Rallying for Mahmoud Khalil
“The telephone is ringing
I say, “Hi, it’s me, who is it there on the line?”
A voice says, “Hi, hello, how are you?”
“Well, I guess I’m doing fine“
“It’s three AM, there’s too much noise
Don’t you people ever want to go to bed?
Just because you feel so good
Do you have to drive me out of my head?”
I said, “Hey (Hey), you (You), get off of my cloud
Hey (Hey), you (You), get off of my cloud”
Following today’s ‘Tesla Takedown’ at the Gold Coast Tesla dealership on Rush Street, I scurried down to the North Congress Parkway Plaza for a pro-Palestinian rally. Today’s event focused on Israeli’s resumption of hostilities in Gaza, as well on the Trump Administration’s ongoing effort to deport Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Kahlil for his activism on behalf of the Palestinian people.
Over the last several months, Chicago’s pro-Palestinian forces have been relatively quiet. Toward the end of last year, the attendance at the once weekly demonstrations grew thinner. I stopped covering them, as did others. At some point, the weekly rallies came to an end, at least I stopped getting notices for them.
Given the recent hiatus and current events, I assumed today’s rally and march would draw a large crowd. Arriving at the plaza, I was stunned. There were only 40 or 50 people milling about—I arrived well after the announced start time. As usual, the rhetoric-filled, but anodyne speeches were a delaying tactic, permitting the crowd to grow as latecomers arrived.
The march followed the usual formula—heading north on Michigan Avenue to Wacker Drive (just south of Michigan Avenue). The marchers then turned south on Michigan, heading back to the journey’s origin. There were no more than 300 marchers.
Interestingly, I did speak briefly with Glen Brooks, the Director of CPD Community Policing. During the last seven days, CPD initially prohibited marchers. Last Saturday, those who had gathered for the International Women’s Day rally were told they would be arrested if they marched in the street to a subsequent demonstration at Jane Bryne Plaza. The demonstrators received a similar warning from CPD is they marched from the plaza to the Gold Coast Tesla dealership, but CPD eventually permitted that leg of the march to proceed. On Tuesday night, CPD initially prohibited the Palestinians from marching to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) Chicago field office located at the intersection of Ida B. Wells Drive and Clark Street, but after about 25 minutes relented.
I naturally wondered whether CPD or the City had changed rules of the game. Brooks indicated that there had been no change in policy. According to him, the decision to permit marches in the street is dependent on the number of demonstrators.
For me, today’s major story centered on my First Amendment rights. While walking through the crowd during the Palestinian rally, one demonstrator challenged me, asking whether I had permission to take photographs. I told him that this was a public square, so I didn’t need his permission or anyone else’s to photograph the rally because my photography was protected speech under the First Amendment. He responded, paraphrasing, ‘Some people may be concerned about their privacy.’ I assume his focus was on doxxing, as well as the possibility that current and future employers might fire demonstrators or refuse to hire them.
Legalities aside, this guy is painfully naive if he believes stopping a guy with four cameras strung around his neck shields his compatriots from adverse consequences for what should be obvious reasons. First, a significant portion of those attending rallies use phones equipped with cameras during the rally or march. People record the speakers, sometimes slowly spinning in a circle to record crowd footage. They also snap portraits of people holding eye-catching signs. How many of those videos and photographs end up on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and other social media platforms? To ask the question is to answer it.
Second, even if nobody attending the rally as a demonstrator snaps photographs or records video, CPD routinely does. The first time I noticed a CPD officer capturing images of protesters was in 2012 (long before Donald Trump came on the national political scene) during the 2012 NATO Summit held in Chicago. I watched an officer in Grant Park standing on a concrete planter with a camcorder as the demonstrators streamed out of the park, headed toward Michigan Avenue.
Last Tuesday during an ‘emergency’ demonstration in the Loop in support of Mr. Khalil, a CPD officer was walking a few paces ahead of me on the sidewalk as the demonstrators marched. In his hand was a small camcorder. Additionally, every police officer has a bodycam, which is supposed switched on when the officer is engaged in police activity.
Third, there are CPD recording devices mounted on poles at major intersections. Moreover, most downtown retail and commercial establishments install video cameras for security purposes.
Simply put, if this guy or any other demonstrator is concerned about having his or her image captured, they should stay home. Like it or not, we live in an Orwellian world. One photographer with four cameras is the least of this guy’s problems. In legal parlance, he has no reasonable expectation of privacy.
Oh, yeah. I also saw an ABC News 7 van parked across the street on Michigan Avenue. Was this guy going to tell ABC7 that they couldn’t report on the rally for the 10:00 PM news?
