Anti-war protesters call Air and Water Show a promotional tool
Posted:
Updated:
CHICAGO (Sun-Times Media Wire) -
Anti-war protesters were among the large crowds of people gathered along the lakefront Saturday for the annual Air and Water Show, which they accused of being a promotional tool for the U.S. Army.
Holding demonstrations at North Avenue Beach, the protesters would drop to the ground and pretend to be dead every time a bullhorn sounded an explosion noise.
The point, said demonstrator Matthew McLoughlin, was to illustrate that the fighter jets performing aerial tricks for the millions of expected spectators this weekend are used as weapons by the military.
"Indisputably, the Air and Water Show is the biggest day for military recruiting all year in Chicago," McLoughlin said in a statement. "Our counter-recruiters will be there to say: the warcraft put on display today are precisely what we should be organizing against."
Protesters were also staging "die-ins," in which people dressed as drones would pretend to bomb demonstrators wearing targets on their backs.
As McLoughlin and his colleagues took part in their political theater, others watched the U.S. Navy Blue Angels zip through the air in their F/A-18 Hornets.
Friday, May 24 2013 11:00 PM EDT2013-05-25 03:00:57 GMT
An Evanston high school varsity baseball team will not play in the playoff tournament this weekend after a group of students, including team members, allegedly "sexted" risque photos to each other.
An Evanston high school varsity baseball team will not play in the playoff tournament this weekend after a group of students, including team members, allegedly "sexted" risque photos to each other.
Friday, May 24 2013 10:16 PM EDT2013-05-25 02:16:28 GMT
A Lake County jury has convicted James Ealy of strangling his former boss during a 2006 robbery at the north suburban Burger King restaurant where he once worked.
A Lake County jury has convicted James Ealy of strangling his former boss during a 2006 robbery at the north suburban Burger King restaurant where he once worked.
Friday, May 24 2013 5:40 PM EDT2013-05-24 21:40:48 GMT
Several military families were honored in Orland Park on Friday, and got to meet country music superstar Tim McGraw. Five of those families are from the Chicago area, and they were excited to meet him.
Several military families were honored in Orland Park on Friday, and got to meet country music superstar Tim McGraw. Five of those families are from the Chicago area, and they were excited to meet him.
205 N. Michigan Avenue Ground Floor Chicago, IL 60601 Station Operator: (312) 565-5532 Newsroom: (312)565-5533
