No Joy
I had planned to skip today’s pro-Palestinian rally and march on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, but I attended an earlier rally held by employees of the Chicago Tribune outside of the newspaper’s former headquarters. After that event wrapped up, I figured I might as well see what the Palestinians had in store for the Christmas shoppers traversing Michigan Avenue, but first, I grabbed a quick bite at Goddess and the Baker—the always savory Chicken Club, with a fruit cup.
Once I finished lunch, I headed over to Jane Byrne Plaza, which is kitty-corner from Water Tower Place (900 North Michigan Avenue). Not much of a crowd when I arrived at 1:30 PM, but as usual, people began streaming into the park once the speeches began at 2:00 PM. Little new ground was covered by the many speakers, although several gave harrowing accounts vividly illustrating the current conditions in Gaza.
When I left home this morning, my weather app reported that temperatures would be in the low forties, so I left one winter layer behind, which turned out to be a huge mistake. I’ll take snow any day of the week, but not the mixture of bone-chilling cold and sometimes pelting rain that greeted the demonstrators today.
For the first time in nine weeks, the weather had a noticeable effect on the crowd size. Somewhere between 750 and 1,250 people marched down the Michigan Avenue’s southbound lanes. Given the miserable conditions, that is still an impressive turnout, but nowhere equal to the thousands of demonstrators that have turned out for prior marches
Clarifying the Demographics. Before the rally began, I took the opportunity to pose one recurring question to a Palestinian community leader. How many of the Palestinian demonstrators have family or close friends still residing in Palestine?
Without any hesitation, he indicated that most have family there. He then noted that Palestinian immigration to the United States greatly expanded after 1967, an apparent reference to the Six-Day War, which resulted in Israel gaining control of the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula. In other words, many of those attending the rallies either had parents who immigrated or have themselves immigrated.
I then asked him whether people were in communication with their friends and relatives in Palestine, noting the periodic interruptions to cell networks and the Internet. While those disruptions may impede communications, he indicated that there still is regular communication, so Chicago Palestinians are receiving firsthand accounts of the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza.
I concluded by asking him whether the crowd was largely comprised of Palestinians, or whether there were people with familial roots in Syria, Egypt, Jordan, and other Middle Eastern countries. He said that the Palestinians’ plight is important to all Arabs, which meant that of those in the crowd with Middle Eastern origins, some traced their lineage to locales other than Palestine.
There is Additional Commentary Following This Selection of Photographs
[Click on an Image to Enlarge It]
The Camera Man Rather Than a Reporter Getting the Soundbite
Cold and Rain Did Not Detour People From Turning Out
"A Crime With Our Name On It"
"They Are Hungry, Thirsty, Homeless, and Isolated With No Internet or Any Commuincation!!"
Protected By an Umbrella
Wet But Still Waving in the Wind
Holding Her Waterproof Sign
"Free Palestine End Zionism"
A Passionate and Inspiring Orator
Listening
Protecting the Speakers From the Rain
"Stop the Killing in Gaza"
“Genocide” Reflected
A Yemeni Woman Leading the Marchers Down the Magnificent Mile
Trying to Keep the Northbound Lanes Open
Thumbs Up
Posing for a Photograph With an Important Person Displayed on His Phone
“Everyone’s Home for the Holidays”
Headed Back to Jane Byrne Plaza in the Pouring Rain
Finishing the March in the Rain
The Rain Coming Down on the Demonstrators as They Finish the March
Standing In Front of the Lead Banners At the March's End
Drenched Like a Wharf Rat
Calling Out Zara. Four days ago, fast-fashion retailer Zara pulled an advertising campaign for its winter apparel because the denizens of social media had determined the campaign’s dystopian images disrespectfully mirrored the conditions in Gaza—rocks, rubble. body bags, and destruction. Maybe there was a resemblance—I first had to stare at the ads to figure out what Zara thought it was trying to accomplish with the campaign, and then to figure out why the campaign was so offensive. I finally noticed the mannequins wrapped in what appeared to be white plastic. If someone were so inclined, they could find a resemblance between those mannequins and dead Palestinian children wrapped in white shrouds.
Notwithstanding that association, I am perplexed by the animosity toward Zara. The retailer claimed in an ‘X’ post that the campaign was created in July—a totally creditable claim given merchandising cycles—long before October 7. Deserving even greater weight, once there was an outcry, Zara pulled the ads. If those who were outraged had their way, many currently popular dystopian novels, movies, art, and other advertising campaigns would be canceled.
Despite what I consider responsible corporate behavior on Zara’s part, the organizers of today’s rally made a point of halting the march in front of Zara’s Michigan Avenue store. The demonstrator who had the mic then launched into a 5-minute diatribe, calling Zara out, with the those in the street responding wildly.
A group of demonstrators blocked the doorway to the store with a banner reading, “No Joy During Genocide,” while 20 or so demonstrators could be seen milling about inside the store. Several police officers joined the demonstrators inside, presumably making sure that no one did any damage, which brings me to Nobel Prize winner Elias Canetti’s 1960 book, Crowds and Power, in which he explores mob action and group think.
In discussing crowds and persecution, Canetti observed,
One of the most striking traits of the inner life of a crowd is the feeling of being persecuted, a peculiar angry sensitiveness and irritability directed against those it has once and forever nominated as enemies. [Those singled out as enemies] can behave in any manner, harsh or conciliatory, cold or sympathetic, severe or mild—whatever they do will be interpreted as springing from an unshakable malevolence, a premeditated intention to destroy the crowd, openly or by stealth.
