Video of Chicago Anti-War Protest, March 18, 2010

Anti-War rally and march in Federal Plaza, downtown Chicago, up N. Michigan Avenue on Thursday, March 18, 2010, the 7th anniversary of the Iraq War. Most of the time, this event felt more like an anti-Israel rally. For 90 more photos and my full editorial review of the protest, see my post here. Also see my video of the same protest event in 2008, which was remarkably similar. Leave a Comment * Conservative T-Shirts * Follow CNB on Twitter * RSS Feed

Chicago's Anticlimactic Anti-War Protest (Slideshow)

adjective: anticlimactic - of or relating to a sudden change from an impressive to a ludicrous style UPDATE: "Video of Chicago Anti-War Protest, March 18, 2010" Today's "big" anti-war rally in downtown Chicago was, to be honest, predictable and boring. We heard the same old tired slogans, heard now for more than 40 years. You know, chants like "Hey hey, ho ho (fill in the blank) has got to go!" Slightly less musty mantras, such as "Iraq for Iraqis," were also repeated ad nauseum. (See our slideshow below.) It was more of the same from 2009 and 2008, but less interesting and with seemingly less people. I estimate the crowd today at around 1,200. (See my video of the 2008 march.) The usual gaggle of malcontented wannabe hippies, self-hating American citizens, American-hating non-citizens, Marxists, socialists and communists selling their anti-capitalist literature (and not getting the irony of that), 9-11 truthers, conspiracy theorists of all stripes, anti-Israel folks waving Palestinian flags, aging pensioners whose meds have either run out or need to be increased, and a lot of other bitter mental midgets got together in Federal Plaza at 5:30 this afternoon and then paraded up Michigan Avenue. Yawn. Same as last year, with only one real difference. While there were the usual, til death do us part Bush Bashers, this time around we also saw (and heard) plenty of Obama bashing. "Obama is just like Bush!" we were told over the loudspeakers in Federal Plaza. They're upset that Obama is not liberal enough, not far enough to the Left for them. Imagine that: Barack Obama not radical enough for these lumpen proletariate. In short, this type of march may have been impressive in 1968 (and I saw my fill of them growing up in Madison, Wisconsin), but in 2010 they merely seem ludicrous. Boring, very boring. Freak shows can be interesting, but the main attractive is novelty. You see the Bearded Lady enough times and, with time, she no longer shocks. The two-headed chicken even begins to seem mundane after so many viewings, and eventually you long for a three headed chicken. This is especially true when you hear the same bad theme songs as background music every time you enter the tent. Please, show me the Great Egress. Enjoy the slideshow (video coming on Friday, March 19). Flashback to 2008-03-26 VIDEO: ANTIWAR LUNATICS, SOCIALISTS MARCH IN CHICAGO People laugh or sneer when I refer to many of my neighbors in The Peoples Republic of Rogers Park as "socialists" or "communists." But comrades, it's what they call themselves, and if you still think the late Senator Joe McCarthy (R-Wisconsin) was a complete lunatic, you might change your mind after watching this disturbing video. THIS VIDEO CAPTURES MOMENTS from the March 19, 2008 rally/march, and the big March 20, 2008 rally in Chicago. Leave a Comment * Conservative T-Shirts * Follow CNB on Twitter * RSS Feed

5:30 PM Anti-War Protest, March 18, Downtown Chicago

UPDATE: SEE "Chicago's Anticlimactic Anti-War Protest (Slideshow)" UPDATE: SEE "Video of Chicago Anti-War Protest, March 18, 2010" March 18: 5:30 PM, short rally at Federal Plaza (corner of Adams & Dearborn Streets), followed by permitted march on Michigan Avenue. For more information see "Socialist Freaks to March in Chicago on March 18." Leave a Comment * Conservative T-Shirts * Follow CNB on Twitter * RSS Feed

Video: Obama Supporters Demand Your Money

Let's review a couple of videos I made in Chicago on March 19, 2008 and July 27, 2008. The first one shows thousands of people who will - without question - be voting for Barack Obama. The second one is an Obama rally filled with shady characters, including Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky's criminal husband. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

CHICAGO PROTEST FIZZLES

CHICAGO - March 20, 2008 - What a difference a day makes. Last night's antiwar rally and march in Chicago saw a strong turnout. There was a rally this evening, too. Yesterday, people were saying that tonight's rally (without a march) would be "even bigger" today.

