All in Public Declarations

Rallying for Mahmoud Khalil

Chicago’s Palestinian Community took to the streets on Saturday, March 22, 2025 to demonstration against the resumption Israel’s attacks on Gaza and Donald Trump’s efforts to deport Mahmoud Kahili, the Columbia University graduate student who helped organize the 2024 protests on Columbia’s campus. Here are my thoughts about and images from the rally and march.

Khalil's Right

On Tuesday, Chicago’s pro-Palestinian forces held what was billed as an emergency rally in Federal Plaza on behalf of Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University graduate student who was taken into custody Sunday night by ICE agents because he helped orchestrate demonstrations on Columbia’s campus during the Spring of 2024. Whether you are pro-Israeli or pro-Palestinian, Khalil’s case raises important First Amendment and right-to-legal counsel issues that should concern every American. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration, including two images of Khalil I captured when I visited Columbia’s campus during the Spring of 2024

Are You Wearing a Suit?

Chicago’s Ukrainian Community scheduled an emergency march and rally following the Oval Office dress down of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who actually was stylishly attired in his battle fatigues. I was not going to miss the Sunday rally at Jane Bryne Plaza, followed by the march to Daley Plaza. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.

Presidents' Day

A group calling itself #50501 called for nationwide demonstrations against the Trump Administration and Elon Musk on Presidents’ Day. About 300 people assembled in Chicago’s Millennium Park for a rally, before marching to Trump Tower, where they met up with another group that held a demonstration in Chicago’s Federal Plaza. Here are my thoughts about and images from what was a relatively short demonstration on a very cold day.

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.