On the first day of the 2024 Democratic National Convention, I attended a rally and march in Chicago's Union Park that was sponsored by a coalition of left-wing and Progressive groups. Here are my thoughts about and images from the event.
All in Demonstrations
DNC Dispatch 3
On Sunday, August 18, 2024, a coalition of groups rallied and demonstrated before the first day of the 2024 Democratic Convention under the Bodies Outside of Unjust Laws moniker. Here are my thoughts about and images from the rally and march.
DNC Dispatch 2
This afternoon, I attended a one-man demonstration at Buckingham Fountain that brought out at least 100 Chicago Police officers, which reveals just how seriously the city is taking the potential for disruptions and chaos into account. Although comical, the response was highly revealing. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration, as well as my walk up and down Michigan Avenue.
DNC Dispatch 1
On Friday afternoon, I attended a press conference in Chicago's Federal Plaza where Hatem Abudayyeh, executive director of the Arab American Action Network, updated the media about where the litigation stood over march logistics for next week's demonstrations during the 2024 Democratic National Convention being held in Chicago. Here are my thoughts about what Abudayyeh had to say, together with an three images.
Time to Rock & Roll
We are now just four days away from the start of the 2024 Democratic National Convention. I've been walking around the city the last several days. Here are some pre-convention thoughts and images.
Spotlight On Belarus
On Saturday afternoon, a group of demonstrators gathered in Tribune Plaza to demonstrate against the government of Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Belarus. Here are my thoughts about and images from what was a low-key, but informative demonstration.
DJT At The Hilton
Former President Donald Trump came to Chicago today for what was a disastrous Q & A session at the National Association of Black Journalists annual conference. As usual, I was in the streets outside the Hilton, recalling the riots that broke out during the 1968 Democratic Convention. Here are my thoughts about what transpired on the streets, as well as my photographs.
Burned Alive
Chicago’s Ukrainian Community came together today for another demonstration in front of the Wrigley Building. The group staged some arresting street theater with a simulated immolation of three Ukrainian men—the victims of unbridled Russian aggression. Here are my thoughts about and observations from the rally and march.
Venezuelan Election
We have a new ‘heritage’ group demonstrating in the streets of the Chicago: members of Chicago’s recently arrived Venezuelan Community. They took to the downtown streets today to celebrate what they hoped would be the defeat of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro in today’s election. Here are my thoughts about and images from this colorful demonstration.
Sonya Massey
There was a small demonstration at the intersection of Randolph and Michigan Avenue demanding justice for Sonya Massey, who was shot to death in her home by a Sangamon County police officer. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
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.
OKHMATDYT Bombing
Chicago’s Ukrainian Community gathered in the Wrigley Building Plaza just hours after Russia bombed Kyiv’s Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital—about as close to a just-in-time demonstration as can you can get. It was an impressive showing. Here are my thoughts about and images from the rally and subsequent march that drew over 500 people on a muggy summer evening.
Red and Blue
The Chicago Firefighters Union held a march today to coincide with the NASCAR race in Grant Park. They were demanding a contract from the City after three years of not having one. Here are my thoughts about and images from the event.
GAYestinian Pride
Today, Chicago’s LGBQT+ Community staged the 54th Annual Gay Pride Parade. In keeping with my activity over the last nine months, I decided to focus on the pro-Palestinian demonstrators who had obtained a coveted slot in the parade’s abbreviated lineup. It was the right decision, because it permitted me to photograph their efforts, as well as the colorful characters lining the parade route, as I walked the route with the pro-Palestinian forces from the start to the finish line.
Opposing Putin
Members of Chicago’s Russian émigré community came together Saturday to celebrate Ilya Yashin’s 41st birthday. Yashin is a Russian dissident who spoke out against Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. A close associate of the late Alexei Navalny, Yeshin is now serving a prison sentence in a Siberian prison. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration—one of the many coordinated demonstrations around the world.
Calling Out Mondelēz
Members of Chicago’s Ukrainian Community held a rally outside the Wrigley Building on May 18, 2024, the location of Mondelēz International’s offices. The company is the maker of Oreo Cookies and Ritz Crackers, among other well-know snack foods. They continue to operate inside Russia, which is why the Ukrainians were demanding that Mondelēz put humanitarian concerns above profits. Here are my thoughts about and images from the rally and subsequent 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.
Civility Breaks Out
On Sunday afternoon, the pro-Palestinian students in DePaul University’s Fullerton Avenue Quad still occupied their Gaza Solidarity encampment. Five block to the east, a group of Jewish students and community members held their own gathering at the corner of Fullerton, Lincoln and Halstead. Here are my thoughts about and images from the competing events.
Flag Raising (Palestinian)
The Palestinian Community held a ceremonial flag raising in Daley Plaza on Saturday. Here are my thoughts about and images from the event.