On Saturday, March 7, 2026, 75 people gathered in Jane Byrne Plaza (site of Chicago’s historic Water Tower) for a demonstration against Donald J. Trump’s war on Iran. Here are my thoughts about and images from the rally.
All in Chicago
Pretzel Logic
On March, 2, 2026, somewhere around 100 people gathered in Chicago’s Congress Plaza for an demonstration against Donald J. Trump’s unauthorized and unconstitutional war on Iran. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
They Can Taste Freedom
On Saturday, February 14, 2026, Chicago’s Iranian community took to the streets for a massive rally and march calling for regime change in Iran. Given recent events in Iran and President Trump’s pronouncements, the demonstrators could taste the victory that they have sought for decades. Here are my thoughts about and images from today’s events.
Julia Keefe
Julia Keefe brought her Indigenous Jazz Ensemble to the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts on Friday, January 30, 2026. Keefe and Company focused on the works of Jim Pepper and Mildred Bailey, with several self-penned compositions tossed in for good measure. Here are my thoughts about and images from the evening.
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.
Upping the Ante
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.
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.