Mar 21

Mar 21 Celebrating Nowruz (Spring)

Chicago, Demonstrations, Public Declarations

Following the memorial for more than 175 children and teachers who were killed when a U.S. tomahawk missile slammed into the Shajareh Tayyiba elementary school in Minab, Iran, I headed to Jane Byrne Plaza (site of Chicago’s historic Water Tower) for a demonstration by Chicago’s Iranian community in support of the people in Iran seeking freedom from the theocratic rule of the mullahs. When I arrived, no signs, flags or banners were anywhere to be found. Instead, the steps leading to the historic water tower were adorned with an elaborate display, celebrating Nowruz, which is New Year’s Day on the Iranian calendar. Unlike New Year’s Day in the West, Nowruz celebrates the arrival of Spring, which is otherwise known as the vernal equinox.

Looking closer at the display, I saw more than apples, candles, green sprigs, and dates. On the Iranian flags serving as backdrops were small photographs of people who the Iranian theocratic regime had killed during the January protests throughout Iran. Also on display was a sign thanking Donald J. Trump and a large placard displaying Reza Pahlavi’s image. Pahlavi is the son of the deposed and now deceased Shah of Iran.

Apparently, the people who assembled the display support returning Pahlavi to the Iranian throne. He has indicated that he would be a symbolic leader, who would bring democracy back to Iran.

I spent no more than 15 minutes in front of the display Several Iranian women were overseeing it, but there was no other activity.

Notably, there was a very heavy police presence, which had been there since at least 11:15 AM, when I passed the plaza on my way to Federal Plaza. I counted 12 police officers, but I probably missed a few. CPD must be stepping up its activity in light of the Donald J. Trump’s decision to commence a war on Iran. Officials apparently view demonstrations like this one as magnets that could attract terrorists.

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