Feb 24

Feb 24 A Show of Support

Demonstrations, Protest, Public Declarations

Russian dissidents from around the world sustained a devastating blow a week ago Friday when news broke that Alexi Navalny had been murdered by Russian President Vladimir Putin. As I reported, Russian dissidents in Chicago organized an emergency memorial service outside the Wrigley Building later that fateful day. It was a solemn event, with many participants offering their thoughts. Several referred to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, but that war was not the demonstration’s focus.

In the big scheme of things, seven days is just a blink of a tearful eye. So, when Chicago’s Russian dissidents announced the demonstration scheduled for 2:00 PM today, I wondered whether the focus would remain on Navalny, or whether the demonstrators would turn to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine—today marking the second anniversary of the start of Russian-Ukrainian war.

By and large, the 75 or so demonstrators who showed up were present to condemn the Russian invasion. I am not sure I even heard anyone mention Alexi Navalny’s name—some of the speeches were in Russian—but whether referenced or not, Navalny, in the words of Norman Greenbaum, was today’s spirit in the sky, looking down on his flock, inspiring them to speak out despite the frigid temperatures. As Navalny had hoped, they continued what he started, refusing to give up.

That Navalny was not today’s focus is proof that his steadfast supporters had absorbed his ethos. Navalny’s movement was never about his celebrity, but rather, about ridding Russia of a tyrant. Staging a demonstration opposing Putin’s efforts to wipe out the Ukrainian nation’s identity was exactly how Navalny would have wanted to be honored, assuming he sought honors, which he did not. His acolytes had grabbed the torch lighting the pathway to the freedom that Navalny and many others have been denied.

The demonstration began with 10 people forming a visual pyramid, holding signs calling Putin out in one manner or another. I was told that these people represented the voices of the Russian People, who could not speak for themselves. The phrases displayed on the signs originated in Russia, and then translated into English in London. Russian dissidents from around the world had printed the same signage in location-appropriate language so that today’s demonstrations throughout the world reflected unity. The displays were recorded for upload to Telegram, giving voice to those in Russia who are not otherwise free to express themselves. The chain connecting all dissidents could not be broken.

Ten or so people took the bullhorn during the twenty-five minutes devoted to the speeches. The organizers had scheduled the first several speakers, but as was true during the memorial demonstration eight days ago, the organizers permitted anyone who wanted his or her voice heard to speak (except the idiot who appeared out of nowhere rambling nonsense as he interrupted one of the speakers).

The overriding message anticipated what I would hear later in the day when members of Chicago’s Ukrainian Community gathered in this same location: Putin’s invasion of Ukraine must be rolled back otherwise he will invade other former Soviet-bloc countries. If those invasions are successful, he eventually will turn his forces lose on Western Europe.

The speakers called on Congress to pass the bill funding military aid for Ukraine. They were quick to note that making a monetary investment today would mean that the United States would not need to expend American blood at some time in the possibly not-to-distant future.

After the speeches wrapped up, the demonstrators lined up for a team photograph. They then snapped into formation for the march up Michigan Avenue that would eventually turn west on Huron, headed to offices of the Consulate General of Ukraine. When they arrived, they were greeted by ABC News 7 and gorgeous afternoon light. The group spent 10 minutes chanting, as one of the organizers marched back and forth in front of the consulate with bullhorn in hand.

Everyone quickly dispersed, presumably seeking some warmth, before returning to the plaza in front of the Wrigley Building for the Ukrainian Community’s 4:00 PM demonstration commemorating the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

I did learn one interesting fact today: I cannot refer to Chicago’s Russian Community as if there is uniform opposition to Putin. I was told that some Russian’s immigrated to Chicago after the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991. Many of these Russians apparently would like to see the Soviet Union reconstituted, meaning that they are aligned with or sympathetic to Putin.

[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]