Jul 8

Jul 8 The Canary

Jack Siegel

Demonstrations, Protest, Public Declarations

“The Time of Fear Is Over”

— From a Poster Prepared by the Canary, an Anonymous Russian Dissident

“And I don’t know why but with you I’d dance in a storm in my best dress

Fearless”

— Fearless, Taylor Swift, from Fearless (2008)

By my count, 25 members of Chicago’s Russian and Belarusian communities gathered in Daley Plaza at Noon today to demonstrate against the transfer of nuclear weapons to Belarus by Russian President Vladimir Putin. They argued that the transfer raised humanitarian and environmental concerns; violated nuclear non-proliferation norms; increased the risk of nuclear proliferation; and impinged on Belarusian sovereignty. As the old adage goes, “Other than that, how was the play Mrs. Lincoln?”

The demonstrators were keenly aware that this upcoming week will bring NATO members together for a summit in Lithuania. With that in mind, the demonstrators demanded that the nuclear proliferation in Belarus be addressed during the summit.

Those present also claimed that President Alexander Lukashenko is not the legitimate president of Belarus—apparently they view him as Putin’s puppet. There were plenty of reminders of the Ukrainian war—including a blue and yellow flag and similarly-colored signage in the crowd. At least one speaker noted the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, as well as the threats to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant located in Ukraine—Europe’s largest nuclear plant.

At 12:40 PM, the group left Daley Plaza, marching to Millennium Park, where they lined the sidewalk adjacent to Michigan Avenue. Several demonstrators handed out leaflets to passersby, and two rather boisterous demonstrators led the group through the usual chants.

At 1:25 PM, the group marched back to Daley Plaza, where they took a team photo in front of the Picasso sculpture. When I said to one of the demonstrators that I assumed I would see him tomorrow at the Ukrainian demonstration, he smiled. He wasn’t sure he or other Russians would attend because the Ukrainians don’t like Russians. Yes, I was a bit taken aback. I said, “You guys oppose Putin as much as they do, and you are siding with Ukraine. He indicated that the Ukrainians do appreciate the support, but he then agreed when I said, “It’s complicated.”

As for the signage on display today: Over the last year, I have enjoyed the artwork that has graced the posters and placards at anti-Putin demonstrations. I particularly like the homages to the Russian Constructivist movement that was lead by the artists El Lissitzky, Alexander Rodchenko, and Vladimir Tatlin. Today, one of the demonstrators pointed out two signs that incorporated the work of “The Canary”—a Russian dissident who produces protest art anonymously while still living in Russia, and then posts her work to Telegram. One sign incorporated a Constructivist-styled graphic recalling Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator. Another, using Constructivist lettering, proclaimed that “The Time for Fear is Over.”

Before ending, there was one noteworthy confluence: As the demonstrators stood outside Millennium Park, a number of kids attired in dark blue t-shirts adorned with red text walked past the gathering. A nonprofit—My Block, My Hood, My City—was hosting an event for 1,000 kids from Chicago’s South and West Sides. The youngsters spent the day in Chicago’s downtown, visiting the Art Institute, Millennium Park, the John Hancock Tower, and other iconic locations. Each kid was given $50 for food and entertainment. Some apparently opted for one of the Wendella boat excursions on the Chicago River.

Over the course of the day, I encountered several groups of these kids, many of whom, according to the organizers, had never been downtown before. As I was photographing the demonstrators, a number of the youngsters passed by, apparently headed to the Art Institute. While fun was the main course, one of the day’s offerings inadvertently included a civics lesson highlighting the First Amendment.

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