Feb 24

Feb 24 Tenacity

Demonstrations, Public Declarations, Protest

“I would run and take all your hands
And I’d gather everyone together for a day
And when we gather’d
I’ll pass buttons out that say
Beautiful people
Then you’d never have to be alone
’Cause there’ll always be someone
With the same button on as you
Include him in everything you do”

— Beautiful People, Melanie (1969)

On March 6, 2022, the Russian invasion of Ukraine was not even a month old—at least the one that commenced on February 24, 2022. Chicago’s Ukrainian Community had shifted locations for their second rally from Ukrainian Village to Daley Plaza. It would be one of many demonstrations over the next 23 months in support of the Ukrainian homeland. What I remember from that day is the kids draped in blue and yellow slickers, holding Ukrainian flags while sliding down the slanted base of the famed Picasso statue. The greatest artist of the 20th Century must have had children in mind when he designed the statue.

Today, many of those same kids returned to Chicago’s downtown to commemorate the second anniversary of the war. Exactly how long is two years? Some of those cherubic-cheeked kids are now shaving (speaking somewhat figuratively).

Accompanying the kids were at least 1,500 adults. Together, they filled the plaza adjacent to the Wrigley Building to capacity. The organizers presumably chose the plaza for maximum visibility. With the Hamas-Israeli war raging, the organizers realized that they needed to up the community’s presence in the minds of Chicagoans.

On that measure alone, the rally was a smashing success. Cars crawled along Michigan Avenue, many drivers honking horns to show support. Pedestrians stopped dead in their tracks, pulling out smartphones to memorialize the festivities for their Instagram and TikTok pages. At least four television stations sent camera crews, recording video for the 10:00 PM news. Dozens of photographers were interspersed among the demonstrators.

I initially approached the late afternoon rally with trepidation. Let’s face it, the Ukrainians could easily rationalize despondency at this time, with the grim pallor that comes with it. The Republican Party has denied the Ukrainians critical funding; Donald Trump is preparing to sell them out to Vladimir Putin should Trump return to the Oval Office, which is increasingly looking likely; shells and mortars are in short supply; over 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since the start of the war; the Hamas-Israeli War has shifted the world’s attention 2,000 miles to the south; the Ukrainian city of Avdiivka fell to the Russians this past week, a defeat that is more psychological than strategic, but nevertheless distressing; the Ukrainian military is experiencing recruiting difficulties; Russian dissident Alexei Navalny had been executed; President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently replaced popular general Valery Zaluzhnyi; and there are plenty of voices demanding that Ukraine make territorial concessions in exchange for peace—ceding 16% of its landmass to Russia.

Despite all the bad news, Chicago’s Ukrainian Community was defiant and very much upbeat today. The rally bore all the hallmarks associated with previous demonstrations. The formal program began with the U.S. and Ukrainian National Anthems. People stood with hands over hearts, singing with patriotic fervor. Master of ceremonies, Ihor Diaczun, Vice President of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America—Illinois Division, gave a fiery opening speech, recounting all the wrongs that Mad Vlad had inflicted on the Ukrainian people over the last two years, but then proclaiming that Ukraine would ultimately prevail.

As defiant and upbeat as Diaczun was, he was outdone by of all people, one of the community’s religious leaders who spoke in his native tongue. Although I did not understand a single word, I knew that despite being a man of God, the reverend was angry, defiant, and unforgiving when it comes to Putin and the Russians who support him, or more accurately, prop him up. The reverend’s cadence and tone said it all.

But despite the reverend’s fiery delivery, both he and Diaczun were upstaged by this afternoon’s surprise guest, Mayor Lori Lightfoot. From February 24, 2022, throughout the remainder of her term, Lightfoot had been a staunch public advocate for Ukraine, showing up at many of the rallies and demonstrations. Despite a crushing defeat last year and the death of her 95-year-old mother last week, Lightfoot returned today, offering more support for the Ukrainian Community.

Although physically diminutive in stature, her aura cut like a knife through the crowd when I first saw her standing alone wearing a fashionable bowler hat and pea coat. When I walked over to her, I told her that I was impressed that she continued to show her support unlike the new mayor, who was once again noticeably absent. Upon arrival at O’Hare, visitors hear a pre-recorded public service announcement from Mayor Brandon Johnson, telling visitors to explore each of Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods. Apparently Mayor Johnson has only visited 76, skipping Ukrainian Village

Lightfoot certainly brought her ‘A’ game today, delivering what was the best speech I’ve ever heard her deliver. In implicitly acknowledging the recent bad news, Lightfoot struck a defiant tone, telling the audience that people are asking the wrong question,

What can Ukraine do after two years? The Russians are making progress. That’s the wrong question. In this moment, in every moment until Ukraine is free, the question is what will we do as a world to stand united with Ukraine against the aggression of the brutal dictator Putin? He must be held accountable for every drop of blood spilled on a battlefield. He must be held accountable for all the children kidnapped and taken to Russia. He must be held accountable for every solider; for every mother who has lost her son. We have to stand resolved, and we must demand of the people who say they represent us to do what the people want, which is to support and fund Ukraine in this moment of crisis.

