All in Chicago

Picketing Boeing

On Friday afternoon, a group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators held a rally outside Boeing’s corporate offices, calling out the defense contractor for producing weapons that the demonstrators believe are being used by the Israelis in their crusade against Hamas. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.

Black Friday

Black Friday saw Michigan Avenue shut down by pro-Palestinian demonstrators, a blockade of Victoria’s Secret and the Starbucks flagship store, and arrests when several demonstrators refused to call it a day. Here are my thoughts about and images from the day’s events

"Shut It Down"

Ten days I attended a pro-Palestinian demonstration that shut down Michigan Avenue, raising serous questions whether spontaneous shutdowns of public right-of-ways are appropriate. Here are my thoughts about that issue, as channeled through six weeks of pro-Palestinian demonstrations, as well as my images from the particular demonstration.

Removing the Crown

Yesterday, I attended a demonstration outside of the Art Institute of Chicago organized by Behind Enemy Lines. Among the demonstrators were students from School of the Art Institute who demanded that Steven Crown, an Art Institute trustee, be removed from the board of trustees because his family’s investment in General Dynamics finances the production of the bombs being dropped on Gaza. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.

The Electric Hippo

On November 3, 2023, Theon Cross brought his electrified tuba to the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts. It was quite a night of innovative jazz fusion, with some hip hop added to the voodoo. Here are my thoughts about and images from the evening’s performance.

Remembering Azovstal

This past Sunday, I attended an unusually small demonstration by members of Chicago’s Ukrainian Community. Some in attendance were recent émigrés. They were demanding that Russia release 500 prisoners who surrendered following the siege of the Azovstal Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol, Ukraine. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.

5 To 8

According to one report, between 5,000 and 8,000 people filled the streets of Chicago last Saturday in support of the Palestinian people. Here are my thoughts about the third Palestinian demonstration since the start of the Israeli-Hamas War, together with the images I captured during Saturday’s massive rally and march.

Migrants I

Today I attended a demonstration at Daley Plaza where the participants objected to a plan to house migrants who are currently living in Chicago Police stations and at Chicago’s two major airports in tent camps erected and maintained by a subsidiary of Garda World Security. Here are my thoughts about and images from this poorly attended demonstration.

'Say Her Name'

September 16, 2023 marks the first anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death while she was held in the custody of Iranian authorities. Chicago’s Iranian community held a rally today at Buckingham Fountain to honor Amini and others who have died while in Iranian custody or during the ensuing protests. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.