Apr 6

Apr 6 Six Months In

Chicago, Demonstrations, Flowers, Protest

“
(War), It ain’t nothing but a heartbreaker
(War), Friend only to the undertaker, awwww
War is the enemy of all mankind
The thought of war

(War, huh) good God y’all
(What is it good for?) Absolutely nothing, say it, say it, say it”

— War, Edwin Starr, from War & Peace (1970)

Today marks the end of the first six months of the most recent war between Israel and Hamas. Yes, it has been six months since the October 7 attack by Hamas on civilians living on Israel’s southern flank. Neither side has achieved a victory.

Israel has become a pariah in the eyes of many living in the Western World. The relationship between the U.S. and Israel is on the verge of rupture following six months of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to accede to President Biden’s demands pertaining to humanitarian relief and protection of Gaza’s civilian population. Once friendly relations between Israel and Arab nations have grown frosty, with the treaty between Israel and Saudi Arabia on hold, at best.

Meanwhile, Israel and the world await the response from Iran following Israel’s bombing of an Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria this past week. The Iranian proxy Hezbollah remains a threat to Israel’s northern border, while the Yemenis Houthis continue to threaten international shipping to the south.

Inside Israel, the once unified populace is dividing into two camps, with massive protests outside of Netanyahu’s residence earlier this week and continuing into the weekend. The military mobilization now threatens Israel’s otherwise vibrant economy. Despite all the killing, Israelis have not regained their sense of well-being, nor have all the hostages been repatriated.

On the other side of the border: Some 33,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza—not counting the likely thousands who remain buried under the concrete rubble of collapsed apartment buildings. A large part of the population is starving. When the war finally ends, hundreds of thousands, if not a million or more, dislocated people will have no place to live.

International organizations are the ones who will be called on for funding and supervising the reconstruction because there is no functional governing authority in the West Bank or Gaza. That absence means efforts to forge a permanent resolution of the dispute will prove elusive, if not impossible. Without a resolution, the Israelis will continue to build illegal settlements in the West Bank, making peace even more unlikely.

The only winner is Donald J. Trump, who may capture the presidency for a second time because Joe Biden finds himself between the proverbial rock and a hard place. On the one hand. there are the Progressives and Palestinian Americans, and on the other, AIPAC and its Republican and evangelical acolytes. The late Sheldon Adelson’s widow, Miriam, continues to support Trump, reportedly being his largest contributor. Given the Nevada couple’s decades-long role in shaping U.S. public opinion and policy regarding Israel, I often wonder why pro-Palestinian forces continue to undermine '“Genocide Joe.” Do they really believe that a President Trump will favor the Palestinians?

Today, against that depressing backdrop, I headed down to Michigan Avenue for the weekly pro-Palestinian demonstration. I assumed the turnout would be massive and that there would be arrests, but I was in for a surprise.

Instead of turning out 5,000 or 10,000 demonstrators on what proved to be a beautiful day, the organizers were confronted by one of their lowest turnouts. When I arrived at Jane Byrne Park, there could not have been more than 300 people present.

The turnout should have been much larger given the six-month anniversary, the Israeli attack in Syria, the killing of the World Kitchen aid workers, and the impending end to Ramadan. By the end of the march that followed the thankfully shortened speeches, there may have been 750 or 1,000 participants—not many more and probably a lot less.

I spoke with one of the organizers, who acknowledged the poor turnout, but he was still pleased. He referred to the demonstration as “small,” in what struck me as an affectionate tone.

As for the police, when I arrived, I saw only two in the park. Someone pointed out that they were staging further down Michigan Avenue. As has been the case over the last six months, CPD ran a highly professional operation, but with far fewer officers on the street.

Surprisingly, Near North Commander John Hein was nowhere to be seen. Maybe he was at home getting ready for the NCAA Final Four games, or polishing his dark glasses for Monday’s eclipse, which he may have to miss because rumor has it that President Biden will visit Chicago on Monday—location still undisclosed, but the pro-Palestinian and Left-Wing Forces are prepared to turnout on literally a moment’s notice.

The marchers followed a familiar path—heading southbound on Michigan Avenue, making a U-turn at East Illinois, and then returning to Jane Byrne Park. CPD had bicycle and other cops stationed outside Victoria’s Secret, Zara, and two Starbucks stores, but unlike in the past, the marchers showed no interest in shutting down those establishments. At each location, however, the marchers paused, as those holding the mics pointed on the alleged wrongs committed by each business.

Given the nice weather, shoppers and tourists lined the sidewalk. Hoping to garner their sympathy and support, the chanters introduced a new chant to their playlist.

While you are eating, Children are bleeding,

While you are shopping, Bombs are dropping.

But as New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman points out in his 1989 book, From Beirut to Jerusalem, the civilian population develops coping mechanisms to deal with civil discord brought about by war. The shopping denizens of Michigan Avenue are apparently taking a page or two out of Friedman’s Lebanese playbook. They just kept looking for bargains and good food. Even the CTA has learned to cope. Bus service resumed quickly after the marchers returned to the Jane Byrne Park.

I did have a brief conversation with one CPD official, pointing out that with the Democratic National Convention and nice weather fast approaching, that we would both be out here more frequently in the coming months. He agreed with my sentiment.

Despite the low turnout, the demonstrators acquitted themselves well. The organizers, however, probably left with some trepidations about future turnout. Moving into the third year, the Ukrainian Community’s demonstrations have grown smaller. The Palestinians may face shrinking numbers going forward, which may mean changing the playbook: fewer demonstrations with more variety.

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