Nov 9

Nov 9 Canceling Biden

Chicago, Demonstrations, Protest, Public Declarations

For the last several days, the local newspapers have carried articles indicating that President Joe Biden would be in Belvidere, Illinois today, speaking at an event celebrating the UAW’s victory following a six-week strike. Toward the end of these articles, the papers also mentioned a private fundraiser in Chicago, but the articles never revealed the location.

No surprisingly, the Chicago Coalition for Justice in Palestine (CJP) announced a demonstration at Ida B. Wells Drive and Michigan Avenue, but advised followers of its Facebook page to check back because the location might change. When I left for the demonstration, the Facebook page had not been updated, so I headed to the announced location. Arriving shortly after 3:00 PM, I saw a dozen or so demonstrators wandering aimlessly around the plaza, and a cadre of CPD officers standing at an overlook.

I had a brief discussion with 18th District Commander Jon Hein, who informed me that the demonstration had been moved to 401 North Armour—an intersection in West Town located two blocks south of Grand Avenue and a block of east of Ashland. The surrounding area hosts light manufacturing and warehouse space in low-rise buildings, together with two- and three-story apartment buildings and townhouses.

When I arrived at the newly designated site, the intersection was packed, with more people still streaming in from three directions. I was told that the fundraiser was a block or two south of the Armour intersection. The telltale sign was the police line blocking access to the south of the intersection. I did not see riot police—most likely they were staging at nearby location not visible to the crowd—but there were dozens of uniformed police officers manning the line. For the next hour, people toward the front led the crowd in the now familiar chants, with more chants than usual referencing the President.

As I left the demonstration 45 minutes later, I passed a news camera man posted in back of the pack. I leaned over, saying “One thing is for sure, the visuals were lousy today.” He quickly responded, “You’re right about that.” In addition to shooting directly into the sun, I could not find an elevated position, so I never saw those leading the chants despite managing to move fairly far forward toward the front of the crowd. There was no way to photograph people’s faces because no one was allowed behind the police line (with the exception of national media, and they were not visible from my vantage point).

In total, the crowd numbered somewhere between 500 and 800 people. People came and went. When I left, I saw a large group congregating outside a corner gas station at the corner of Ashland and Grand.

As someone who believes former President Donald Trump must be denied a second term if we are to preserve our democracy, I was deeply troubled by the irrationality on display. My concern has nothing to do with the merits of their positions pertaining to cease fires, Gaza, or the return of annexed lands.

Many of these people claim that they will not vote for Biden; their refusal rooted in a twisted ideological purity and single-issue politics. Purity could prove very costly.

Biden is operating in a nuanced world; one with many cross currents and constraints. After 75 years of U.S. support for Israel, Biden is not going to abandon the Israelis. No president, be they Republican or Democrat would do so. Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may be wrong and heavy-handed in how he is approaching Hamas, particularly when it comes to civilians and humanitarian aid, Israel does serve U.S. interests in the Middle East—a bulwark against Iran, for example, and a beacon for democracy, although lately, a dimming one. Additionally, a significant number of the American people support Israel, so Biden must take into account their views when shaping policy.

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has done a good job holding the Israelis’ feet to the fire. He traveled to the West Bank to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and then met with other Arab leaders in the region. He continues to push the two-state solution; he has been involved in sensitive negotiations to gain the release of the Israeli hostages; and he has pressured the Israelis on humanitarian issues. Both Biden and Blinken were unexpectedly dealt a very bad hand, with no easy solutions.

Do people who were in the street today think they are going to get a better deal during a second Trump term? Isn’t he the one who controversially moved the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, signaling that the Israeli government should singularly govern Jerusalem, the site of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of Holy Sepulchre? Do they remember that during the first Trump term the Israelis expanded the settlements in the West Bank? Do they remember that the Israeli blockade of Gaza continued unabated during his term? Most importantly, do they remember the transactional, what’s in it for me, approach to policy adopted by him and his stooges? The $2 billion dollars that the Saudi’s handed over to Jared Kushner shortly after Trump left office?

For his second term, Trump has already resurrected a proposal to ban people living in certain Muslim countries from immigrating or traveling to the United States, including refugees from Gaza. He has also said he would send immigration agents to “pro-jihadist” demonstrations in the U.S. to deport non-citizens. While Trump initially referred to Hezbollah as being “very smart,” he has since indicated his strong support for Israel, while calling for a harsh response to Hamas. Would Trump make any effort to restrain the Israeli Defense Forces, or would he give Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the green light to indiscriminately bomb Gaza, and widen the war to the north?

As for the college students in the crowd—and there were many—do they think a President Trump will be pushing legislation to improve access to the polls, or to cancel student loans? Are they ready for military intervention at their next demonstration, with a President Trump justifying such intervention through reliance on the Insurrection Act? Do students think a President Trump will support expanded abortion or Gay rights, or better conditions for laborers, or a higher minimum wage? Are they ready for a President Trump to ramp up domestic fossil fuel production, or to severely curb EPA enforcement activity?

I could go on and on. In short, anyone who disagrees with the Biden Administration’s policy regarding the Israeli-Hamas conflict had every right to be in the street today voicing their dissatisfaction? But I hope those who were loud today consider the larger implications of their threat to not vote in 2024, or to vote for Donald Trump or a third-party candidate.

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