All in Performance

DNC Dispatch 1

On Friday afternoon, I attended a press conference in Chicago's Federal Plaza where Hatem Abudayyeh, executive director of the Arab American Action Network, updated the media about where the litigation stood over march logistics for next week's demonstrations during the 2024 Democratic National Convention being held in Chicago. Here are my thoughts about what Abudayyeh had to say, together with an three images.

DJT At The Hilton

Former President Donald Trump came to Chicago today for what was a disastrous Q & A session at the National Association of Black Journalists annual conference. As usual, I was in the streets outside the Hilton, recalling the riots that broke out during the 1968 Democratic Convention. Here are my thoughts about what transpired on the streets, as well as my photographs.

Venezuelan Election

We have a new ‘heritage’ group demonstrating in the streets of the Chicago: members of Chicago’s recently arrived Venezuelan Community. They took to the downtown streets today to celebrate what they hoped would be the defeat of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro in today’s election. Here are my thoughts about and images from this colorful demonstration.

RNC 2024-Day 1

The first day of the 2024 Republican National Convention is now in the record books. A coalition of groups opposed to various aspects of the Republican agenda held what was advertised as a major demonstration to show their opposition. Here are my thoughts about and images from the day.

GAYestinian Pride

Today, Chicago’s LGBQT+ Community staged the 54th Annual Gay Pride Parade. In keeping with my activity over the last nine months, I decided to focus on the pro-Palestinian demonstrators who had obtained a coveted slot in the parade’s abbreviated lineup. It was the right decision, because it permitted me to photograph their efforts, as well as the colorful characters lining the parade route, as I walked the route with the pro-Palestinian forces from the start to the finish line.

Humanities & Happiness

I had the opportunity to attend a conversation between New York Times columnist David Brooks and his wife, Ann Snyder tonight. The focus was on the role of the humanities in our life, particularly as people find themselves midway into their careers or racing toward retirement. Here are my thoughts about and images from the event, which was held in the David Rubenstein Forum on the University of Chicago’s Hyde Park campus.

A Close Call

The weather was beautiful today and I hadn’t been to a Chicago Pro-Palestinian Saturday demonstration in over a month, so I headed to Federal Plaza, where a group of several thousand assembled for a march to the Offices of the Israeli Consulate General. Here are my thoughts about and images from the day.

RIP Aaron Bushnell

Members of Chicago’s pro-Palestinian Community held a demonstration outside the offices of the Israeli Consulate General last night to honor Aaron Bushnell and the sacrifice made earlier this week when he chose self-immolation. Here are my thoughts about and images from what was a memorial service.