It wasn't. Not even close. Perhaps 200 people gathered at N. Dearborn and W. Monroe at 5:00 p.m. By 6:30 p.m., however, about half of the crowd had left.

The photo at top was taken at 6:23 p.m. Even the media presence was remarkably less tonight than it was last night.

It was chillier than last night, and I had no intention of hanging around any longer. Most of the anti-war gnomes felt the same way.

Apparently, a demonstration is only worth it if it's a festive atmosphere. No point in being uncomfortable while you battle torture and evil colonialism if you can't get yer party on, right?

Sun-Times Wrong On Crowd Estimate

The Chicago Sun-Times got it wrong. They report today that 2,500 people marched in the Loop last night. The Bench was there. They were certainly 2,500 people at one point early in the event, at the rally. But by the time they marched, there were at least 10,000 marching. (Sun-Times story) I went to a high school of 2,000 students. Our auditorium could hold all 2,000. I know what 2,000 people gathered in one place looks like, folks, and there were a hell of a lot more than 2,500 marching last night. Perhaps the Sun-Times made a typo. Perhaps they meant 25,000 instead of 2,500. Perhaps. But this would not be the first time the Sun-Times has had trouble with numbers: Chicago Sun-Times Reports Circulation Figures - With the release of these figures, ABC has notified the Chicago Sun-Times that it is no longer on censure status. There will be another rally tonight at 5:00 p.m. at Dearborn and Monroe. The Bench will there, as we were last night for the whole march. There will be no march tonight, however, just the rally. The Bench will post some rather interesting video of last night's rally and march, as well as video from tonight's rally, on Saturday, March 22. Stay tuned.

Near Riot Averted At Chicago Protest

POLICE ACTION AVERTED BY COOL HEADS ON BOTH SIDES
T. Mannis
CHICAGO - The Bench - March 19, 2008 - Police officers, in riot gear and on horses, were ready. The protesters seemed ready to take a stand.

They numbered in the thousands. The Bench does not have an official estimate, but a guess is well over 10,000 people marched north along Michigan Avenue. They started with a rally and speeches at 5:00 p.m., then walked from Dearborn and Monroe to Walton and Dearborn. It was loud, boisterous and peaceful. But the ending was a cliff hanger. It looked like a riot might break out, and the Chicago Police were not backing down.

The protesters arrived at their destination, between Oak Street and Walton Street on N. Dearborn, just off of Chicago's famous Rush Street bar district, at approximately 8:30 p.m. There, they chanted and sang and danced. It was approximately 8:30 p.m. The police patiently looked on from the sidewalks as the protesters commanded the streets.

After 15 to 20 minutes, the police attempted to clear the road. But, unexpectedly, a red headed young woman refused to move. Police officers tried to negotiate with her for about 10 minutes.

All the while, a dozen or so drummers beat a frantic tempo, appropriate to the tense moments. A man who identified himself as her attorney told The Bench that she insisted her name not be released, even though bloggers and major news outlets alike were taking her photograph. Eventually, she relinquished and it looked as though the crowd would break up. That's not what happened.

The crowd moved in tighter along the street, refusing to allow police and street sweepers move through. About 60 police in riot gear stood just off to the side, ready. Another dozen mounted police lined up on Walton, facing north toward the protesters. Now the tension was very high. The mounted police did not blink, they did not advance. Their very presence was enough for the sensible in the crowd, and after about 10 minutes the crowd dispersed. Almost.

Suddenly, there was the red headed woman again, standing near a man who was laying in the middle of the street. Cameras moved in, tight shots. The mounted police still stood motionless, ready. A police officer calmly spoke to the man. He did not move for a few more moments, then got to his knees, and was helped to his feet by two officers.

The man turned to his left and embraced one of the officers, who returned the gesture. People cheered, and what may have been an ugly scene became a happy ending.

The protesters - 99.9% them - and the Chicago Police deserve credit for handling themselves well.

Another day, another protest in Chicago.

Video review of the protest demonstration on Saturday.

