Occupy Protesters Arrive By the Busload

Buses are scheduled to arrive around 7 p.m.

More protesters from the Occupy movement will arrive in Chicago by bus from New York City, Washington D.C., Boston, Atlanta and Los Angeles ahead of this weekend's NATO Summit.

Buses are scheduled to arrive around 7 p.m. at the Occupy Convergence Center at a North Side church basement.

The first group of about 40 protesters, some wearing masks, arrived Wednesday evening to Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ from New York City and the Occupy Wall Street movement. The group said the NATO Summit is a way to spread their message.

An Occupy rep said they'll focus on people's access to education, housing and address homelessness. "We truly believe in it," she said.

Multiple protests are planned Thursday, including an Occupy rally focused on the environment.

Some protests are specifically anti-NATO, including Iraq War veterans planning to hand back the medals they received in the war to protest NATO and all the violence they say NATO causes.

Occupy protesters traveling cross-country for this weekend's summit starting Sunday at McCormick Place plan to leave Chicago at 9 p.m. Monday to return to their home cities.
 

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