Oct 18

Oct 18 Ukrainians In the Streets

Chicago, Demonstrations, Donald J. Trump, Parades, Performance, Protest, Public Declarations, Ukraine

Last weekend’s demonstration organized by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (Illinois Division) was canceled once the UCCA-IL realized that the demonstration conflicted with the Chicago Marathon. But like their counterparts on the frontlines in Ukraine, Chicago’s Ukrainians are persistent, which is why about 200 of them showed up today at the Wrigley Building plaza for what turned out to be one of UCCA-IL’s better demonstrations. People were decked out in colorful Ukrainian flags and carried clever signs and placards.

Today was a perfect day for a demonstration. The skies were deep blue and the autumn air was crisp. Some demonstrators wore puffy winter coats, but the more hardy ones—the ones who are ready for battle on the frontlines—wore hoodies or light jackets. Some community members also sent a message to the American people, displaying the hashtag “#YouPaidForThis” on signage, an apparent reference to the purchase of Russian diesel.

Notably, the gloves came off today, at least figuratively speaking. The Ukrainians have always been reticent when it comes to criticizing Donald J. Trump despite his obsequious deference to Vladimir Putin, who is obviously one of the autocrats that Trump’s idolizes and emulates. This past week saw Trump and Elon Musk doing their best to sell out Ukrainian democracy. Hoping to bring diesel prices down before the midterm election, Trump struck a deal with Putin on October 9th to purchase 2.25 million barrels of diesel from Russia. Putin also agreed to release 3.0 million tons of diesel fuel within the near future. Of course, those actions will have little impact on diesel prices before the election, but Trump is not known to be the sharpest blade in the drawer.

In exchange for the diesel deal, Trump ordered that Ukraine be denied access to Starlink, the Musk satellite communications system that facilitates Ukraine’s military battlefield communication and permits Ukraine to warn civilians about Russian missile attacks in time for civilians to seek shelter. Of course Trump denied involvement in that decision, choosing to join Elon Musk in a circular firing squad.

Capping off his efforts to undermine Ukraine, Trump called for President Volodymyr Zelensky’s resignation, to be followed by elections. Trump went so far as to claim that Zelensky “doesn’t want to end this war, and probably never did.” Talk about selling out democracy and an ally.

In the face of Trump’s overt turn against Ukraine, more than a few demonstrators carried professionally printed signs calling Trump “amoral, inept, [and] corrupt.” The illustrations were fantastic, with one in which Trump was portrayed as the Statue of Liberty shaking hands with Putin as a Ukrainian city burns in the background.

At least one of the Ukrainian speakers outrightly condemned Trump’s willingness to openly support Putin. Others struck a more circumspect note, but everyone listening could read between the lines. Congressman Mike Quigley, who is running in Chicago’s mayoral election, kicked the speeches off with passionate words, which included references to Trump’s sellout of Ukraine.

Following an hour of speeches, the Ukrainians marched north along Michigan Avenue to Jane Byrne Park, where today’s organizer, Zoryana Smozhanyk, stood on the steps leading to the Water Tower with bullhorn in hand. She gave the final impassioned speech of the day.

People did not stand around chatting after Smozhanyk concluded her remarks. Presumably they rushed home or to a nearby bar hoping to catch the second half of the Bears game against the Atlanta Falcons. Life goes on.

[Click on an Image to Enlarge It. The Images Are Not Necessarily in Exact Chronological Order]