Following today’s pro-Palestinian Mother’s Day rally at Jane Byrne Park, I hopped on a Red Line train headed to DePaul University. After 13 days, the Gaza Solidarity Encampment was still up and running, but there were rumors that DePaul would close it down shortly.

The prior Sunday, there had been a confrontation between the encampers and some pro-Israeli antagonists. Nothing big; just some scuffles. Naturally, my photojournalist friends and I wanted to know whether there would be a second confrontation, as did the local television stations, who were out in force. The relatively heavy police presence indicated that CPD was concerned that there might be a recurrence of hostilities.

After arriving, I took a quick walk through the encampment. It had significantly expanded since my last visit 11 days earlier. The encampment had reached the point where vertical rather than horizontal expansion might be necessary to accommodate more tents. Designing a two- or three-story tent might be a good project for those enrolled in the university’s interdisciplinary Architecture and Urbanism program.

The Police and the Media. As I watched the police congregated on Fullerton Avenue, I realized that they share much in common with the media. Both groups stand around for hours, bored, waiting for something to happen. But there is one difference. The police want to finish the shift without incident. While the photojournalists will tell you that they hope there will no violence, let’s face it, the photos are much better if there is an incident or a riot. New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman described the phenomenon in his National Book Award winning account of his long-term stays in Beirut and Jerusalem, From Beirut to Jerusalem (1989):

“Israeli soldiers were standing off at a distance,” said Ya‘ari, “facing a big violent crowd of Palestinian demonstrators who were throwing rocks, bottles, Molotov cocktails. The following conversation took place between the [American] cameramen and the Israeli officer in charge. The officer said, ‘We are not going to go in. We are not going to do it for you.’ And the cameramen said, ‘You will have to go in, so you might as well do it now.’ Everyone understood his role very well. Eventually the soldiers went in, and as soon as they started breaking into homes to capture rioters who had fled, the cameras all started to roll.”

For the better part of the afternoon, the police and the media waited in bored anticipation.

The Encampers, the Media, and Hamas. While I was standing on Fullerton Avenue looking into the encampment, I noticed a cable running above one of the walkways holding 8” by 11.5” posters depicting a female journalist in a war zone. At the top, there was a reference to “Wizard_Bisan1.” The wizard is Bisan Owda, a Palestinian journalist who has been posting videos on social media documenting her experiences in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas war. She must be good, because she won a Peabody Award for her coverage.

Owda, however, is not without her detractors. The Jerusalem Post reports that her posts “receive endorsements from well-known figures associated with antisemitism and conspiracy theories . . . .” The Post quotes one social media post as evidence for its assertion:

For every action, there is a reaction. This means: What was expected after 75 years of occupation and 17 years of siege? … What was expected of us? … Would the families of the prisoners remain silent?

In the future, I would appreciate the Post quoting in full rather than using ellipses. What context did the Post eliminate when it selectively quoted Owda’s post?

I will leave it to history to assess whether Owda is a Hamas propagandist or an objective journalist, but I am deeply troubled by DePaul encampers’ tribute to Owda. They salute a journalist who reports the side of the story that supports their case against Israel, but they harrass and impede the work of television stations and photojournalists who are attempting to cover and document the story of the DePaul encampment as it evolves. Were Israel to assassinate Owda (as it has done to others that it views as propagandists), the encampers would rage against Israel. While the encampers may not be assassinating journalists, they are trying to silence them out of fear that the encampers will be doxxed or denied future career opportunities should their identities be exposed.

The Committee to Protect Journalists reports that since October 7, 2023 and today, at least 105 journalists have been killed in Gaza. Yet, Owada continues to report in the face of possible death. With all their talk, the DePaul encampers are cowards and hypocrites. They want to (i) take a stand without suffering any consequences; and shape the story to meet their needs. Undoubtedly, many of the encampers are critical of Fox News, but encampers are no different than Fox’s audience, only seeking coverage that reinforces their views and further their interests.

Outside Agitators. Some Republicans, wealthy college alumni, and pro-Israeli forces have asserted that the college Gaza Solidarity encampments throughout the country have been infiltrated by outside agitators. Anyone who has witnessed decades of protest activity has repeatedly heard allegations that outside agitators are pulling the strings. That riff has been in the toolbox since the days of the Red Scare, and probably much longer. Those who make the assertion use it to discredit their adversaries. In many instances the allegation simply reflects the deep vein of paranoia that runs through the American Experience.

As for the DePaul encampment, there were plenty of outsiders in plain view, but that was to be expected. Members of the Chicago Coalition for Justice in Palestine encouraged their supporters to show up, which is not surprising given that the Coalition has spearheaded pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Chicago for years. Members of several far-left groups have also been present, but they have been present at many pro-Palestinian demonstrations. No one should be surprised that allied groups would come together to support the student encampers.

I was, however, surprised to see several demonstrators today who gave off a distinct ANTIFA vibe—black clothing, faces covered with handkerchiefs, eye googles, black boots, and in at least one case, rubber gloves. I have no idea whether they were members of ANTIFA, but I found them intimidating. I suspect was being offered a glimpse into what is in store for the city come August and the DNC. Nevertheless, if someone is not violent, he or she certainly has a right to demonstrate without being labeled an agitator, which is a largely meaningless pejorative.

