The NATO summit will be in Chicago later this month, and protests are expected to come with it. According to Crain’s Chicago Business, some office workers in downtown Chicago are being told to dress down on those days, so as not to attract unwanted attention.
An email sent by one tenant of 1 E. Wacker Drive to its employees urges people to “look like a protester” and to leave the suits in the closet, Crain’s reports. The suggestion apparently came from the company that manages the building, CBRE Inc.
At 1 S. Wacker Drive, meanwhile, tenants are being urged to “dress down” and avoid carrying or wearing items with company logos on them.
“Some of the tenants have discussed it,” Mark Anderson, director of security for Jones Lang LaSalle Inc., which manages 1 S. Wacker Drive, told Crain’s. Anderson, though, said clothes are not a point of emphasis from a security standpoint. “It really comes down to their comfort level. There’s no data out there to substantiate somebody being targeted or hassled because of their affiliation with their firm or their occupation.”
Also in anticipation of the demonstrations, Chicago-based BMO Harris Bank will close three of its downtown branches on May 18 and 21.
“The branches we are planning to temporarily close are located in areas where demonstrations could take place, so we wanted to help ensure the safety of our employees, customers and assets,” a spokesman told Crain’s. “We have several other branches in the immediate downtown area that will be open during this time.
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Eric Lach
Eric Lach is a reporter for TPM. From 2010 to 2011, he was a news writer in charge of the website’s front page. He has previously written for The Daily, NewYorker.com, GlobalPost and other publications. He can be reached at ericl(at)talkingpointsmemo.com
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