We must not waver. If the United States doesn’t lead, we will fail just like Putin has planned. We must stand united. We must push our legislators to make sure that they fund Ukraine; provide the resources that are necessary to bring this war to resolution, with Putin on his knees before the war crimes tribunal. That is the only end that can be acceptable.

Lightfoot threw the carnivorous crowd the red meat that they hungered for. The day’s other speakers largely echoed the former mayor’s fiery remarks.

At one point while performing his duties, Diaczun listed the consuls general and other foreign dignitaries who were present today. The list was long, including representatives from Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Lithuania, Poland, and South Korea. It was if the United Nations had convened a special session in Chicago. The Republicans may not realize it, but the rest of the world knows that so goes Ukraine, so goes the world.

Not surprisingly, there were also songs and music, including a performance by a terrific female Ukrainian singer, three Ukrainian men who were big on harmonies, and a guitar player who I believe was referred to as Elvis. As good as the entertainment was, the leadership needs to bring back the Ukrainian ‘K-Pop’ singers who appeared at a rally last summer. Those kids were great.

I spent the first half of the formal program seated on the cold cement pavement taking it all in, but halfway through the program, I crawled and then stumbled my way out of what was the eye of the storm so that I could better observe the crowd.

I first headed to the Ghirardelli Cafe in the Wrigley building to capture images of the crowd as seen from the second floor windows. The cafe was jammed pack with Ukrainians. Was it the chocolate or the warmth that attracted them? I then headed over to Walgreens, located on the ground floor of the Wrigley Building’s north tower. It, too, was packed with Ukrainians.

Once my hands had thawed, I circulated among the demonstrators, eventually crossing to the other side of Michigan Avenue to capture an image of the people facing the street holding large letters spelling out “#FreeAZov.” The Ukrainians add visual interest to virtually every demonstration through the clever use of signage and street theater, much of it can be credited to Lillia Popovych, another community leader.

Going forward, I offer two suggestions to the organizers. First, cut the length of the program, particularly in cold weather. People on the edges of the crowd were milling about rather than listening intently. I understand the problem—lots of dignitaries and sponsors; each wanting to add their two-cents—but everyone should prepare his or her remarks, and then cut them in half.

Second, the Wrigley Building Plaza is perfect for smaller demonstrations—100 or fewer—but the size of today’s crowd taxed the plaza’s capacity. The organizers could have obtained the same degree of visibility had they held the demonstration across the street in the plaza separating the Tribune Tower from the Apple store. It is a much larger space (but maybe it wasn’t available).

Relatedly, the speakers and singers were positioned in the center of the Wrigley Building Plaza, but there were no stairs or risers, so most people couldn’t see them. In fact, when I was looking at the crowd out the Ghirardelli windows, I couldn’t see the small patch of concrete surrounding the speakers. To be truly effective, everyone should be able to see the speakers. A rally requires a clear focal point, otherwise those people who can only hear the program disengage.

Other than those two issues, the event was flawless. After having photographed more than a few pro-Palestinian marches in the streets of Chicago over the last several months, the Ukrainians once again reminded me that a march can be effective without shutting down city streets, causing great inconvenience to other people.

As usual, I loved the mass at Holy Name Cathedral. The hymns were great, and who doesn’t love the ceremonial garb worn by the officiants.

The Ukrainian Community also deserves credit for tempering its justifiable anger and sticking to its knitting. Unlike the Ukrainians, Chicago’s Palestinian Community’s anger is diffuse, scattering and ricocheting in all directions. Rather than focusing just on the Israelis, the pro-Palestinian demonstrators also direct their anger at capitalism, imperialism, U.S. society, the Democratic National Convention, and the Chicago Police Department. They demand free health care, cancellation of student debt, and affordable housing, creating a veritable grab bag of demands unrelated to the War in Gaza. The Ukrainians, on the other hand, direct their anger at Putin and his acolytes alone—although if Trump is re-elected their circle of anger will likely expand to include Trump should he strike an unfavorable deal with Putin.

As I have said before, the pro-Palestinian demonstrators would be well served by taking a page or two out the Ukrainian Community’s playbook.

As for future demonstrations, I would urge the Ukrainian Community to take the show on the road, heading to Washington, D.C. for a demonstration on the Capitol grounds. Here the community could take a page out of the Palestinian playbook by organizing a fleet of buses, which would keep participant costs in check. With 150,000 Ukrainians living New York City and 125,000 living in Philadelphia, the demonstration could easily turnout 10,000 demonstrators. Then maybe the Republicans would listen to reason.

[I generally don’t take positions regarding the events I cover. I make an exception for Ukrainian and anti-Putin Russian demonstrations. There is only one correct viewpoint.]

[Click on an Image to Enlarge It. The Images Are Not Necessarily in Exact Chronological Order]