Anti-War protest in Chicago

[prolesunited]

By Evelyn Holmes
August 23, 2003 — A war protest tied up traffic in downtown Chicago Saturday. More than 60 different groups gathered together for a demonstration.

They called for an end to the U.S. Occupation of Iraq and immediate return of all troops. But not everyone at the demonstration agreed. The protest rally and march started in federal plaza. It was sponsored by the Chicago Coalition Against Racism and War, they are the same group that organized the March rally that resulted in the arrest of hundreds, after protesters and police clashed. Saturday's demonstration was different. It actually ended peacefully at Oak and Michigan.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/082303_ns_antiwar.html

I was there and they definitely low-balled the numbers. I have tons of great pictures that I'll post later. It was awesome!

[KoKo]

1. I'm glad to hear about this.....

Thanks!

[NJCher]

2. Looking forward to the pics!

Cher

[tlb]

3. And what better way to gain support for a movement

then to disrupt metro traffic and make countless people just sit in their cars going nowhere.

[prolesunited]

4. Actually, it wasn't much of an inconvenience for them

The Chicago police are extremely good at crowd-control. They only closed a block or so at a time and kept everything moving. It was no more of a nuisance than a little construction or an accident.

In fact, very few seemed that bothered. Some watched, waved, snapped pictures, while others just appeared nonplussed by it all.

BTW, thousands of people are suffering in Iraq in sweltering temperatures with inadequate water and power supplies. Troops are getting hurt and killed every day, but god forbid we tie up traffic for five minutes or inconvenience anyone ever so slightly.

I'm always open for suggestions, though. What do you think would be more effective? Personally, I think it is just one part of a multipronged strategy that is needed to get the message out.

[tlb]

8. I was simply going by the story.

If it wasn't much of an inconvenience then the article is exaggerated and misleading.

" August 23, 2003 — A war protest tied up traffic in downtown Chicago Saturday "


When I made my comment I was specificly thinking back to the San Francisco anti war protest of several months ago when traffic likewise was tied up. I read several stories then of the anger of the stranded motorists against the protestors.

As for "god forbid we tie up traffic for five minutes or inconvenience anyone ever so slightly". Again I guess it depends on whether you think pissing off innocent bystanders actually persuades them of the rightness of the cause. Myself, I can't see it as anything but counterproductive.

As to options, simply plan the demonstrations so as not to make ordinary people suffer. For example, demonstrations in the city parks make the point just as well as in the street and don't strike at the people you want to persuade.

[prolesunited]

9. I really do understand your point

I'm not saying some cars weren't forced to yield, but it wasn't a traffic nightmare by any means. There were FAR more people who were responsive to the march than upset by it, so we definitely came out ahead there.

If you simply confined yourself to single location, you don't have the same impact of reaching out with your message, you're just preaching to the converted.

[dansolo]

27. The Air and Water Show last week

Probably had a worse effect on traffic in Chicago.

[stevedeshazer]

6. Okay,

TLB Show us what you would do...as if we didn't already know.

[prolesunited]

22. I just got that one

:think:

Do you really think it's TLB Show from Capitolgrilling.com?

[stevedeshazer]

25. Just a thought

I'm pushing the forum rules as it is... ;-)

[prolesunited]

26. I know what you mean

I had more in my response but then went back and deleted it. :D

[Kool Kitty]

7. Sometimes you have to shout

or hit 'em over the head (figuratively speaking, of course) to get a little attention.

[Minstrel Boy]

13. Reminds me of a banner

from a demonstration after the outbreak of war:

"Sorry Road Closed DUE TO MASS MURDER OF INNOCENT PEOPLE!"

[Zhade]

28. Word.

That's the best sign ever.

So the people are a little inconvenienced. Well, sorry, but that's nothing compared to the 'inconvenience' of GETTING BLOWN UP BY A CLUSTER BOMB DURING AN ILLEGAL INVASION AND OCCUPATION.

I swear, if we Americans weren't so damn ignorant, a little traffic jam during a protest wouldn't piss so many people off. Look at Europe. Hell, Paris was shut down at least once by protests before Operation Occupation. But we the sheeple just get mad that we can't get home in time to watch American Idol.

