On Saturday, March 29, 2025, I attended a pro-Palestinian rally and march commemorating Land Day. Here are my thoughts about and photographs from the demonstration
All tagged Gaza
Rallying for M. 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
Yoav Gallant: A Red Flag
On February 6, 2025, former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke at Chicago’s Anshe Emet Day School. Outside, about 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered in the bone-chilling cold. Here are my thoughts about and images about the event and the demonstration.
Changing Things Up
This past Saturday, I attended my first Chicago demonstration of the year. Sponsored by over 60 advocacy groups, it highlighted a number of causes. Front and center: the War in Gaza and Trump’s crackdown on undocumented aliens. Here are my thoughts about and images from the rally and demonstration.
A Star Is Born
For the second year in a row, pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched down Chicago’s Magnificent Mile on Black Friday. Today’s star was Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss, a member of the anti-Zionist group, Neturei Karta. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
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.
Trump At The Fairmont
On Columbus Day, former President spoke to the Economics Club of Chicago at the Fairmont Hotel. Chicago’s pro-Palestinian forces held a press conference outside the hotel, which drew more media than that 10 to 15 demonstrators who were present. Here are my thoughts about and images from the press conference and demonstration.
Columbus Day
Sometime on or shortly before Columbus Day 2024, vandals attacked a beloved statue of Lincoln in Chicago’s Lincoln Park, trying to draw a connection between Native Americans (United States) and Palestinians (Israel). Here are my thoughts about the attack and images depicting its aftermath.
Marking One Year (IV)
The group, If Not Now, held a memorial service for those Israelis and Palestinians who were killed during the last year as a consequence of the attack by Hamas on October 7th and the subsequent Israeli military response. Here are my thoughts about and images from the memorial.
Marking One Year (III)
DePaul University students gathered just to the east of the Fullerton Avenue Quad today for a memorial to those who have died in Gaza and Lebanon since the October 7th attack by Hamas against Israelis. Here are my thoughts about and images from the memorial service and subsequent march.
Marking One Year (II)
On Sunday morning, October 6, the Chicago Jewish Alliance held a march and rally to remember those who died during the last year's October 7th attack by Hamas against Israel. The group also focused on the those who still are held as hostage. Here are my thoughts about and images from the rally.
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.
"AbandonHarris"
Late Thursday afternoon, the heritage Palestinians held a demonstration in Chicago's Federal Plaza. Several demonstrators held "AbandonHarris" signs. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
Back To School
DePaul University students held a rally and march late Thursday afternoon to protest Israel's continued military action in Gaza. Here are my thoughts about and images from the rally and march.
Normalized
Today’s pro-Palestinian demonstration drew only 100 to 200 participants, evidence that the Saturday pro-Palestinian demonstrations have become normalized. Here are my thoughts about and images from the rally and march.
Happy 4th of July
On July 4th, members of Chicago Palestinian Community held a rally and march on Michigan Avenue demanding Palestinian independence. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration and march.
DePaul U Aftermath
Today, I headed over to DePaul University after the Chicago Police Department cleared the Gaza Solidarity encampment in the Fullerton Avenue Quad. Here are my observations about and images from the event.
Flag Raising (Israeli)
On Tuesday, members of Chicago’s Jewish Community celebrated the 76th anniversary of Israel’s birth by raising the Israeli flag in Daley Plaza. Here are my thoughts about and images from the event.