Thousands of people took to the streets Saturday afternoon at a rally in downtown Chicago to show support for the Palestinian people amid a growing humanitarian crisis spurred by war between Israel and Hamas.
The demonstration stretched for blocks as it made its way down Michigan Avenue, turned at the river and returned to Congress Plaza. Attendees held signs and chanted passionately as they demonstrated, but the crowd was well organized and there were no reports of violence.
Chicago police said no arrests had been made as of Saturday evening and the department had had not received reports of any threats or disturbances related to the rally.
One man, who asked that his name not be used, said he hoped that one day the region would see a lasting peace. “We could live together, it’s a big land... But why do innocent people have to die? We don’t want people to die, on both sides.”
He said he feared for his brother’s family living in Gaza, where their home was destroyed in airstrikes last week. He said his brother and his children have been without access to water, gas and electricity for days and have had a difficult time reaching medical aid, due to the Israeli blockage of the area.
“All these people are hurt, they’re dying,” he said Saturday. “At least open it up for medical assistance.”
Demonstrators hold signs Saturday saying “No Electricity” and “No Water,” in reference to the services being shut off in Gaza by Israel amid the war with Hamas.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
The latest Israel-Hamas war has claimed more than 3,000 lives on both sides in the week since Hamas launched an unprecedented surprise attack on Oct. 7.
Protesters said their primary aim was to put pressure on politicians, particularly those in Illinois. Demonstrators noted that many lawmakers, from Gov. J.B. Pritzker to City Council members, have made statements of support for Israel.
“We’re here to pressure our own government,” one demonstrator told the Sun-Times. “But we’re also here as part of a global mobilization to show all the complicit parties that we are watching and we are paying attention.”
On Friday, city leaders passed a resolution condemning last week’s Hamas’ attack in Israel during a special City Council meeting during which Mayor Brandon Johnson cleared the public from the council’s chambers as supporters of Palestine and Israel shouted over each other.
“It makes me sad that we have to fight for people to see us as human beings,” a 24-year-old woman who came to the demonstration told a reporter. “Coming out here feels like, do we have hope? Is this just going to happen again in a few years?”
Protesters in the Loop Saturday criticized the U.S. government for providing military aid to Israel.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
The war began last week in a deadly surprise attack with rockets and Hamas militants breaking through Israeli border fortifications, gunning down civilians and soldiers in towns as far as 15 miles from the Gaza Stip.
Israel declared war on Hamas and responded with airstrikes that have left entire neighborhoods in Gaza in ruins. On Friday, Israeli authorities told people living in Gaza to move south ahead of anticipated ground fighting, potentially displacing more than a million people.
International aid groups warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis after Israel prevented the entry of supplies from Egypt to Gaza’s 2.3 million people. Local aid groups told the Sun-Times they have received a flood of donations but are struggling to get it to people who need it inside Gaza because of Israel’s blockade.
A large Palestinian flag is unfurled as others are waved Saturday during a rally attended by thousands in the Loop.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Unverified reports and disinformation have run rampant on social media, particularly on X, formerly known as Twitter, since last week’s attack began, highlighting the difficulty of getting accurate information to the public during major news events.
Even in Chicago, thousands of miles from the conflict, fears of local attacks on Jewish people and places of worship have led to heightened security, confusion and alarm.
Last week, comments on social media led to police investigations of threats against Niles North High School and a synagogue in Skokie, which has a large Jewish community. Police said both were unfounded.
“There are no known, credible threats to Skokie or the Chicagoland area,” police said.
The sight of military jets over Chicago, practicing for a routine flyover at Sunday’s Chicago Bears game, also caused concern.
Contributing: AP
A pro-Palestinian demonstrator holds a sign Saturday during a rally in the Loop where protesters called for Israel to end military operations in Gaza amid its war with Hamas militants.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times