Rahm Emanuel's office announced via press release today that the City of Chicago issued the first permit for a group to protest the NATO and G8 summits, each scheduled to run May 19th-21st. The city lists the approved group as "The Coalition Against the NATO/G8 & Poverty Agenda." The coalition plans a parade from Daley Plaza to roughly McCormick Place, where the summits will take place, May 19. A permit for a May 19 rally at Daley plaza, also submitted by the group, is pending approval. Also pending: A May 19 Daley plaza rally, organized by National Nurses United.

As PI has reported, both Chicago activists and the mayor's office are diligently preparing for the three-day summit. The press release stressed that the summits are a "National Security Special Event" as designated by the federal Department of Homeland Security.