Mar 7

Mar 7 Iranian Exuberance

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

I was a bit gloomy as I walked to Daley Plaza at 1:30 PM. The 12:00 PM anti-Iranian war demonstration at Water Tower Plaza was a bust. The group was relatively small, with people scattered throughout the plaza. Although there were chants, overall, the demonstration was low energy.

Together with two other photographers, I left before the demonstrators marched south on Michigan Avenue. We headed to the demonstration in support of science. While the signage was much better than what was on display during the anti-war protest, the 100 demonstrators gathered in Federal Plaza were anything but energetic. After a long winter, maybe the grey skies had everyone in the dumps.

Shortly before the 2:00 PM rally in support of the U.S. and Israeli invasion of Iran, I grabbed a hot dog and Diet Coke at Washington Hall, one of several food courts in the Loop. I then walked the half block to Daley Plaza where the Chicago Iranian community’s demonstration was just getting underway. Like today’s two earlier demonstrations, turnout was lackluster—maybe 100 people—but attendance was where the similarities ended.

The Iranians were ready to celebrate. Donald J. Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu are fulfilling their every wish as the U.S. and Israeli militaries demolish the Iranian regime’s missile systems and decapitate its leadership, including the elimination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died last Saturday in the early minutes of the war as Israel leveled his compound in Tehran before he had time to escape to his secure bunker.

A number of people spoke, but the speeches were secondary. The D.J. with his electronics dominated, pumping out anthems and disco music, much of which was in Farsi. No problem because with disco, it’s the pounding bass beat rather than the words that matter. People were dancing and twirling. Many were wildly waving signs and flags. The fervor approached that seen in Southern Baptist churches on Sunday mornings.

Midway through the festivities, the D.J. dropped the bar mitzvah party staple, the Village People’s classic, YMCA. I even found myself dancing, which my photographer buds were more than happy to capture on video. I went so far as to put in a request with the D.J. for Gloria Gaynor’s, I Will Survive, which seemed appropriate.

Based on the flags and signage, the people who turned out today support Reza Pahlavi, the deposed Shah’s son, and his plan to bring democracy to Iran. Many of those waving flags chose the traditional Iranian flag, which includes a lion and the sun, symbolizing the Iranian monarchy. Following the overthrow of the Shah in 1979, the clerics decreed that the lion and sun be removed from the flag as part of their effort to substitute theocratic for dynastic rule.

The signage made reference to “The Final Battle” and “Make Iran Great Again.” Many demonstrators held pictures of Reza Pahlavi. My favorite sign, however, was the one that pictured Lindsey Graham, Donald J. Trump, Reza Pahlavi, and Benjamin Netanyahu standing in formation.

For me, the most disconcerting chant came when people started thanking Trump and “B.B.” for attacking the Iranian regime. With just a few exceptions, demonstrators during the last decade have not come to Daley Plaza to praise Trump, but rather to impeach him. “Trump Must Go!" While I understand why the Iranian community supports Trump and Netanyahu—the two are doing what the protesters who were slaughtered in Tehran’s streets couldn’t do—the Iranian community is making a gigantic mistake by conflating a free Iran with Trump and Netanyahu.

A majority of Americans already oppose Trump’s war on Iran. As the body bags begin arriving at Dover Air Force Base, the financial costs of the war mount (estimated to be $1 billion per day), suicide bombers blow themselves up in American cities, and the Middle East descends into chaos, Americans will turn on Trump’s war just as they turned on LBJ’s war in the Sixties. When they do, Trump will abandon the Iranians.

Strategically, the Iranian community would be wise to call for a free Iran, but avoid associating themselves with Trump and Netanyahu. If Chicago’s Iranian community must praise Trump and Netanyahu, do it out of sight.

To the organizer’s credit, one speaker paid tribute to the six Americans who were killed last weekend in Kuwait when an Iranian drone struck. That speaker indicated that there would be a formal remembrance of those Americans at a later date. The organizers should make sure that the media knows when and where that tribute will take place.

The demonstration was marred by one unfortunate incident. Given how quickly events unfolded, I am a bit confused about what happened, but other photographers told me that a man rode a bike in front of the stage while yelling what one photographer described as obscenities. CPD responded quickly, escorting the man to the eastside of Daley Plaza, but as far as I know, he was not arrested.

When surrounded by the officers, he held his phone out, claiming that he had video showing that he was not aggressor—apparently there was some sort of physical contact between him and one or more demonstrators. I have no idea whether he was a member of another Iranian faction, an anti-war protester, or an anti-Trumper.

While the incident was relatively benign, it did add a bit of excitement to the affair. Earlier in the day, I had wondered whether there would be violent confrontations should the Iranians supporting freedom in Iran and the anti-war demonstrators ever interact. I have no doubt that CPD will monitor anti- and pro-war demonstrations, looking out for counter demonstrators.

As I was about to head home, two non-Iranian gentlemen who were identified as Republicans took the podium. The first one called for freedom in Iran. I left just as the second man was about to speak.

I couldn’t help wondering why two men identified as Republicans were speaking. Speculating, I wonder whether Illinois Republicans view Chicago’s Iranian community as a “gettable” voting block given the community’s positive feelings for Trump and Lindsey Graham.

One thing is for certain: The Iranian community is spending money on these demonstrations. The signage is highly professional, changing from demonstration to demonstration.

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