Mar 4

Mar 4 Again?

Demonstrations, Protest, Public Declarations

If I were a Martian who had just landed at 1:30 PM today in front of the Chicago officers of the Egyptian Consulate General, my one-word description of the pro-Palestinian demonstration would be ‘pathetic.’ In total, there could not have been more than 50 or 60 demonstrators, several seated in portable chairs. There was a simultaneous pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the Chicago offices of the Israeli Consulate General that was not much bigger. Because both demonstrations involved foreign missions, the Chicago Police Department had a large and visible presence.

But I am not a Martian, plus I was at Saturday’s pro-Palestinian demonstration and march that attracted thousands of people—whether the number was 4,000 or 10,000 doesn’t matter for present purposes. Taking that fact into account, I would say today’s turnout was quite impressive. Less than 48 hours after Saturday’s demonstration wrapped, people were back on the streets chanting as loud and enthusiastically at they had chanted on Saturday. My bet is that most of the people out today were present on Saturday. These folks are on a mission, and they are tenacious. For their dedication, I give them many kudos.

There, however, is a large question lurking over today’s and the growing number of pro-Palestinian demonstrations: Do they make a difference? Early on, I thought they did. The local media focused a bright light on the early rallies and marches, which elevated the Palestinian question in the minds of Chicagoans. As time has progressed, one or two local television stations may carry a 15 or 20 second clip showing a march or rally, pairing the clip with a slightly longer report on what transpired in Gaza that day.

On a personal level, I have now read three books on Palestinian question—I am about to start a fourth. I read multiple newspapers daily and have listened to dozens of relevant podcasts. I probably wouldn’t have any of that had I not been attending the demonstrations. Well, I would have read the newspapers and listen to the podcasts, but without a focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conundrum.

As for media coverage of today’s events. I went simply because I was downtown headed to the gym, so I added a walk to my exercise routine. I saw no independent photographers, nor television crews on hand. Neither the Chicago Tribune, nor the Chicago Sun-Times covered the event. The Sun-Times did, however, cover a protest in the Loop by “over half a dozen parents” regarding the Chicago Public School system’s alleged discrimination against students with special needs.

After five months, the populous is acutely aware of the crisis unfolding every day in Gaza. Sides have been taken. Another demonstration no longer makes a discernible difference in terms of public perception, particularly because the demonstrations now follow a formula.

Occasionally, the chanters pridefully announce that the demonstrations and the associated disruptions will not end until the Palestinians obtain justice. That strikes me as a counter-productive statement, because by now, the public is so accustomed to the disruptions that they have adapted their behavior. The police are particularly good at keeping the demonstrators moving, so any given intersection is only closed for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the number of demonstrators. Pedestrians now simply cross the street if the demonstrators are in front of a consulate or a business.

My one concern is the drain on police manpower. The size of the police force is down, and some categories of crime are up. The demonstrations divert a finite resource. I am particularly concerned by the number of executive-level police personnel on the street during the demonstrations. I regularly see Near North District Commander John Hein and Director of Community Policing Glen Brooks at the demonstrations. Couldn’t their time be better spent doing planning and formulating strategy—not a criticism of them. For example, word was out that a ‘teen trend’ was planned for Saturday night. Regrettably, two teenagers were shot in the South Loop later that evening. One died. I don’t know the logistics, but had there not been a demonstration on Saturday, might the police have been better positioned to handle the teen trend?

The pro-Palestinians demonstrators would do far more to further their mission if they mounted a sidewalk “demonstration” collecting money for Doctors Without Borders or some other well-known relief organization working in Gaza. I would even argue that the demonstrators would do more good if they worked for the three or four hours that it takes to attend a demonstration, and then donated their earnings to a relief organization.

But no one is going to take my advice. The demonstrations will continue. In fact, there was one scheduled for 4:00PM today outside the American Medical Association’s headquarters.

At this point, I believe the demonstrators largely take to the street for their own benefit—not a criticism. As I have learned over the last five months, many of the people demonstrating were born in Gaza or the West Bank. Even if not born overseas, many demonstrators still have relatives and close friends who live in Gaza. When the members of Chicago’s Palestinian Community come together to rally or march, it is communal moment of catharsis, which is understandable after hearing stories of Palestinian Community members who received word that multiple family members had been killed during an Israeli bombing raid.

Before ending, I should note that the two demonstrations ran for four or five hours, and I was only present at each for 15 minutes. Other people undoubtedly turned out during the demonstrations.

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