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.

Ritual Brings Relief

Late this afternoon, I headed to Federal Plaza for the first night of Hanukah. ‘Jewish Voice for Peace—Chicago,’ a pro-Palestinian Jewish group, asked those who support the Palestinians to bring menorahs for the ceremonial lighting of the candles. Here are my thoughts about and images from what turned out to be joyous and warm ‘demonstration.’

Visualizing Death

Yesterday, I attended a unique demonstration on the University of Illinois at Chicago’s campus. Students planted over 15,000 white flags in Geothermal Well Field, each inscribed with the name of a Gazan killed since October 7. Over a six-hour period, the students read the names aloud. Here are my thoughts about and images from this solemn event.

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.

'Maced' In Skokie

On Sunday, I was in Skokie, Illinois photographing a pro-Israeli event and a counter-demonstration by members of Chicago’s Palestinian Community. While photographing the interaction between two sets of demonstrators, I inhaled pepper spray or mace. Here are my thoughts about and photographs from the day’s events, including the sequence of photographs surrounding the ‘macing’ incident.

Like a Hurricane

This past Saturday I attended the fifth major rally staged by Chicago’s Palestinian community since the start of the Israeli-Hamas War. The next rally is scheduled for this upcoming Saturday, but thankfully I will be out of town. I am exhausted from these rallies. Here are my thoughts about and images from the rally.

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.