All in Parades

Alex Jeffrey Pretti

On Saturday, January 24, 2026, Indivisible Chicago called for an emergency rally in Logan Square at the Illinois Centennial Memorial following the killing earlier in the day of Alex Jeffrey Pretti by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis. Over 500 people turned out for the rally and the subsequent march despite frigid temperatures. Here are my thoughts about and images from the event

The Intrepid

Saturday, January 24, 2026 proved to be another cold day in Chicago, with temperatures hovering near 0° F. Nevertheless, Rabbi Michael Ben Yosef and another demonstrator staged a rally at Congress Plaza in Grant Park demanding that ICE be abolished. Nearby six or seven members of Chicago’s Iranian Community held a demonstration calling for regime change in Iran. Here are my thoughts about an images from the two events.

MLK Day

On January 19, 2026, over 60 groups held a rally in Jane Byrne Park (site of the Old Water that survived the 1871 Great Chicago Fire). Ostensibly, the demonstration was a celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life, but the focus was on abolishing ICE, ending the war on Venezuela, removing Donald J. Trump from office, income inequality, and events unfolding in Minneapolis. Here are my thoughts about and images from the day.

GazaPalooza

Today, I attended another pro-Palestinian demonstration; this one at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Upper Wacker Drive. The heritage Palestinians apparently chose this location because it provided maximum visibility to those headed to Lollapalooza. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration and the march that followed.

Are You Wearing a Suit?

Chicago’s Ukrainian Community scheduled an emergency march and rally following the Oval Office dress down of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who actually was stylishly attired in his battle fatigues. I was not going to miss the Sunday rally at Jane Bryne Plaza, followed by the march to Daley Plaza. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.