[Gemini Cat]

15. Bloody hell.

And I'm sure that my friends who are currently in Iraq are more than a tad inconvenienced, by this PNAC war. You know the ones. The ones who are inconvenienced by the horrid heat, short rations, lack of water, and don't forget being inconvenienced by death. Then let's not forget about all the inconveniences the Iraqi people have suffered through since the US-UK invaded. Lack of safety, water, electricity, education, but plenty of death, death and more bloody rotten death to inconvenience them!

Sitting in a mini jam being 'held up' in an airconditioned 4x4, car or what have you, does not sound all that bad to me.

[prolesunited]

18. Thank you for bringing that point out better

and welcome to DU, Confound_W. :hi:

[kclown]

19. Quote from John Lewis (D. Ga.) yesterday at Lincoln Memorial

"You need to get in the way."

[leesa]

21. Oh poor widdle Amerikans being inconvenienced by people trying to

stop a travesty...perhaps you need to get your priorities in order?

[sonias]

5. Way to go Chicago

Keep up the efforts for peace. I can't wait to see the pics prolesunited. Thanks for the link.

Sonia

[Robbien]

10. The rally should have been in front of the Tribune Tower

A reporter from the Tribune was on CNN the other day saying the majority of people in Chicago are patient people who support the war. The Trib needs a wake up call.

Wish I could have been there with you, but it was great to hear you march on the Guy James Show.

[prolesunited]

12. Actually, we marched past

the Sun-Times, the Tribune and NBC (They're all in the same corridor.) The major news radio station covered it all evening in it's news mix and it was brief but quite fair. And judging by the reaction on the street, I wouldn't agree with that assessment at all. But then again, they are in towering skyscrapers. Perhaps they can't see the little people on the street. ;-)

I hope I sounded OK on the radio. There was so much going on and I couldn't hear them hardly at all. There's supposed to be more marches in the works for September and October.

[Robbien]

14. I thought you sounded great and Guy got a kick out of it too.

He even said so after your call.

I hope that Trib reporter saw you guys. I was so mad I threw a sponge at the TV when he spred those stories about how Chicago supports Bush. A whole lot of good that does.

Anyway you rock!

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

11. Yeay yah ! Speak out loud Chicago !! Let's bring'm HOME NOW !!!

Great to hear about this protest !!
Here in L.A. we support you !
Can't wait to see the pics!!!
WAY TO GO.
*****************************
Bring ALL troops home now--

[QuietStorm]

16. Hopefully this will start a wave of END the OCCUPATION protests

:thumbsup:

[Judi Lynn]

17. I would think anyone inconvenienced for a moment by the demonstration

might be someone who just hadn't taken time to think about the bogus war, who might just be jarred back to reality when he/she sees so many people taking time out of their weekend to face the harsh weather, just like during the winter, to try to make a point.

I'd be very interested, myself, not swept up in self-centered pique.

Takes all kinds, apparently.

Thanks for the news. Hadn't heard this before now.

By the way, anyone interested in hearing prolesunited's call, which I haven't yet, can go to www.theguyjamesshow.com and check "archives." I'm going to do it, too, having missed the first half of the show.

[prolesunited]

20. Here's another story

I'm surprised that there wasn't more coverage from the liberal media. :eyes:

DuPage activists take a train to protest occupation of Iraq
President Bush declared the end of major hostilities in Iraq months ago. But that hasn't stopped DuPage County peace activists from expressing their views.

About a dozen members of DAWN, or DuPage Against War Now, boarded a train Saturday morning to join a larger protest in downtown Chicago. The Glen Ellyn-based group formed in October 2002 to oppose a pre-emptive war with Iraq.

"Now it's a different message, 'Bring these people (U.S. troops) home.' We didn't want to send them in the first place," said Amy Tauchman, a Glen Ellyn resident and the group's co-founder.

http://www.dailyherald.com/mchenry/main_story.asp?intID=3785788

[prolesunited]

23. Here's the report with pictures in GD

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=223138

[jamesinca]

24. Go to the site and watch the video

Make your own number up by watching the video. The reportes say there were 100 officers, you tell me if it looked like a 6 to 1 ratio of people to officers.