All tagged Vladimir Putin
On November 19, 2024, Chicago’s Ukrainian Community commemorated the 1,000th day since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion against Ukraine on February 24, 2024. Community members gathered in the plaza outside the Wrigley Building for speeches and anthems, and then they marched north on Michigan Avenue to Jane Byrne Plaza (the location of Chicago’s historic Water Tower). Here are my thoughts about and images from this stirring rally and march.
Members of the Russian opposition to Vladimir Putin gathered in the plaza outside the Wrigley Building on November 17, 2024, taking part in a worldwide demonstration against Putin’s war in Ukraine. Here are my thoughts about and images from the rally.
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.
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.
Members of Chicago's Ukrainian Community demonstrated outside McCormick Place at the International Manufacturing Technology Show on Monday, expressing their concern that some products manufactured by companies exhibiting at the show are finding their way to the Russian defense industry. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
On Saturday, Chicago's Ukrainian Community celebrated Ukrainian Independence Day outside the Ukrainian Cultural Center. The war dead were honored, several community leaders spoke, and Ukrainian tweens reprised last year's K-pop performance. Here are my thoughts about and images from the day's celebration.
On Sunday, August 18, 2024, a coalition of groups rallied and demonstrated before the first day of the 2024 Democratic Convention under the Bodies Outside of Unjust Laws moniker. Here are my thoughts about and images from the rally and march.
Chicago’s Ukrainian Community came together today for another demonstration in front of the Wrigley Building. The group staged some arresting street theater with a simulated immolation of three Ukrainian men—the victims of unbridled Russian aggression. Here are my thoughts about and observations from the rally and march.
Chicago’s Ukrainian Community gathered in the Wrigley Building Plaza just hours after Russia bombed Kyiv’s Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital—about as close to a just-in-time demonstration as can you can get. It was an impressive showing. Here are my thoughts about and images from the rally and subsequent march that drew over 500 people on a muggy summer evening.
Members of Chicago’s Russian émigré community came together Saturday to celebrate Ilya Yashin’s 41st birthday. Yashin is a Russian dissident who spoke out against Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. A close associate of the late Alexei Navalny, Yeshin is now serving a prison sentence in a Siberian prison. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration—one of the many coordinated demonstrations around the world.
Members of Chicago’s Ukrainian Community held a rally outside the Wrigley Building on May 18, 2024, the location of Mondelēz International’s offices. The company is the maker of Oreo Cookies and Ritz Crackers, among other well-know snack foods. They continue to operate inside Russia, which is why the Ukrainians were demanding that Mondelēz put humanitarian concerns above profits. Here are my thoughts about and images from the rally and subsequent march.
Chicago’s Ukrainian community commemorated Mother’s Day with a rally in Jane Byrne Park (location of the historic water tower). The moms were out with their kids, handing out flowers to shoppers on Michigan Avenue while pleading Ukraine’s case. Here are my thoughts about and images from the day.
A small, but potent group of Ukrainians took to the streets today, as they have done two other times during the last month or so. Loud chants of “Thank You USA” could be heard as those holding Ukrainian flags and signs celebrated the House approval of the $60 billion Ukrainian aid package. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
Chicago’s Ukrainian Community marked the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of the community’s homeland with a rally, march, and mass. Here are my thoughts about and images from the anniversary commemoration.
Friday, February 16, 2024 will go down in history as a dark day, particularly for the Russian People. Tonight, Chicago’s Russian Community to pay tribute to Alexei Navalny in what proved to be a solemn memorial for another one of Vladimir Putin’s victims. Here are my thoughts about and images from the evening.
On Sunday, January 21, 2023, Chicago’s Ukrainian Community celebrated Ukraine Unity Day, as well as the 50th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America—Illinois Division with a banquet at the Ukrainian Cultural Center. Here are my thoughts about and images from the event.
Last Sunday, following the Ukrainian demonstration outside the Wrigley Building, members of Chicago’s Russian Community marked the 1000th day Russian dissident Alexei Navalny’s captivity at the hands of Vladimir Putin. Here are my thoughts about and images from this demonstration.
This past Sunday, I attended an unusually small demonstration by members of Chicago’s Ukrainian Community. Some in attendance were recent émigrés. They were demanding that Russia release 500 prisoners who surrendered following the siege of the Azovstal Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol, Ukraine. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
Saturday afternoon Chicago’s Ukrainian Community celebrated Ukrainian Independence Day with a march, followed by a rally along the Chicago River. Flags, K-Poppers, and Ukrainian War Veterans showed up, together with 2,000 demonstrators. Here are my thoughts about and observations from the day’s events
Vladimir Putin made a surprise appearance on Chicago’s Michigan Avenue today. The Russian community was holding a demonstration to commemorate the third anniversary of Putin’s assassination attempt on the life of Alexei Navalny. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
