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Chicago Demo report - 3/20/03
By Bill Branson
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Bill Branson and Bill Shunas Chicago demo, February 15, 2003
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VVAW
turned out for a large demonstration in Chicago the day the war started.
Federal Plaza in the Loop was packed with thousands of people showing
their anger and disgust at this illegal and immoral war as well as
contempt for Governor Bush and his clique.
Bill Davis of Chicago VVAW
was a featured speaker, and drew wild cheering from the crowd.
After
about an hour of speeches and chanting, the people took to the streets,
splitting into two groups and occupying two entire streets for blocks.
The marches joined up again on Michigan Avenue, then walked east to
block Lake Shore Drive.
The VVAW contingent proudly displayed a large
banner, which drew hundreds of pictures and many appreciative comments
from the crowd. As usual, we met many old friends, who joined us for a
while.
The march turned into quite a marathon, occupying one and
sometimes both directions on Lake Shore Drive. At about the level of the
Water Tower, we crossed the dividers and moved towards Michigan Avenue.
I heard that the leaders of the demo intended to march back downtown
through the Miracle Mile.
At this point, the cops, who had been very
accommodating, bottled up the march at an intersection with Michigan
Avenue. The crowd continued its heavy chanting, adding "Let . . . us . .
. march!" We VVAW people, being a bit older and more experienced, found
ourselves a place between two parked, surrounded police cars and avoided
the crush in the intersection.
After continuing what had become a
standing rally for over an hour, we noticed that the cops were forming
up behind us.
Discretion and exhaustion prevailed, so we withdrew. Later
on, we watched the news as the cops surrounded over a thousand marchers,
brutalized many and arrested every one. It is always infuriating to see
this cowardice on the part of the police, picking on the small women
first, dragging people to the lockup, arresting people who were
peacefully exercising their human (what Constitution?) right to protest.
Even the local news stations seemed perplexed to explain the police
action, in light of the peaceful behavior of the marchers. In any case,
property rights prevailed over human rights.
Most of us in VVAW have
been in Chicago for over 30 years. We have NEVER seen the people take
the streets as they did that night! Even the protests at the start of
the Gulf War were not so forceful. Reaction from the passing cars and
onlookers was 99% positive. The sound of car horns honking and the hands
with peace signs sticking out of windows were almost continuous.
Today,
the day after the march, we are resting our tired bones and sore feet,
but many people are still holding smaller rallies and marches in
downtown Chicago.
We are all determined to continue to do our best to
end this war and save as many American and Iraqi lives as possible.
Bill Branson is a VVAW national staff member and a member of VVAW's
Chicago chapter. He has been in VVAW for over 30 years.
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Chicago VVAW at Chicago demo February 15, 2003
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