 2012 at 5:03pm

    Post what I wrote, chowder-breath.

    Report Post »  
  • moussiagilda
    Posted on May 17, 2012 at 5:02pm

    No, it is looking like Chicago. It has always looked like Chicago. Beautiful and fascinating. Have you figured out yet that being an unsuccessful and ridiculous propagandist is a silly career? Who really wants you to be that?

    figured out yet that being an atten

    Report Post »  
  • FromSeaToSea
    Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:54pm

    NATO is vile. Killers attacking foreign sovereign nations like Libya. Congress is silent. Fire them all.

    NATO is an arm of the UN. The UN is an arm of the banking cartel out of London – Rothschild backed. Rothschilds are part owners in the Federal Reserve Bank of the US.

    Do Your Own Research.

    Report Post »  
    • SaintzOfAk
      Posted on May 17, 2012 at 6:08pm

      They’ll be the same ones when the time comes, to enforce UN law when our sovereignty is finally destroyed…which by the way is coming very very soon.

      Report Post » SaintzOfAk  
  • Akridgerunner
    Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:49pm

    I don’t get it. Just don’t get it. They should have it out in the desert somewhere…. like in a nice new FEMA camp maybe! Perfect use for them.

    Report Post »  
  • flsnipe
    Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:44pm

    Let them riot eventually the good people of our great nation will stop eating shxt from these people and start .fighting back.

    Report Post » flsnipe  
  • FromSeaToSea
    Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:41pm

    NATO is a killing machine.

    500,000 children between 2001 and 2006 in Iraq. UN response is “it was woth the price of all the dead.”

    NATO will in time be turned against the American people to take oru freedom and arms.

    Secracy is their biggest weapon. Guns are ours……….200 million.

    “There will be a new global government.” David de Rothschild, World Banker, Partial Owner of Federal Reserve Bank of the US, Nov. 7, 2008

    Report Post »  
  • FromSeaToSea
    Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:40pm

    NATO is a killing machine.

    500,000 children between 2001 and 2006 in Iraq. UN response is “it was woth the price of all the dead.”

    NATO will in time be turned against the American people to take oru freedom and arms.

    Secracy is their biggest weapon. Guns are ours……….200 million.

    “There will be a new global government.” David de Rothschild, World Banker, Partial Owner of Federal Reserve Bank of the US, Nov. 7, 2008

    “If we like it or not, we will have a One World Government. The question is if it will be achieved through consent or through conquest”
    - J. Warburg – (Rothschild banker)

    Report Post »  
  • Individualism
    Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:28pm

    peaceful protestors that get attacked by evil pigs probably.

    Report Post » Individualism  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:21pm

    So Fortress Chicago is shutting up tight for the sake of the coming storm; anyone want to bet that Obama is salvatating at the pending chaos he wants to unleash?

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • momrules
    Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:13pm

    I think this is by far the most rediculous bunch of bull I have ever heard of. If it is so dangerous to have this meeting in a city, so dangerous that the public is being subjected to this military lock down of their city then cancel the damn meeting or have it at a military installation.

    This country has let the terrorists, whether American or foriegn, dictate our lives too long and the authorities are loving it.

    If the protesters get violent arrest them or kill them but stop putting the law abiding people in this country through hell to protect a few well fed, useless bureaucrats.

    Report Post »  
    • megarobryder
      Posted on May 18, 2012 at 1:29am

      I totally agree !! What a bunch of BS. They are Grand Standing….I hope it blows up in their face.

      Report Post »  
  • nobull14
    Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:08pm

    Its going to look like throwing the suitcase in the Gorilla cage ? when the summit go into high gear.

    Report Post »  
  • MittensKittens
    Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:07pm

    So let me get this straight, you’re afraid of uprisings, and yet you jack-asses voted this piece of sh-it into office…Now that’s ironic.

    Report Post » MittensKittens  
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