Tonight, the 2023 Chicago Bluesfest kicked off its four-day run in Chicago’s Millennium Park. The night included a centennial tribute to Albert King, as well as spell-bounding performances from 89-year old Bobby Rush and the Blind Boys of Alabama. Here are my thoughts about and images from a delightful evening of music.
Amazingly, Chicago’s Ukrainian community took to the streets the same day that we learned that the Kakhovka dam had been destroyed. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration and march.
Selfie Time, and on a more serious note, a demonstration on behalf of Ukrainian children who have been kidnapped by the Russians, which was followed by a demonstration celebrating Alexei Navalny’s birthday. Here are my thoughts and images from today’s demonstrations.
Today, a number of families from Chicago’s Iranian community gathered in Grant Park to honor the memory of Kian Pirfalak, an Iranian boy who was shot to death by Iranian security forces responding to protests over the killing of Mahsa Amini. Here are my thoughts about and images from this demonstration.
Memorial Day is celebrated with speeches, wreath-laying ceremonies, and parades, but it is about a lot more. The memories can be painful. Here are my thoughts about and photographs from today’s Memorial Day celebrations in the City of Chicago.
Three men were executed in Iran this past Friday. Today, members of Chicago’s Iranian community gathered in Millennium Park for a demonstration followed by a march designed to highlight these and other executions of political prisoners by the Iranian authorities. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
A small group of Assyrians demonstrated in Federal Plaza on May 19, 2023, asking the United States government for assistance in reclaiming their homelands. Unfortunately, the demonstrations was largely ineffective in advancing their cause. Here are my thoughts on the Assyrian cause, as well as on how they can improve the effectiveness of future efforts. Of course, I have included my images from the demonstration.
I spent Mother’s Day with members of Chicago’s Ukrainian community, who were commemorating the Azov Steel Plant fighters. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
Earlier today, I attended a rally on Michigan Avenue in support of imprisoned dissident Alexei Navalny, imprisoned Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, and other political prisoners. Here are my thought about and images from this inspiring demonstration.
Following the May Day celebration in Union Park, I headed to the Office of the Consulate General of the Philippines where a demonstration was scheduled to protest the upcoming meeting between President Biden and President Bongbong Marcos of the Philippines. The demonstration placed a hot spotlight on some important foreign policy issues. Here are my thoughts about and images from the event.
On Saturday, i attended a early May Day celebration in Chicago’s Union Park on the near Westside. It rained early on, but the demonstrators were still spirited. Here are my thoughts on and images from the rally and march.
I recently attended a demonstration by Chicago’s Tibetan protesting the portrayal of the Dalai Lama following a recent incident involving a young boy who the Dalai Lama kissed on the lips. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
Today I attended an abortion-rights march organized by Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
Bassist Linda May Han Oh performed this past Saturday night at the Reva and David Logan Center for the arts with a group of top-flight jazz musicians. Here are my thoughts about and images about the evening.
Indivisible Chicago organized a demonstration at Federal Plaza today in support of Tennessee Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pierson, as well as to draw attention to gun violence. Here are my images from and thoughts about the demonstration.
Tonight I headed to the UIC Campus for a student demonstration opposing Far Right Firebrand Charlie Kirk’s and his right to speak. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
I attended a Ukrainian rally and march commemorating the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The event was centered on 365 signs illustrating the the war’s cost. Here are my thoughts on and images from the event.
By my estimate 25 or so members of Chicago’s Ukrainian community gathered outside the Civic Opera House tonight to protest the Joffrey Ballet’s performance of a ballet based on Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina. While the imagery was great, the message—a condemnation of all things Russian, including Leo Tolstoy—was less than pitch-perfect. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
Saxophonist Melissa Aldama looked to the stars for inspiration during her performance tonight, keeping evil Clotho at bay. Here are my thoughts about and images from the performance.
Somewhere around 200 Chicagoans turned on a chilly Chicago evening to honor Tyre Nichols and other who have died at the hands of the police.
