Chicago Police Department outfitted 1,200 cops in new riot gear ($180) to "protect the freedom of speech" of about 1,000 anti TABD protesters in Chicago on November 7, 2002. I have been to protests both in the US and in Argentina and I have never felt so threatened by the police presence. Once you joined the protest you could not leave without being arrested. It was a peaceful, non-voilent protest. But I believe credit goes to the organizers and participants--not the police.