RELATED:

Anti-War Protestors Plan March Down Michigan Ave.
NBC5.com, IL - March 19, 2008
Protestors are preparing to march down Michigan Avenue to protest the Iraq War on the 5-year anniversary of the conflict. ...

Fewer anti-war protesters than predicted
CBS 42, TX - Chicago, Illinois.
Similar demonstrations were scheduled in several cities across the country as part of a national day of protest. ...

HUGE PROTEST DOWNTOWN CHICAGO 3/19/08

Will there be trouble tomorrow at the anti-war demonstration? We hope not, but an ounce of prevention, well... The following email blast went out to building management companies in Chicago's "Loop," the downtown business district that includes the Federal courthouse where Tony Rezko is being tried for fraud. In fact, this protest will start across the street. At 5:00, there were already no-parking signs up, and blue wood horses at the ready. The Bench will be there, camera in hand.

There is an odd passage in the email below: "There is the possibility that the group will attempt to continue their protest on March 20th by engaging in acts of civil disobedience. Building security should be vigilant as similar events have resulted in flyers being wheat pasted to buildings or windows being acid-etched with slogans." Does that sound "civil" to you?

Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Subject: Notice: March and Rally on March 19
Importance: High

On Wednesday, March 19th a Mass March and Rally to commemorate the 5th Anniversary of the Iraq War will occur in Chicago. The event will start at Federal Plaza (Adams & Dearborn) with volunteers gathering at 5pm. The Rally will begin at 6pm in the Plaza and a March will begin at 7pm. The route is north on Clark, east on Wacker, north on Michigan to Oak Street.

The Chicago Police Department is concerned that some attendees might attempt to hang banners from buildings, cranes or other high points. There is the possibility that the group will attempt to continue their protest on March 20th by engaging in acts of civil disobedience. Building security should be vigilant as similar events have resulted in flyers being wheat pasted to buildings or windows being acid-etched with slogans.

It is suggested that buildings move security personnel to front positions and encourage them to be alert.

Immediately report any situation that appears to constitute a threat or suspicious activity to 911.

Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago
120 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 1400
Chicago IL 60603
http://www.boma-chicago.org/

Photos: Anti-Torture Protest, Chicago

People gathered at the Post Office at Adams and and Dearborn in Chicago's downtown on Friday evening, January 11, 2008 to protest torture, from Gitmo to the Chicago Police. It was peaceful. People were relaxed, smiling. Then, suddenly, hundreds of the Evil Fascist Dictator Bush's Dark Warriors mowed them all down with machine guns. No, wait. I'm just kidding about that last thing.

Anti-Military Hate Crime in Rogers Park

Atty. Jay R. Grodner,
Hateful Liberal Jackass

"The lowest form of life ever discovered on planet Earth has been found in Chicago, Illinois. It’s lower than pond scum, less desirable than the Ebola virus, deserving of none of the respect you gave that dog crap you once scraped off your shoe. It’s name: Attorney Jay R. Grodner." ~ Bill Bobbs - 12-31-07

There is a little firestorm brewing in Chicago' s Rogers Park neighborhood. It's about hatred for the U.S. military. A U.S. Marine sergeant, visiting friends in Chicago before deploying overseas, fell victim to anti-military hatred here recently. He was verbally attacked. The attacker then allegedly "keyed" the paint on the sergeant's car.

While this may not legally be a hate crime, it was certainly motivated by hatred. Hatred for the military. Hatred for America. Hatred for a U.S. Marine. Hatred, allegedly, from a Chicago family law attorney named Jay R. Grodner. (Note: Grodner pleaded guilty in January, 2008.)

The story is getting national attention, thanks largely to a posting titled "Anti-Military Lawyer Damages Marine's Car on Eve of Deployment." Local bloggers in Rogers Park have picked up the story. To see the impassioned comments from them, go here.

Ultimately, it is about love of country and respect for neighbors. It is appropriate that this drama plays out in this, the 49th aldermanic ward of Chicago, for this neighborhood is a microcosm of everything good and everything bad in the U.S. today.

Jay Grodner: Too sexy for you

Not everybody in Chicago's east Rogers Park neighborhood is a self-avowed communist. Not everybody in this, the 49th Ward, openly proclaims their desire to shoot the U.S. President or Vice President. Not everybody in this eclectic neighborhood hates the members of the U.S. military. But plenty do.

