Jack B. Siegel attended the Fifth Women’s March today in Chicago’s Daley Plaza. The rally subsequent march focused on abortion and reproductive rights. Here are Jack’s images from the day, as well as his thoughts.
All in Demonstrations
Kenosha II
I returned to Kenosha today to witness President Trump’s visit to the city, and all that would result therefrom. Here are my images and commentary about my experience.
Kenosha I
I visited Kenosha, Wisconsin today to see what the city felt like following the five days of demonstrations and street violence that erupted when police shot Jacob Blake while responding to a domestic violence call. I didn’t encounter demonstrators, but I did find lots of already trying to rebuild their community. Here are my thoughts, as well as the images I created.
Bernie in Chi Town
Senator Bernie Sanders brought his presidential campaign to Chicago on March 7, 2020 for a massive rally in Chicago's Grant Park. Somewhere between 10,000 and 15,000 supporters participated in the afternoon rally. Sanders spoke for 35 minutes. He relied heavily on well-worn phrases and proposals, including Medicare for all, immigration reform, and elimination of student debt.
Pathetic
Today, I attended Chicago’s student led march to combat climate change. The demonstrators were enthusiastic and vocal, but the turnout was pathetic when compared to other demonstrations throughout the world. To read my take on the march and for my photographs, click on the image or the link.
It’s About Numbers
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Pain
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March for Our Rights
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Mainstreamed: The Gay Pride Parade
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Father Pfleger
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Fire & Fury II
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Chicago is shrouded in dense ground fog. It is difficult to identify buildings just two or three blocks down the avenues. Fog obscures, but it also amplifies colors, which brings a certain clarity to the urban landscape. It creates a mysterious whirl in the air.
Fire & Fury I
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So when the Lord blesses us with a day or two of January temperatures in the forties, we hit the streets. Today, it was Grant Park and the Women's March. Some 300,000 people showed up, breaking last year's attendance number by about 50,000 people.
Gutsy Protest
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I was headed downtown today to photograph the cold. As the 146 bus approached the Wrigley building I noticed, to my delight, a demonstration across the Michigan Avenue, in the plaza that abuts the Tribune Tower and the international style building just south of the Tribune.
Alt T Delete
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Today, somewhere between 200 and 400 people marched from Federal Plaza to the intersection of Wacker and Wabash (Chicago's official anti-Trump demonstration site) to protest the weekend's events in Charlottesville and President's Trump's multiple responses to it. Clearly his 2-hour old comments from the lobby of the Trump Tower in New York City added fuel to the fire.
Public Art
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On Monday of this week, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events installed a statue by Chicago artist Scott Reader across the river from the Trump Tower. As is evident, the statue is simply the words "Real Fake" in gold lettering. Quite appropriate for anything associated with President Donald J. Trump.
Gay Pride Parade
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Everyone knows what happens in Chicago on the last Sunday in June: The Gay Pride parade. Having lived on the periphery of Boystown for over two decades, I've been to my share of Gay Pride parades. Each year the parade is a little more corporate and a little less outrageous, reflecting the mainstream acceptance of gay people.
Trumpers
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Today, I saw what I perceive to be my first pro-Trump rally in Chicago. Ostensibly the rally was to protest the possibility that Sharia law would be instituted in the United States, but at the end of the day, at least some of those present were Donald Trump supporters who were making a symbolic stand in front of the bronze statue of an 11-foot high George Washington on the northwest corner of Wacker and Wabash. Not surprisingly, a group of counter-protesters was in place at the northeast corner, which often serves as the locus for Trump protests in Chicago.
Covfefe
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Covfefe made it into the demonstration lexicon at Chicago's March for Truth today. This was the poster of the day, even though the Photoshopping is less than desirable.