CHICAGO (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) – Chicago is only the second city in the United States to host a NATO summit.
The international meetings put a spotlight on global issues, but it was the scene outside of those meetings in Chicago where political protests clashed with police. Thousands of protesters filled the area around where the event is held.
The standoff lasted several hours, requiring hundreds of officers – many dressed in riot gear and gas masks. Some officers repeatedly hit protesters with batons while some of the protesters reportedly threw red paint and sticks at police. In all, about 45 protesters were arrested.
Meanwhile, authorities say three men traveling to Chicago had much bigger plans than just protesting outside the NATO summit.
The three men allegedly planned to use Molotov cocktails in an all-out attack on President Barack Obama's campaign headquarters, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's home, and other targets around the city.
One of the men, Jared Chase, is from Keene, N.H. His family says they can't understand his involvement. They believe he got involved in the wrong crowd and then took to the Occupy movement.
Authorities became suspicious of the men's plot after raiding an apartment in the city, allegedly producing evidence they could not ignore.
The NATO summit itself opened with a moment of silence, paying tribute to fallen soldiers around the world.
Afghanistan's future is topping the agenda of the two-day meeting which wraps up Monday.
Obama says NATO will remain in Afghanistan until 2014 despite France's plans to yank troops by year's end.
In his opening statement, President Obama stressed the importance of global cooperation.
Back here in Boston, about 25 people showed up in Copley Square Sunday night to protest the NATO summit.
The rally was organized by the Occupy Boston movement, but was a much calmer scene than in Chicago.
And regarding those three men arrested for allegedly planning out attacks in Chicago, which includes Keene native Jared Chase, they're being held on $1.5 million bail each.
Chicago officials are also investigating whether the city's official website, which went down for part of the day on Sunday, had been the target of a cyber attack.
More protests are expected as the meetings finish up Monday.