This young man, like many in his age group, is also a coward and hypocrite. From an ethical standpoint, people should stand by and take ownership of their statements and actions, rather than hide behind masks and fake identities. Grow a pair of cojones.
As for future job prospects, my ‘friend’ should ask himself a simple question: “Why do I want to work for an employer who wants to punish me for peacefully expressing my views?” Moreover, the Palestinians living in Gaza don’t have options: they are stuck in a tragic situation with no way out. My friend, who is so concerned about the suffering of the Palestinian people, wants to keep his future employment options open. Talk about ‘First World’ hypocrisy.
Turning to the legalities: the courts have consistently held that photographic activity is protected by the First Amendment when undertaken with a communicative intent. I will spare my friend case law citations. On a web page outlining demonstrator rights, the American Civil Liberties Union (the “ACLU”) states:
When you are lawfully present in any public space, you have the right to photograph anything in plain view, including federal buildings and the police. On private property, the owner may set rules related to photography or video.
Earlier, the ACLU states:
Your rights are strongest in what are known as “traditional public forums,” such as streets, sidewalks, and parks. You also likely have the right to speak out on other public property, like plazas in front of government buildings, as long as you are not blocking access to the government building or interfering with other purposes the property was designed for.
Full disclosure: I am a member of the ACLU.
Toward the end of our conversation, I parried, “I imagine you are not a big Trump supporter. Well, I’ve got news for you, you are no different than Donald Trump.” Trump doesn’t like Mr. Khalil’s viewpoint, so Trump has his lickspittle Secretary of State Marco Rubio (“Little Marco”) gin up a basis for deporting Mr. Khalil. “Trump doesn’t want Mr. Khalil exercising his First Amendment rights, just like you don’t want me exercising mine.”
So, ‘Mr. Safe Space, go hassle someone else.’ I didn’t need permission to photograph this or any other public demonstration. If this naive young man had been paying attention, he might have seen me briefly speaking with one of the organizers who standing behind the speaker’s’ platform. I have probably covered over 50 pro-Palestinian demonstrators over the last 18 months, including ones in New York City and Washington, D.C. I have endeavored to treat the Palestinians fairly in my coverage of their marches and rallies. I have even given them prints. The leadership has never told me that I can’t photograph.
And while I am at it, I the people behind the Ukrainian and Russian émigré rallies. They, like other groups, send me notices of their demonstration activity. Organizers want media coverage.
[Caveat: This is my position as a photographer. No one should treat it as or rely on its as legal advice]
[Click on an Image to Enlarge It. The Images Are Not Necessarily in Exact Chronological Order]
"Arms Embargo Now!"
Demanding an Immediate Ceasefire
Apparently Tired of the Focus on Just Palestinian Women and Children
"Divest from Israel Now!"
One of Today's Speakers
"Free Mahmoud Khalil Now!"
Seated Alone, But Carrying a Big Message
"Not My Tax Dollars . . ."
SDS Making a Stand
Calling Out AIPAC to Drivers Stuck in a Traffic Jam
Israel and the U.S. Share the Similar Origin Stories
A Rather Thin Turnout
The Street Choir Sings Out
One of Elon Musk’s Cyber Trucks Passing by the Demonstration
Balancing Some Weighty Signs
Speaking Out on Behalf of Dr. Adnan Al Bursh
Speaking in Support of the Palestinian People
"Jews Say Cease Fire Now"
Painted It Himself
Mirrored
Headed to the Front of the Line
Moving Into Position
Shadow Play on Michigan Avenue
Leading the Way
Outfront
Passing the Art Institute of Chicago
Carrying the Flag with Dignity
One Small Leap for Palestine
Chanting
Onlookers at the Bean Watch the Palestinians Go By
Seated, But Nevertheless Vocal
CPD's Bicycle Brigrade Protecting the Demonstrators' Flank
Fist Raised in Defiance
About to Reverse Course at Wacker
A Golden Oldie
Within Eyesight of the Hated Trump Tower
Making the Turn
"When They Get to the Bottom They Go Back to the Top, and Start All Over Again"
There Is Always Time for One More Demonstration (Hears and Seen While Heading to the Bus)
Photographer’s Note: The images in this article were captured using Leica M11 cameras, including a Leica Monochrom, which captures images in glorious black and white—no color filters. No autofocus, and I only use manual exposure with no fill flash.
Copyright 2025, Jack B. Siegel (except the first two images in the post, which are copyrighted 2024). All Rights Reserved. Do Not Alter, Copy, Display, Distribute, Download, Duplicate, or Reproduce Without the Prior Written Consent of the Copyright Holder.