Rumors and Crowds. Shortly after I arrived, a group of demonstrators gathered at the entrance to DePaul’s Fullerton Avenue Quad (the “Quad”). At some point, several locked arms, forming a human chain blocking ingress and egress to the Quad, or so it appeared. I heard someone yell, “The Zionists are coming,” or something to that effect. I then walked westward along Fullerton, looking for the ‘Zionists.’ I saw and heard nothing.

For the two hours that I was present, no counter-demonstrators materialized. I eventually headed to a “counter-demonstration” five or six blocks to the east in a small university plaza at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue, Halsted, and Fullerton— more about that demonstration momentarily. When I returned later, a one photojournalist told me that there was a minor scuffle involving two or three pro-Israeli counter-demonstrators. He characterized it as a non-event. “You didn’t miss anything.”

As Elias Canetti, the 1981 winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, wrote in, Crowds and Power,

One of the most striking traits of the inner life of a crowd is the feeling of being persecuted, a peculiar angry sensitiveness and irritability directed against those it has once and forever nominated as enemies. These [the enemy] can behave in any manner, harsh or conciliatory, cold or sympathetic, severe or mild—whatever they do will be interpreted to destroy the crowd, openly or by stealth.

The rumor that the “Zionists” are coming perfectly illustrates Canetti’s point. For the encampment remain intact and energized, its leaders and members require an ever-present threat, often imaginary, as was apparently the case today. As a thought experiment, ask yourself: Would the encampers have occupied the Quad for 11 days had the university not said a word, the police never showed up, and nor a single photographer, reporter, or videographer shown up?

Some in the encampment were fearful that CPD, at the university’s behest, would clear the encampment today, which might also explain the human chain. I had heard people saying ‘they will not get in,’ a possible reference to a police action.

Realistically, a police action during the day was highly unlikely. The weather was beautiful; there was too much traffic and too many passersby; and I believe all the other closures of Gaza Solidarity encampments around the country took place either at night or during the early morning hours. But as Canetti observed, a perceived enemy or threat fuels crowd cohesiveness and unity.

The Counter-Demonstration. As I noted, there was a counter-demonstration of sorts on the campus’ east side. A small group of Jews gathered in an enclosed park-like plaza to celebrate their Jewish identity. Calling it a counter-demonstration somewhat misses the mark. The 75 or so people gathered were Jewish students from DePaul and Jews who lived in the surrounding neighborhood. While Israeli flags were visible and signs bearing the slogan “I Stand With Israel” were affixed to the iron fences surrounding the plaza, the gathering was hardly a demonstration in the traditional sense of the word. There was a bake-sale where the delectables were largely Dunkin’ donuts rather than homemade cookies and brownies; a silent auction of sports and entertainment memorabilia; prayer with ceremonial phylacteries; a performance by the rapper Kosha Dillz; and lots of play and conversation.

No doubt those attending were asserting their Jewish identity in a reaction to Gaza Solidarity encampment. There may have been two or three hot heads in the crowd who were looking to engage the pro-Palestinian forces down the street with taunts while waving Israeli flags, but I don’t think the organizers planned any sort of march or direct confrontation.

While I was present, eight or nine pro-Palestinian demonstrators showed up. The CPD officers charged with monitoring the celebration quickly closed ranks at the plaza’s entrance, forming a line between the pro-Palestinian demonstrators on the outside and the Jews on the inside. Both sides taunted each other. One person on the Jewish side yelled, paraphrasing, “Just ignore them. Don’t give them the attention they want.” Tactically smart. Some people continued to wave Israeli flags, with one group posing for a photograph while holding the Israeli flag as the police stood behind them.

Several people offered the pro-Palestinian counter-demonstrators donuts. Apparently Dunkin’ Donuts is the new Henry Kissinger, but were they Halal? Afterwards, I checked. Once again, Jews and Muslims have more in common than either group probably wants to admit. A number of websites report that some Dunkin’ stores sell donuts that are certified Halal or Kosher, but that buyers must check with individual stores. The Halal question didn’t seem to matter; the pro-Palestinian demonstrators rejected Donut Detente.

Civility Breaks Out. Shortly before the pro-Palestinian counter-demonstrators showed up at the entrance, I witnessed an incident that encapsulates the entire Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A woman and a man, presumably Jewish, were standing just behind the black iron fence separating the plaza from Fullerton Avenue. The two were engaged in what appeared to be a heated debate with two or three pro-Palestinian demonstrators standing on the other side. I sensed that the fence provided the two Jews the sense of security that permitted the discussion to continue. Not wanting to interfere, I kept my distance, so I did not hear exactly what was said, but I assume they were discussing the conflict in Gaza.

When the pro-Palestinian demonstrators appeared, I headed over to the main entrance. After twenty or so minutes, I stepped between the police so that I could see what was happening on the pro-Palestinian side of the police line. Looking westward on Fullerton, I saw what is best described as a miracle. The woman behind the fence had left the plaza’s protected confines. She and another woman were in a face-to-face discussion with two pro-Palestinian demonstrators.

If only people would talk to each other rather than firing guns and missiles. Sadly, after I witnessed the discussion, several pro-Palestinian demonstrators attempted to breach the southside of the encampment, but an alert CPD quickly thwarted the end run.

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