All tagged Vladimir Putin
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
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.
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.
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.
On Sunday, January 26, 2025, Ambassador William B. Taylor addressed Chicago’s Ukrainian Community at its annual Independence Day banquet at the Chicago Ukrainian Cultural Center. Here are my thoughts about and images from the banquet.
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.
