Organizers say they will continue to disrupt “business as usual” until the genocide ends.
Protesters acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza converged on a major three-way intersection in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood on Saturday, disrupting traffic in the area for over two hours. The surprise blockade formed suddenly as 145 activists unfurled banners and held hands in the crosswalks of Damen Avenue, North Avenue, and Milwaukee Avenue. The protest was a colorful and energetic display of rage, grief, and solidarity.
This move toward spontaneous, decentralized blockades in Chicago reflects the grief and frustration of community members who say that President Biden has ignored the will of the people. According to Data for Progress, aboutof US voters believe that Biden should call for a permanent ceasefire and a de-escalation of violence in Gaza.
Other activists also took Biden to task. “In his State of the Union address, President Biden spoke about Gaza as if it was a natural disaster that the US was responding to, rather than a US-sponsored genocide being committed by our closest ally, Israel,” said activist Umm-Hana*. “This genocide is funded by US tax dollars and politically protected by the US veto power in the United Nations Security Council,” they said.
Activist Abu Atef had no sympathy for those who expressed anger over the inconvenience the blockade posed. “America is past due for a reckoning,” Atef said. “You are angry because we made it minorly inconvenient for you to continue participating in consumerist distractions,” he said of the protest’s hecklers.
Israeli forces have killed more than 30,000 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7. Organizers in Chicago say they will continue to cause disruptions until the genocide ends. “This blockade is part of a long legacy of protest in Chicago and aims to inspire more disruptions across Chicago’s commercial districts,” the organizers said. “Business as usual is not an option.”*These interviewees are using assumed names due to concerns about doxxing and other threats.
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