Jul 25

Jul 25 Remembering ICE's Victims

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

People are still heading out to the Broadview ICE deportation facility to express their dissatisfaction with Donald J. Trump’s treatment of migrants, but ICE enforcement operations now are centered on other states, so Chicago’s outward fervor against Trump’s immigration policies has died down, at least a bit. Today, activists convened in Grant Park across from the Congress Hotel, hoping to reignite some of the outrage over Trump’s treatment of migrants. While the activists may not like my characterization, the rally was rather subdued. Five or six people gave speeches, while a predominantly elderly crowd passively listened. No politicians spoke. I don’t recall many, if any chants. The speakers covered no new ground.

Today’s focus was on the 70 people who have been killed on the street by ICE agents or who have died in ICE detention facilities. I didn’t hear the names being read aloud, but someone indicated that the group would read the name of each person who had been killed or during ICE operations or died while held in custody. Many in the crowd of 150 people held white signs identifying one of the deceased.

After an hour, the group marched north on Michigan Avenue until they reached the Trump Tower. The group stood on Upper Wacker Drive, with the American flags hanging from Trump Tower visible in the background. After 15 or 20 minutes, the demonstrators began to disperse.

I don’t know whether it is apathy, frustration, or hopelessness, but the demonstrators just aren’t showing the level of energy that they did last year. I give those who turned out credit for trying to keep the issue alive, but if anyone is keeping score, I would chalk up today’s rather lackluster demonstration as a sign that Trump is winning the debate.

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