On Saturday afternoon, April 6th, an estimated 5,000 protesters marched on
the Israeli consulate in Chicago to oppose the occupation, Israeli
military and settler violence, and U.S. government support for Israelis
brutal oppression of the Palestinian people.
The march drew huge numbers from local Palestinian, Arab and Muslim communities and organizations. Also joining the march were participants from social justice and peace groups in the Chicago area, which included Refuse & Resist!, Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism, Not in My Name (A Jewish peace group formed in 2000, that demands that Israel end the Occupation) and others. In front of the Tribune Building on Michigan Avenue (aka "Magnificent Mile"), just across the bridge from the Israeli Consulate, thousands assembled as chartered bus after bus after bus coming in from Bridgeview (where there is a large Arab/Muslim population) dropped people off to meet up with others from across Chicagoland. As people from the buses mixed with the crowd, almost everyone received a beautiful colorful glossy poster of a Palestinian youth throwing a rock at an Isreali tank, to hold high throughout the demonstration. Many other banners and posters that groups and individuals came with were dispersed for people to take up.
The demonstration was one of the largest in the city in recent memory. But even more importantly, the mood of the march was one of determination and defiance, as set by the large representation of rebellious youth of all ages who were present. The colorful kafiyas wrapped around a majority of the marchers, Palestinian flags spread throughout the march and many women wearing hejabs, mixed with 16-20 year old Palestinian men wearing black leather jackets and baseball caps who, with raised fists, were leading chants loudly in Arabic and English. There were also some really awe-inspiring palestinian girls, about 10 yrs old and younger, who were running with banners and helping to lead the chants in the center of the rally in the Plaza, fingers pointing (index fingers) in the air and fists raised, while their mothers watched over them proudly.
Many signs and banners compared Sharon and Isreal to Hitler and Nazi Germany. As people chanted ...."Sharon and Hitler you're the same, the only difference is your Name!"..."End the Occupation Now....Free Free Palestine!".... "Down Down Isreal", there was a faint smell of burning fabric wafting through the air as Isreali flags went up in flames (while one or two American flags blew in the wind). And speaking of the USA--when a grouping of Americans started with "Down Down USA", others, especially youth and some Muslim women joined in looking at the Americans with smiles on their faces (as if permission was given to those who wanted to say it but weren't sure if it would be 'accepted' by those who marched in solidarity with them).
At the rally, protesters called for an immediate end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine and Israeli military and settler violence against Palestinians. They also vowed that Palestinians would never surrender the right of return for Palestinian refugees in exile around the world. They demanded that the United States immediately end all military and economic aid to Israel, and called for the establishment of a viable and truly independent Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as its capital.
[posted 4/11/02]
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