On Friday, July 7, two coordinated demonstrations took place in Chicago.
At 11 a.m., over 300 people protested President Bush. Bush spoke at a lavish fundraiser at the Drake Hotel to raise money and support for the Republican candidate for governor, Judy Topinka. While lunch guests paid a total of $1.2 million to rub elbows with Bush, people protested the hated war criminal and bigot on the street outside the hotel.
People from many communities came out to reject Bush and the corporate elite’s anti-people policies of war, racism, anti-immigrant attacks, sexism and homophobia. Protesters rallied and chanted for hours. The most popular chant was, “From Iraq to Palestine, occupation is a crime! Try George Bush!” During the spirited rally, people spoke out against the U.S. war on Iraq, the attacks on immigrants, and the ongoing assault on the Palestinian people.
The demands of the demonstration were: Stop Bush! Stop the U.S. war on Iraq! Stop Israeli/U.S. aggression! End the occupation of Palestine!
Groups who participated in the rally included Palestine Solidarity Group, Gay Liberation Network, ANSWER Chicago, March 10 Movement (Immigrant Rights), Centro Sin Fronteras, Code Pink, Northwest Indiana Coalition Against the Iraq War, Veterans for Peace, World Can’t Wait, Jobs with Justice, Chicago Committee to Free the Cuban 5, International Solidarity Movement, and the Party for Socialism and Liberation.
Three hours later on the same day, over 60 people held a spirited picket and rally outside the Israeli consulate. Protesters demanded an immediate end to the U.S.-backed Israeli. assault on Gaza.
Demonstrators chanted “Free, free Palestine! End the occupation now!” and “End the war on Iraq!” Over the last week and a half, militant actions against the current assault on the Palestinian people have taken place all over the U.S. and all over the world. The Chicago protest expressed support for Palestinian people’s right to self-determination. Itwas sponsored by the Palestine Solidarity Group, Palestine Aid Society, ISM, ANSWER Chicago, and the Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism.
