Last Tuesday—June 17, 2025—I attended the annual World Refugee Day ceremony in Daley Plaza. Here are my thoughts about and images from the event.
All in Chicago
Blues Fest, Day 4
The 2025 Chicago Blues Festival went out with a bang tonight at the Pritzker Pavilion. Unfortunately, C.J. Chenier was scratched from the lineup due to an hour-long rain delay, but Lurrie Bell, Avery R. Young, and Mavis Staples did take the stage. Here are my thoughts about and images from the day’s performances.
Blues Fest, Day 3
Saturday brought an exciting days of Blues to Chicago’s Millennium Park as the 2025 Chicago Blues Festival kept churning out exciting music for the thousands who flooded the park today. Here are my thoughts about and images from the day’s festivities.
Blues Fest, Day 2
The 2025 Chicago Bluesfest opened its run in Chicago’s Millennium Park today. For me, the big name of the day was Christone “Kingfish” ingram who played during the B.B. Ing Centennial Tribute on the main stage at the Pritzker Pavilion. Tomorrow Kingfish is the headliner. Here are my thoughts about Kingfish’s and all the other often incendiary performances, together with my images.
Blues Fest, Day 1
The 2025 Chicago Bluesfest kicked off this evening at the Ramova Theatre in Bridgeport. The bill included 91-year-old living legend Bobby Rush, as well as Billy Branch and the Sons of the Blues. Here are my thoughts about electrifying performances, together with my images from the evening.
River North Escapades
Yesterday, I took a walk through Chicago’s River North neighborhood and along the Chicago River. Here are my thoughts about and the images from my stroll.
Vets on Memorial Day
On Monday, May 26, 2025, I attended a Memorial Day ceremony at Chicago’s Vietnam War Memorial located along the Chicago Riverwalk. Here are my thoughts about and images from what turned into a powerful anti-Trump demonstration.
5 Demos, 1 Day
On Saturday, May 24, 2025, I headed down to the Loop, hoping to photograph Chicago’s architecture. Before getting to the Loop, I was sidetracked. Over the course of the next several hours, I photographed five demonstrations. Here are my thoughts about and images from a very weird afternoon.
Sunday Sermon
On Sunday, May 18, 2025, I covered a Chicago Ukrainian Community demonstration commemorating the second anniversary of the end of the siege of the Azovstal Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol, Ukraine. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
Cathartic
On Saturday, May 17, 2025, 75 people held a demonstration outside the ICE’s Chicago field offices to protest the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador by the Trump Administration. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
Free Tibet
On Saturday, May 17, 2025, I attended a demonstration organized by members of Chicago’s Tibetan Community demanding that the Chinese government recognize Tibet as an autonomous nation. The demonstrators also demanded the release of the Panchen Lama, who was kidnapped by the Chinese government 30 years ago, when he was just a 6-year-old boy. Here are my thoughts about and images from what was a colorful demonstration.
Ditch the Students
On Saturday, May 10, 2025, Chicago’s Palestinian community held the fourth annual raising of the Palestinian flag in Daley Plaza. Here are my thoughts about and images from the ceremony.
Empty the Tanks
On Saturday, May 10, 2025, I attended a small demonstration at the Shedd Aquarium. The demonstrators demanded that the Shedd “empty the tanks,” freeing the dolphins and whales held in captivity. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
Raising the Flag
Today, members of Chicago’s Jewish community gathered in Daley Plaza for the annual Israeli flag raising ceremony. Here are my thoughts about and images from the event.
Divide and Conquer
As usual, Chicago’s labor unions and Progressive forces staged the annual May Day rally in Union Park, followed by a lengthy march to Grant Park. This year, Trump and immigrant rights were major themes. Here are my thoughts about and images from the today’s events
Mass Mobilization
On Saturday, April 5, 2025, Indivisible Chicago staged a Mass Mobilization in Chicago’s Daley Plaza against the Trump/Musk agenda. Here are my thoughts about and images from the event.
Trans Storm
On Sunday, March 30, 2025, members of Chicago’s Transgender Community rallied in Federal Plaza, and then marched through a downpour to Trump Tower. Here are my thoughts about and images from those events.
Still Another One
On Saturday, March 29, 2025, I attended a pro-Palestinian rally and march commemorating Land Day. Here are my thoughts about and photographs from the demonstration
Tesla Replay
On Saturday March 29, 2025, I attended a ‘Tesla Takedown’ outside of Chicago’s Gold Coast Tesla dealership. Here are my thoughts about and images from the event.
Funding for Ukraine
On Thursday, March 27, 2025, I attended a fundraiser for the Ukrainian military at Le Piano, a jazz club located in Chicago’s Rogers Park. Here are my thoughts about and images from the evening of fun and music.