Putting Canetti’s language into the vernacular, the organizers used Zara as red meat, hoping to generate energetic fervor and righteous indignation. But when those in the street chew the nourishment that the organizers threw their way, the demonstrators may be surprised at the taste of straw rather than juicy strip steak, cooked rare, blood rare.
Calling Out the Now Withdrawn Ad Campaign
"19, 076 Killed By Israel"
Halted at Zara
Making His Way Through An Opening Created When the Banner Moved Down the Street to Starbucks
Stopped in Front of Zara
Onto Starbucks. Once they finished with Zara, the demonstrators headed one block south, hoping to impede entrance into the Starbucks Reserve Roastery. This is not the first time that pro-Palestinians demonstrators have singled out Starbucks for shaming, but until today, I had no idea why the demonstrators thought such shaming was warranted.
The animosity is wrapped up in a dispute between Starbucks and the union representing 9,000 Starbucks employees—Starbucks Workers United. On October 7, the union posted on ‘X’ the phrase “Solidarity with Palestine” and a photograph of a Hamas bulldozer tearing down a fence during the attack.
Starbucks responded by first noting that the union’s use of Starbucks’ name, logo, and intellectual property had resulted in some members of the public attributing the union’s statement to Starbucks. The company than said, “Starbucks unequivocally condemns acts of terrorism, hate and violence, and we strongly disagree with the views expressed by Workers United." Eventually, Starbucks filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. Such a lawsuit is not surprising given trademark law, which effectively requires trademark holders to take affirmative action to protect their trademarks, or risk losing them.
Starbucks did what many did, issuing a statement “unequivocally condemn[ing] these acts of terrorism, hate and violence, and [we] disagree with the statements and views expressed by Workers United and its members.” Had the union not forced Starbucks hand, it most likely would have remained silent. Moreover, even though Starbucks issued a condemnation, it did not take sides in the underlying political dispute between the Palestinians and Israelis.
If the union objects to the Starbucks statement, then it needs to explain why it remains affiliated with the SEIU International. Mary Kay Henry, the union’s president, posted the following statement on ‘X,’
the violence in Israel and Palestine is unconscionable. @SEIU stands with all who are suffering, while strongly condemning anti-Semitism, Islamophobia & hate in all forms. I pray for a swift resolution and a future where all in the region can be happy, safe & live with dignity.
Henry’s statement is not much different than the one from Starbucks—both are general condemnations of violence. While I have no specific evidence, I do have a working hypothesis why Starbucks Workers United is focused on the tragedy in Palestine: It is using the dustup with Starbucks to further energize its efforts to unionize Starbucks’ workforce. Progressive causes and unionization go hand in hand, appealing to the same youthful demographic.
The pro-Palestinian organizers have regularly engaged in a similar linkages by pointing out that aid to Israel could be used to pay for affordable housing, health care, and student loan cancellation, which are all issues that appeal to many of the young people who support the Palestinians.
About to Plaster Another Sign to the Windows Lining the Ground Floor of the Starbucks Flagship Michigan Avenue Store
Senator Tammy Duckworth Plastered on the Windows of the Starbucks Michigan Avenue Roastery
Admiring the Demonstrators' Handiwork
No Joy During Genocide. The “No Joy” mantra is clever, but it also exudes arrogance. Plenty of Americans are genuinely horrified with what is transpiring in the Gaza, but most are capable of simultaneously holding multiple thoughts and emotions.
Parents have children who have holiday expectations; many people still view the holiday season through a religious lens; and just about everyone needs a respite from the dour news. No one should be expected to focus on a single issue 24/7. If there is such an expectation, how does somebody choose among Gaza, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Haiti, and countless other locales enmeshed in war and civil strife?
While standing in a frenzied crowd just feet from the entrance of Zara trying to capture images, I encountered an older women (likely the mother) pulling a visibly distraught child through the mass of humanity. Maybe the kid was having a bad day, but I am willing to bet that the kids’ distress was triggered by the angry crowd. I have a simple question for the organizers: If I am correct—that the demonstration triggered the kids’ hysteria—do you think that you won two converts over to your viewpoint? I seriously doubt it. In fact, I am willing to bet that the woman recounted the incident to dozens of others when she arrived home, and not in a favorable way.
A Frightened Shopper Navigates the Zara Blockade
I also saw a young man ‘ejected’ by the crowd. I heard an exchange of words, but I couldn’t decipher them. Maybe he told people to get out of his way, or maybe he lobbed a pro-Israeli taunt into the crowd. Something happened, because the police grabbed him, and forcibly shoved him behind police lines, with one officer telling him in no uncertain terms, “Get the hell of here.” I must ask once again: do the pro-Palestinian organizers think these sort of confrontations further their cause?
None of my observations address the underlying merits of the case that the pro-Palestinians organizers hope to make by taking to the street. While such tactics may energize the demonstrators, they are counter productive.
Whisked Away By the Police To Avoid a Potential Confrontation With the Demonstrators Standing Outside Zara
The Palestinians are masters of vivid imagery, as the photograph below demonstrates. Rather than targeting Zara, their effort would have been better served by animating the picture of Santa Claus, with a Santa Claus riding on ruble-filled float. Rather than carrying the white shrouds into Zara where virtually nobody saw them, demonstrators could have walked along side the float carrying the infant-sized shrouds.
Santa Comes to Gaza
Copyright 2023, Jack B. Siegel, All Rights Reserved. Do Not Alter, Copy, Download, Display, Distribute, or Reproduce Without the Prior Written Consent of the Copyright Holder.
