Despite extremely cold, somewhere between 50 and 75 Iranians held a rally in Jane M. Byrne Plaza on January 17, 2026. They were calling for regime change in Iran. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
All in Chicago
Mixed-Up Confusion
On Saturday, January 10, 2025, members of Chicago’s Far Left community held a rally in Jane Byrne Plaza (location of the Old Water Tower) against Donald J. Trump’s war on Venezuela. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
Greenland Playbook
Donald J. Trump invaded Venezuela early this morning. By late afternoon, Chicago activists had 400 people on the streets demonstrating against Trump’s lawless imperialism. Here are my thoughts about and images from the rally and the subsequent march to Trump Tower.
Christmas Carols
On Sunday, December 7, 2025, 15 Christmas carolers could be seen on the sidewalk adjacent to Daley Plaza, where the City’s annual Christkindlmarket is located. They hoped their songs would highlight what many believe is a genocide unfolding in Gaza. The melodies were familiar, but the words to the Christmas songs had been changed to highlight the death and destruction that the Palestinian People have been experienced during the last two years. Here are my thoughts about and images from this holiday demonstration.
Black Friday Anemia
On Black Friday, November 29, 2025, demonstrators staged two rallies on Chicago’s Michigan Avenue. The first addressed a wide variety of issues, best summed up as the Trump agenda. The demonstrators were urging consumers to boycott Amazon.com, Home Depot, and Target. The second demonstration addressed animal rights and the trade in fur. Both events drew sparse attendance. Here are my thoughts about and images from both demonstrations.
Stabbed In the Back
Today, November 25, 2025, Chicago’s Ukrainian Community held a rally at the Wrigley Building Plaza, which was followed by a memorial service at Holy Name Cathedral so that the community could properly honor the victims of Holodomor. Here are my thoughts about and images from the day’s events.
Selenium Derivatization Blues
Billy Branch brought his Sons of the Blues to the Logan Center Friday night. The SOBs were larger than normal, with a horn section and three backup singers. Branch was launching his new album, The Blues is My Biography. The band the music was terrific. Here are my thoughts about and images from the evening.
Venezuela
On November 20, 2025, 75 demonstrators held a rally in Chicago’s Federal Plaza objecting to Donald J. Trump’s efforts to topple Venezuela strongman Nicolás Maduro’s regime, possibly through U.S. military intervention. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
Veterans Taking a Stand
Chicago-area veterans held a rally at Chicago’s Vietnam War Memorial along the Chicago Riverwalk to commemorate Veterans Day 2025. Given all the chaos created by Donald J. Trump, several speakers went far afield in their remarks, thereby overshadowing the stated theme—opposition to all war. Here are my thoughts about and images from the rally
Gatherings
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators, a lone anti-Trump demonstrator, and a group of motorcyclists all took to the streets on Saturday, October 4, 20025. Their paths crossed on Upper Wacker Drive, just to the west of Michigan Avenue. Here are my thoughts about and images from the three gatherings.
The "Enemy From Within"
On September 20, 2025, Chicago’s pro-Palestinian and “Trump-Out-of-Chicago” forces joined together what turned into a joint rally and march. Several hundred demonstrations castigated Trump, condemned ICE, and demanded that Israel cease military operations in Gaza. Here are my thoughts about and images from the rally and subsequent march.
Mexican Independence Day
On Sunday, September 14, 2025, Chicago’s Mexican Community celebrated Mexican Independence Day with a parade in Little Village. Here are my thoughts about and images from the afternoon celebration.
Head Fake
On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, the Coalition Against Trump staged an emergency demonstration at 5:00 PM in the Congress Gardens Plaza just off Michigan Avenue. Here are my thoughts about and images from the event.
Where Were You?
Late Saturday afternoon, I covered a rally demanding that Donald J. Trump keep the military and ICE agents out of Chicago. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration and subsequent march.
Naval Base Great Lakes
On Saturday, September 7, 2025, 100 people demonstrated outside Naval Base Great Lakes in Waukegan, Illinois in opposition to Donald J. Trump’s immigration policies and his willingness to deploy the National Guard and the U.S. military for domestic law enforcement purposes. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration and subsequent march.
Labor Day March
September has arrived, which means Labor Day weekend. Today, several thousand Chicagoans took to the streets in the West Loop and Fulton Market for a protest march against the Trump Administration. Here are my thoughts about and images from the event
Jazzfest, Day 2
The second day of the 2025 Chicago Jazz Festival brought a variety of jazz styles to Chicago’s Millennium Park. Hands down, pianist Patricia Barber outdid everyone with her lyrical wordplay rooted in the Beat poets and her piano work, but her band was also outstanding because it maintained a consistency musical line throughout Barber’s performance. Here are my thoughts about and images from the day.
Jazzfest, Day 1
The 2025 Chicago Jazz Festival opened its four-day run with a superb lineup. Here are my thoughts about and images from the the first day of the festival.
Ukrainian K-Pop All Stars
On Sunday, August 24, 2025, I attended the Chicago Ukrainian Community’s annual Independence Day celebration, which included speeches from Congressman Mike Quigley and Congresswoman Robin Kelly. Most importantly, I had another opportunity to see the Ukrainian K-Pop All Stars perform. Here are my thoughts about and images from exhilarating event.
Death in a Tent
On Saturday, August 20, 2025, members of the Chicago’s Palestinian Community held a demonstration at the intersection of Upper Wacker Drive and Michigan Avenue. Here are my observations about and images from the demonstration.