Aug 15

Aug 15 Time to Rock & Roll

Chicago, Chicago Tourism, Demonstrations, Performance, Protest, Public Declarations

“Ah, but I was so much older then
I’m younger than that now”

— My Back Pages, Blind Boy Grunt, from Another Side of Bob Dylan (1964)

“Well yeah, I might have chased a couple [protesters] around
All it ever got me was down
[DNC], you’re the only one that’s ever known how
To make me wanna live like I wanna live now

The waiting is the hardest part
Every day you see one more card
You take it on faith, you take it to the heart
The waiting is the hardest part”

— The Waiting, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, from Hard Promises (1981)

Yes, 44 years have passed since I last attended a Democratic National Convention—the 1980 convention that nominated Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale for second terms. I was working for Willkie Farr & Gallagher, a Wall Street law firm that had recently moved from Wall Street to the Citicorp Center in midtown Manhattan. One of the firm’s aspiring lawyers was a member of the Democratic Party’s Rules Committee—she may have been the chairperson The Democrats needed young people who were willing to rise at 4:30 AM each day to deliver credentials to the state delegations, so that lawyer looked to the firm’s summer associates. In exchange for volunteering, I received credentials to the convention.

Each morning at 5:00 AM, a member of the New York City Police Department picked me up at my 23rd Street sublet so that I could make my rounds. Among my assigned delegations was California. Its chairperson, Governor Jerry Brown, was holed up in a swanky suite in the Waldorf Astoria. When I knocked on the door, I wondered whether a scantily-clad Linda Ronstadt might greet me at the door. Much to my disappointment, a male aide came to the door, dashing my hopes, as well as my fantasies. “When Will I Be Loved?”

Probably the most memorable part of my daily duty was the morning the police officer who was driving me around asked if I wanted to see how fast the squad car could go on Park Avenue. We hit 80 MPH with no sirens blaring or warning lights flashing.

At night, I attended the convention at Madison Square Garden. I recall being escorted into the ABC Television booth, listening to Jesse Jackson’s speech, and being on the floor about ten rows back when Senator Ted Kennedy spoke. It was all great fun. And I was so cute.

We are now four days away from the 2024 DNC Convention. Last week, I managed to obtain a credential that will get me into the United Center each day, so I plan to be present for Vice President Kamala Harris’ acceptance speech Thursday night, as well as other important speeches and events. Hopefully there will be some good merch to buy.

The email I received indicates that during the day, all programming is at McCormick Place. Starting at 4:00 PM, programming switches to the United Center. I am currently unclear whether I will have access to the shuttle buses, but there is always the Number 20 Bus. Apparently, there will be some daytime programming at or around McCormick Place open to the public—but check to make sure before heading out.

I, however, will not be abandoning my fellow independent photojournalists. For the last two years, we have awaited the promised demonstrations. Quite a few are scheduled, including:

Sun August 18

5-9:15 PM. Bodies Outside of Unjust Laws: Wacker and Michigan & march south to 9th St.

6-10 PM. People Fest: Poor People’s Army: 1625 W Diversey

Mon August 19

12 Noon. March on DNC: Union Park 1501 W. Randolph St

4 PM. Poor People’s Army: Humboldt Park 3015 W Division to United Center (due to error by the city, this group snared the only permit that allows a group to get this close to the United Center)

Tues Aug 20

5-7 PM. Firefighters Union: Back and forth on Madison Street, between Loomis Street and Ashland Avenue

7 PM. Behind Enemy Lines: Israeli Consulate 500 W Madison

Wed Aug 21

4:30 PM. Palestinians: Union Park 1501 W Randolph

UPDATE. 5:00 PM. Israeli American Council has obtained a permit for a rally at 5:00 PM. Location unknown at this time. Chicago Tribune reporting

Thursday August 22

5 PM. March on DNC: Union Park 1501 W. Randolph St

Thank you Vickie Horen Oddino for the Schedule (and Titan Security Group)

March Routes and the Potential for Violence. Will there be violence? That’s the $64,000 question. Everyone I have spoken with hopes that there will not be any disturbances. Yet, several weeks back, a friendly police officer told me to buy a helmet (not in specific reference to the DNC). One group has questioned why demonstrations should be safe, pointing to the events in Minneapolis-St. Paul following the death of George Floyd in 2020. But I’ve also seen one post on a Palestinian Instagram page denouncing violence.

In court proceedings, one plaintiff has stated that up to 25,000 people might march during at least one of the demonstrations. I, however, am skeptical. At the Republican National Convention in July, the 120+ groups that organized a demonstration on the convention’s first day projected up to 5,000 demonstrators. At most, 1,000 people took part. I left Milwaukee on Wednesday of convention week—two days earlier than I had planned. The streets were dead. I never encountered even a lone speaker at the two designated sites for First Amendment activity.

A number of groups have been in Federal court for months arguing that the City of Chicago is violating their First Amendment rights by denying them closer access to the United Center. Initially, the city mandated that all demonstrations would take place in Grant Park, a couple of miles from the United Center. I knew that the city would eventually lose the resulting legal battle. The demonstrators argued that they were entitled to be within “sight and sound” of the United Center. The courts granted their wish, but some demonstrators still want to be closer.

