All in Protest

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.

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.

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.

RNC 2024-Day 1

The first day of the 2024 Republican National Convention is now in the record books. A coalition of groups opposed to various aspects of the Republican agenda held what was advertised as a major demonstration to show their opposition. Here are my thoughts about and images from the day.

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.

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.