On Saturday, March 22, 2025, somewhere between 50 and 75 demonstrators assembled outside the Tesla dealership in Chicago’s Gold Coast. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
All in Performance
Khalil's Right
On Tuesday, Chicago’s pro-Palestinian forces held what was billed as an emergency rally in Federal Plaza on behalf of Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University graduate student who was taken into custody Sunday night by ICE agents because he helped orchestrate demonstrations on Columbia’s campus during the Spring of 2024. Whether you are pro-Israeli or pro-Palestinian, Khalil’s case raises important First Amendment and right-to-legal counsel issues that should concern every American. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration, including two images of Khalil I captured when I visited Columbia’s campus during the Spring of 2024
'Tesla Takedown'
Last Saturday, 250 people marched to the Gold Coast Tesla store to call out Elon Musk, DOGE, and Donald J. Trump. Here are my thoughts about and images from this demonstration.
Women Hit the Streets
On Saturday, March 8, 2025, I attended Chicago’s celebration of International Women’s Day in Daley Plaza. Fifteen hundred demonstrators turned out. After several speeches, the demonstrators marched to Trump Tower for obvious reasons. Here are my thought about and images from the day’s events
Scientific Repeat
On Friday, May 7, 2022, rallies were held throughout the United States under the moniker, Stand Up for Science 2025. Its focus was on Trump’s misinformation, denigration of scientific facts, and cuts to NIH, CDC, and other funding that supports scientific and medical research. Here are my thoughts about and images from the rally.
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.
Honoring the Dead
Ten years ago, on February 27, 2015, Vladimir Putin had the Russian physicist and politician, Boris Nemtsov assassinated within eyesight of the Kremlin. Today, Russian émigrés in Chicago, gathered in the Wrigley Building Plaza to commemorate Nemtsov’s death, as well as the deaths of other dissidents. Here are my thoughts about and images from the gathering.
Presidents' Day
A group calling itself #50501 called for nationwide demonstrations against the Trump Administration and Elon Musk on Presidents’ Day. About 300 people assembled in Chicago’s Millennium Park for a rally, before marching to Trump Tower, where they met up with another group that held a demonstration in Chicago’s Federal Plaza. Here are my thoughts about and images from what was a relatively short demonstration on a very cold day.
Navalny, One Year Later
Sunday, February 16, 2025 marked the first anniversary of Alexei Navalny’s death at the hands of Vladimir Putin’s regime. Chicago’s Russian Émigré Community marked the anniversary with a solemn memorial service. Here are my thoughts about and images from the service.
Elon and Transgender
On Saturday, I attended two of the five demonstrations scheduled in Chicago. One was a protest outside of the Rush Street Tesla dealership that targeted Elon Musk and Doge. The other was a transgender rights demonstration near the Ann & Robert Lurie Children’s Hospital. Here are my thoughts about and images from these two events.
Eye of the Storm
On Saturday, February 9, 2025, I headed to Chicago’s Little Village, home to the largest Mexican Community in the Midwest for a demonstration calling out President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Here are my thoughts about and images from the rally and march.
'Stretch' Music
On Friday, January 31, trumpeter Chief Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott) performed an electrifying set at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts. Here are my thoughts about and images from Adjuah’s performance.
Southern Soul at Logan
On January 25, 2025, the University of Chicago staged a Southern Soul Celebration at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts. Leading the charge were singers Joe Barr, Theo Huff, and Nellie “Tiger” Travis, backed by the Platinum Band. Here are my thoughts about and images from this fun-filled evening.
A Star Is Born
For the second year in a row, pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched down Chicago’s Magnificent Mile on Black Friday. Today’s star was Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss, a member of the anti-Zionist group, Neturei Karta. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
The Enemy Within
Today, members of Russian’s émigré community, commemorated those who were killed by Joseph Stalin during the Great Purge/Great Terror (1936-38). Known as the Return of Names, this annual commemoration is particularly relevant to Americans this year, as presidential candidate Donald J. Trump, tosses the phrase “The Enemy Within” around during his speeches. Here are my thoughts about and images from this small, but important ceremony.
Ukrainians Back At It
Chicago’s Ukrainian Community staged a demonstration in Lincoln Park, demanding that Russia release the Azovstal Defenders who are currently imprisoned. Not surprisingly, the U.S. Presidential Election cast a long and dark shadow over the event. Here are my thoughts about and images from the event.
SAIC Walkout
On Thursday, October 24, 2024, students at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago held a demonstration, demanding that the Art Institute cut its ties with the Crown Family because the family still holds a significant interest in General Dynamics, a manufacturer of bombs used by the Israeli Defense Forces in the war against Hamas. Here are my thoughts about and images from the spirited demonstration.
Melanie Charles
Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Melanie Charles brought her quintet to the Reva and David Logan Center for the Performing Arts Friday Evening, kicking off the 2024-25 Jazz At The Logan series. Here are my thoughts about and images from the evening.
Trump At The Fairmont
On Columbus Day, former President spoke to the Economics Club of Chicago at the Fairmont Hotel. Chicago’s pro-Palestinian forces held a press conference outside the hotel, which drew more media than that 10 to 15 demonstrators who were present. Here are my thoughts about and images from the press conference and demonstration.
Marking One Year (IV)
The group, If Not Now, held a memorial service for those Israelis and Palestinians who were killed during the last year as a consequence of the attack by Hamas on October 7th and the subsequent Israeli military response. Here are my thoughts about and images from the memorial.