Earlier this week, U.S. District Court Judge Andrea Wood seemingly put an end to the matter, rejecting the demonstrators request for further modification of the route. In her 24-page decision, Wood acknowledged that the city hasn’t offered “the exact route plaintiffs desire, but the designated route “allows them to speak near their intended audience. This falls well short of a First Amendment violation.”

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

**Map of Security Zones Surrounding the United Center (Supplied By U.S. Secret Service)**

**Map of Security Zones Surrounding the McCormick Place (Supplied By U.S. Secret Service)**

The organizers behind the demonstration could always appeal Judge Wood’s decision, but time is quickly slipping away. Wood scheduled a hearing for today, but from what I gather, it will focus on some logistical details, like the positioning of sound equipment and porta-potties.

Returning to the question of the potential for violence: If there is violence, I suspect the triggering event will be what is best described in football terms as an “audible at the line of scrimmage.” In other words, as the demonstrators approach the United Center, the organizers might decide to deviate from the proscribed route in attempt to get closer. At that point, the Chicago Police Department will have to decide whether the deviation warrants mass arrests or other action. My sense is that CPD will bend over backwards to avoid any incidents. And to be clear, based on my considerable experience photographing demonstrators, I suspect very few demonstrators are looking for trouble.

If anyone decides to create a more visible disturbance, I expect CPD to act quickly and with force. Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said, "We're not going to allow you to riot. Protesting and rioting are two different things. The moment that starts, we are going to intervene. I am not going to wait until out of control and then try to bring it back in."

Preparations—Generally. I’ve now ventured out three times to take in pre-convention activity. Surprisingly, there has been a lack of noticeable activity. The city has plenty of banners, as well as video board announcements throughout the downtown area. Governor JB Pritzker has paid for at least two billboards highlighting just how effective Illinois Democrats have been in the public policy arena—climate change and the legalization of marijuana. Think he is considering a future run for President? Chicago Police Officers are already more visible than normal.

The city disbanded at least one homeless camp. Unfortunately, the streets seemed to be filled with more homeless people than usual, as well as Venezuelan families selling candy and Tic Tac mints (a Donald Trump favorite despite prices (actually alleged shrinkage) that Trump claims illustrate the Biden-Harris Administration’s poor stewardship over the economy).Only Trump would view Tic Tacs as a basic food group.

At one point, Chicago’s Deputy Mayor for Immigration, Beatriz Ponce de Léon, was predicting that Texas Governor Greg Abbott would bus up to 25,000 migrants to Chicago shortly before the DNC as part of an effort to embarrass the Democrats. The Biden Administration’s ‘failed’ effort to stop the influx of migrants apparently is far more effective than Trump, Abbott and their fellow Republicans believe. Abbott is having trouble rounding up migrants to ship north. The ‘supply’ is way down. No buses have arrived in Chicago since June 17, according to a report in the Chicago Tribune.

The ticket for the Democrats performance at the United Center is admittedly a hot one, but not quite as hot as last summer’s tickets for Taylor Swift’s three-day concert series at Solider Field. Consequently, Chicago’s hotels are not booked to capacity, as they were during Swift’s glorious weekend. According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, swapping Biden for Harris significantly increased demand, but plenty of rooms are still available. Ben Hardin, executive director of the Democratic Party of Illinois, told the Tribune, “We’ve seen a massive upsurge in interest . . . This is anecdotal, but there seems to be newfound energy.”

Preparations—The United Center. Yesterday afternoon, I walked along Madison Street to the United Center. I was surprised that the city and Homeland Security were not further along in building out the security perimeter. During the RNC in Milwaukee, the security fencing, cement barricades, and car inspection stations covered a significant portion of the downtown area west of the Milwaukee River. The build-out must have taken several days, if not a week.

With one or two exceptions, I saw no security barriers in place on the streets surrounding the United Center. Workers were in ‘commandeered’ parking lots erecting tents and stages—presumably for the media and support personnel. I also saw neat rows of bicycle racks set up to create what I assume are intended security lines.

Possibly there is not the need for as much physical security around the United Center because the area is more isolated than area surrounding Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum. Maybe the plan is to rely on salt trucks strategically parked to close off vehicular access to the area, or possibly the city and Homeland Security can get the job done over the weekend.

Overall, I was disappointed. I thought there would be far more activity.

The Waiting. So while the first demonstration is late Sunday afternoon, I will undoubtedly be walking the streets this weekend looking for delegates and hangers on. In the meantime, Tom Petty was correct: The waiting is the hardest part.

During the convention, I plan to issue short dispatches, but I pick my credentials up at 8 AM each morning, and I will probably get home around Midnight each day, so lengthy posts will have to wait until the Democrats are gone. I am loading up on energy bars, which will hopefully keep me going.

And in a late development, this afternoon a local group announced a Watch Party at Soldier Field for Vice President Kamala Harris’ Thursday night acceptance speech. That’s a page right out of Barack’s book.

Stay tuned.