Oct 14

Oct 14 5 To 8

Chicago, Demonstrations, Parades, Protest, Public Declarations

When I was following members of Chicago’s Palestinian Community this afternoon as they marched north on Michigan Avenue, I saw two police officers standing at the intersection of Randolph and Michigan; one wore senior-officer insignia. I stopped, asking both of them, “Any headcount yet?” The senior officer responded, “5 to 8,” to which I asked, “Only 500 to 800 people, you’ve got to be kidding?” He retorted, “Thousands,” and then noted that the street was filled with people for six to eight blocks.

The crowd’s size was also a topic for discussion on the bus home. A Palestinian couple offered me a seat—I passed—but we started talking. The young man told me he had heard there were upward to 15,000 marchers. And then tonight, one of the local news stations reported that the official police estimate was 2,000, but with the qualifier, “At times, the gathering certainly felt larger than that.”

The number was well over 2,000, but not 15,000. At one point, I climbed on one of the planters lining Michigan Avenue for an elevated view. I then stood transfixed for 10 minutes. Waves of people just kept coming. I also examined some my images depicting the marchers both before and after the march, as they stood in the plaza adjacent to Michigan Avenue and Ida B. Wells Drive. I didn’t count the dots, but there were clearly thousands of people in that plaza.

I will not describe the rally and march specifics in elaborate detail. Suffice it to say that there were lots of speeches, most of which were once again strident. Since Wednesday night’s rally, the Chicago City Council passed what has proved to be a controversial resolution supporting the Israelis. Several speakers were highly critical of the Council’s resolution.

Local politicians were skewered for their support of Israel, including Governor JB Pritzker and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. One speaker’s criticism of Schakowsky was particularly virulent.

The half-block long Palestinian flag returned, with the addition of a panel truck projecting videos and slogans on three of its sides. As for speakers, I enjoyed seeing Chicago civil rights icon Frank Chapman, as well as Iman Tareq Musleh, who spoke in more restrained tones, referring to the Palestinian Community as “a community of love;” then substituting “of peace” for “of love” when he repeated the phrase. A woman from Jewish Voice for Peace urged Jews to boycott travel to Israel unless it was in support of the Palestinian cause.

As with this week’s two prior demonstrations, nobody addressed the slaughter perpetrated last weekend by Hamas. Is Hamas representative of the Palestinian people, or are the men and women taking to Chicago’s streets also horrified by Hamas’ barbarianism? I still don’t have an answer.

The other major difference between today’s demonstration and the earlier ones was the level of participant engagement. As I repeatedly scanned the crowd, I saw a very attentive and engaged group of people. The decibel level at times was deafening, as people chanted, “Free, Free Palestine.”

Three other observations are worth making: First, as is often the case at demonstrations, many parents were accompanied by their children, which raises a fundamental issue. Are the parents presenting all sides of the debate, thereby giving their children the opportunity to decide for themselves? Should they be doing so?

Parents certainly have the right to and should transmit their values to their children. But I always wonder when transmission turns to indoctrination. These questions do not just pertain to today’s demonstration. I have previously asked the same question at abortion rights and pro-life rallies; gatherings of Trump detractors as well as those of his acolytes; gun control demonstrations; and rallies for political candidates.

As I encountered the cherubic faces of the young, I saw kids who were ecstatic to be included. Many knew the words to every chant, significantly elevating the decibel level. Their faces exuded pride in their community and heritage.

Walking back to the plaza at Michigan and Ida B. Wells Drive, I glanced over to my right-side. A father was walking with his five- or six-year-old son, telling him, “They occupy our people’s land.” A moment of silence passed, and then both spontaneously yelled, “Free, Free Palestine.” A minor moment in a day filled with many moments, but one that explains why conflicts like the Israeli-Palestinian one are so difficult to resolve, resulting in hostilities that fester for decades, if not centuries.

Second, as I have noted, Chicago’s Jewish Community has yet to hold a massive rally downtown. Several people have told me that the community fears violence. Some people may, but I don’t know if that is why Chicago’s major Jewish organizations have yet to hold a major demonstration.

In recent days, Chicago’s Jewish Community has chosen to gather in synagogues and less visible locations to memorialize the dead and show support for Israel. In Evanston, for example, people gathered this evening to highlight the plight of those held hostage by Hamas.

While these less visible events are just as appropriate as the Palestinian public rallies, those who support Israel most likely will be forced to counter the inevitable backlash if Israel does mount its expected full-scale invasion of Gaza. Virtually all the intelligence and military experts have warned that casualties on both sides will be high. When the body counts and images of dead Palestinians dominant cable news coverage—as they surely will—the opposition in the United States against Israel will increase, particularly among those under 50—there has already been significant opposition on college campuses.

Against that backdrop, Chicago’s Jewish Community has ceded the local media spotlight to the Palestinian Community. At some point, the Jewish Community will need to take back the spotlight in order to counter the Palestinian Community’s messaging. That may be critical given the increasing reluctance of some in Congress to appropriate funding for foreign military aide.

Third, there was some humor on the streets today despite the otherwise grim circumstances giving rise to the rally and march. The so-called Bucket Boys, who use plastic buckets and drum sticks to make quite the racket outside the Art Institute, were performing as usual. When the marchers headed north, the sidewalk drummers were dressed in their regular street garb. By the time the marchers returned, the Bucket Boys were adorned with Palestinian headwear. Not surprisingly, when I tossed a few dollars into one of their buckets, it was filled with paper money. The Bucket Boys are obviously good businessmen, which means they are apparently chameleon-like when working the street. Whatever it takes to fill the tip jar. Today, that meant wearing Palestinian garb.

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