It's not unusual to hear a sober person in Rogers Park declare openly that they would love to shoot Bush or Cheney. To, you know, kill them. This is no exaggeration. These self-proclaimed liberals who love peace and hate the death penalty "even for Hitler" would, so they say, shoot Mssrs. Bush and Cheney.

Alderman Joe Moore is a Democrat and the Alderman of the 49th Ward, a weird little 2-square mile area. Moore has been outspoken in his opposition to the war in Iraq. There is nothing wrong with that per se, but a local blogger today asked, "Has Joe Moore created a hate in Rogers Park towards military personal [sic]?"

It's a fair question, and here's why. It's the way that Moore and his comrades have opposed the war. It's one thing to say you think the war is wrong, or being conducted inappropriately. But Moore - and many Democrats (sorry) - have stayed silent while people like U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congressman John Murtha (D-PA) have compared our military personnel to Nazis. The silence from Ald. Moore and, indeed, the entire Democrat Party was deafening. By omission, they have agreed with Durbin and others that our military personnel are evil, baby killing rapists.

Two of Joe Moore's best friends and fervent supporters are co-owners of the Heartland Cafe, a restaurant and tavern in Rogers Park. The two are Michael James and Katy Hogan, who recently put together a reunion of SDS members (see the video!). James and Hogan are fellow travelers with fervent anti-Americans, self-avowed Communists, and those who hate the men and women who serve us so bravely.

Even many Progressives, Libs and Democrats steer clear of the place, complaining about lousy service and - to the point of this article - the hatred that is palpable throughout the joint. The broken Navy missile (it's a fake) perched atop the Heartland is a loud screaming testimony to the way this crowd feels about the U.S. military. Indeed, it is a statement about how they feel about the United States.

Also See:
Another Jay Grodner Update Moonbattery
Man who keyed car gets day in court - John Kass Chicago Tribune
More On The Idiot Lawyer Jay Grodner Second City Cop
Jay R. Grodner, A Chicago Lawyer You Should Know Confederate Yankee
Chicago lawyer Jay R. Grodner is a giant douche This Goes To 11
Military Hating Lawyer Keys Marines Car Flopping Aces
The tolerant left HoyStory

Spitting on Veterans

Did war protesters spit on GIs returning from Vietnam? Do they spit on veterans today? Looks like some emotions got riled out there by The Bench's recent post, "Rhymes With Witch," in which one of our loonier readers claimed that spitting on Vietnam vets was "an urban myth." Right. I suppose next she'll claim that it's a myth that antiwar protesters in the 60's broke thousands of merchants' storefront windows across the nation, something witnessed by me and by millions of others who lived through that time. That post, in turn, stemmed from a video posted here a few days earlier, in which The Bench wrote that SDS members spat on returning GIs in the 60's. Of course, not all SDS members or antiwar folks spat on veterans, and The Bench did not say or mean to imply that. But the fact is that GIs were spat on by a number of antiwar types. Go to Rhymes With Witch to see the comments, and see below for strong evidence -proof, if you will - that such things did and still do happen. Thanks to all commenters, including those who disagreed civilly. SPITTING ON VETERANS: Meme List: Did hippies really spit on Vietnam vets? It wasn't just hippies who would spit on Vietnam Vets. I came home in February 1968 and when I got off the bus in San Jose Ca, I was spit on, called a baby killer and had to fight my way out to the street. These people were not hippies but people against the war. For a year I fought anyone who said anything bad about a vietnam vet. i have not or ever will forgive the people of this country for the way I was treated. Boundless Line: Violent, Anti-American Vandals Who Spit on Veterans Violent, Anti-American Vandals Who Spit on Veterans by Motte Brown on Feb 1, 2007 at 11:15 AM. Washington Post columnists William Arkin lit a firestorm... Polimom Says » Ladies don’t fart; they poot His research focused on a particular spitting narrative, that of antiwar protesters lining up at airports to spit on veterans who had just returned... The Volokh Conspiracy - Many 1967-72 Spitting Incidents Are ... ... but about whether they specifically Spit on Veterans...