May 2

May 2 May Day

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

A news crew flying over the May Day march reported that over 1,000 demonstrators were headed from Union Park to Daley Plaza. In newspeak, “over 1,000” means fewer than 1,750. At 1,750, the reporter high above the marchers would have put the number at “close to 2,000.”

On the ground, I put the number at 3,000, but reviewing my photographs, I could see that the marchers were not in a densely packed formation. Whatever the number, it was below my 25,000 forecast. Put simply, the turnout was pathetic.

Sixteen months into Trump 2.0, the U.S. is at war in Iran; Donald J. Trump has telegraphed his plans to invade Cuba once he is finished with Iran; ICE continues its aggressive deportation campaign, trampling on people’s civil rights; inflation is unabated, particularly with energy prices soaring; our democratic institutions are in tatters as Trump violates one norm after another; Trump and his family have increased their net worths by billions of dollars, with Jared Kushner serving as the lead Middle East envoy while harvesting billions of dollars in investments from Gulf State coffers; licenses for wind farms have been revoked; tax rates on the wealthy are at decades low levels even though the national debt now equals the U.S. gross domestic product; efforts are underway to steal the 2026 midterm elections, as first became evident when Texas, at Trump’s request, eliminated five Democratic House seats through redistricting; the U.S. has abandoned the Ukrainian freedom fighters who have been left to repel Putin’s forces without any U.S. aid; and the U.S. Department of Justice has lost its longstanding independence, becoming Trump’s personal law firm.

Standing in Union Park, I was struck by the number of organizations fielding marchers. I would bet at least 30 groups participated, including Arise Chicago, Centro de Trabajadores Unidos, the Chicago Alliance Against Racism, the Chicago Workers Collaborative, the Chicago Teachers Union, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights, the RevComs, the U.S. Palestinian Network, and Warehouse Workers for Justice.

Missing were the suburbanites and the upscale Lefties who turn out for the “No Kings” rallies. Ironically, Union Park takes its name from all the union headquarters surrounding the park, but organized labor was largely MIA today. This afternoon’s demonstrators were primarily students, minimum wage workers, and local socialists and communists. Jeans and monochromatic black and brown jackets were the dominant attire.

I am not a fan of the speeches at demonstrations, but today I recognized why some sort of program before a march is advisable. The people standing in Union Park waiting for the march to begin did not join together as a cohesive unit. I had no sense of the passion or enthusiasm that comes with standing united while cheering for the speakers. The disparate groups, each one staking out a small patch of territory in Union Park, did not project a common purpose. Had someone been in a helicopter circling above Union Park, they might have easily mistaken those standing in the park for cows grazing in the grass.

Given current events, the signage covered the full gamut of issues that regularly attract the Left’s attention: the war on Iran, U.S. imperialism, immigration, racism, and economic inequality. Worker rights were just one of many concerns on a day intended to foster those rights. As I have said many times before, when a demonstration is about everything, it is about nothing.

Six or seven counter demonstrators stood behind a protective barrier comprised of about a dozen CPD officers. The contrarians were rather lame. One wore a red MAGA cap, while another’s face was hidden behind a plastic, anti-riot shield.

With two or three exceptions, those gathered for the march either ignored the counter demonstrators or momentarily paused for a look that satisfied their curiosity. One woman who encountered the demonstrators was overcome by hysteria, seemingly trying to charge CPD’s human barricade enveloping the counter demonstrators. Fortunately for her, she was accompanied by a male friend, who put her in a tight grip, restraining her. He finally picked her up, dragging her away from the provocation, which probably kept her from being arrested.

Later I was speaking with a far Left regular at Chicago rallies and marches. We both agreed that under no circumstances is it worth getting arrested at a demonstration. Unless you draw blood, you probably aren’t going to jail, but there are lawyer fees, court costs, and the inconvenience of court appearances.

As for CPD, they were out in force today. As we marched along the route, officers were positioned at every cross street and alleyway intersecting the route. Thankfully, the City did not have a snow emergency today, which given recent temperatures, was a distinct possibility. Every salt truck and plow in the City’s fleet must have been in use today, serving as barriers that would prevent a speeding vehicle from plowing into the demonstrators.

While I did hear the marchers chant “CPD KKK” on several occasions, truth be told, the marchers owe CPD a debt of gratitude. Contrary to popular opinion, the police officers who handle demonstrators are interested in only one thing: keeping the demonstrators safe. As for officer demeanor, I would use the word “bemused.”

Plenty of high school students took part. Given the overall lackluster turnout, we now know why the Chicago Teachers Union wanted the Chicago Public School system to cancel classes this afternoon, and then to use school buses to transport interested students to Union Park on the City’s nickel.

I’ve spoken to a number of people about CTU’s gambit. Everyone agrees, spending taxpayer money to transport students to a political demonstration is inappropriate. Imagine if the Trumpers in Florida, Texas, or Tennessee pulled a similar stunt. As for teaching students about civic engagement, there are plenty of demonstrations on Saturdays, Sundays, and after school. Given the abysmal achievement test scores coming out the Chicago public schools, the students in attendance today would have been far better served by attending class this afternoon.

As I learned when I arrived, no speeches or other activity were planned at Daley Plaza, which meant the march ended with a whimper. Overall, today’s march was a lackluster affair, which will not move the needle.

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