All in Demonstrations

1000 Days

On November 19, 2024, Chicago’s Ukrainian Community commemorated the 1,000th day since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion against Ukraine on February 24, 2024. Community members gathered in the plaza outside the Wrigley Building for speeches and anthems, and then they marched north on Michigan Avenue to Jane Byrne Plaza (the location of Chicago’s historic Water Tower). Here are my thoughts about and images from this stirring rally and march.

The Enemy Within

Today, members of Russian’s émigré community, commemorated those who were killed by Joseph Stalin during the Great Purge/Great Terror (1936-38). Known as the Return of Names, this annual commemoration is particularly relevant to Americans this year, as presidential candidate Donald J. Trump, tosses the phrase “The Enemy Within” around during his speeches. Here are my thoughts about and images from this small, but important ceremony.

SAIC Walkout

On Thursday, October 24, 2024, students at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago held a demonstration, demanding that the Art Institute cut its ties with the Crown Family because the family still holds a significant interest in General Dynamics, a manufacturer of bombs used by the Israeli Defense Forces in the war against Hamas. Here are my thoughts about and images from the spirited demonstration.

Marking One Year (I)

Chicago's Palestinian Community marked the first anniversary of the October 7th attack by Hamas with a demonstration at Jane Byrne Plaza, followed by a march northward that saw the demonstrators pass nearby Governor JB Pritzker's Gold Coast home. Here are my thoughts about and images from the rally and march.

"Flood Apple Stores"

On the first day of iPhone 16 availability, I attended a demonstration outside the Michigan Avenue Apple Store. The demonstrators were calling out Apple for not sufficiently policing the mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that produce the cobalt used in lithium batteries. Here are my thoughts and images from the demonstration.