Pro-Palestinian protesters block traffic on Mag Mile to highlight continuing conflict in Gaza
Protesters blocked traffic for an hour on the Magnificent Mile on Black Friday to highlight the ongoing war in Gaza to holiday shoppers and to call for boycotts of major retailers that do business in Israel.
The blockage of Michigan Avenue culminated in a chaotic scene at the Apple store along the Chicago River. Chicago police officers and store security spent several minutes removing a handful of protesters who entered the store and chanted inside. No one was arrested, according to police spokesman Don Terry.
The protest kicked off at noon as about 100 people began marching south from Water Tower park through the flagship shopping district on a blustery day with temperatures in the 20s.
The protest, organized by the U.S. Palestinian Community Network of Chicago, was smaller than one held by the same organizers a year ago when an estimated 1,000 people marched on Black Friday. But protesters were equally passionate in their call for an end to the war in Gaza.
"Just because there was a ceasefire with Lebanon does not mean that we can take a break and go back to our normal lives," said Maram, who declined to share her last name. "We have to continue to be out here advocating for the people who can't advocate for themselves back home."
An Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire marks the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which left over 1,000 people dead. It does not address the devastating war in Gaza, where Hamas is still holding dozens of hostages, according to the Associated Press.
Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel, saying it was showing support for Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its Oct. 7 attack, the AP reported. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have been fighting ever since.
More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon in the past 13 months, many of them civilians, the AP reported. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel said it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members.
On Friday, several police officers on bicycles and on foot blocked intersections ahead of the protesters. Officers occasionally placed themselves between the protesters and shoppers waiting in line outside stores. There were no visible altercations between protesters and shoppers during the march.
The march ended outside the Apple store as someone with a megaphone explained about a half-dozen protesters had entered the store.
Police and security surrounded the protesters and escorted them out a door about 10 minutes later. Other officers were directed to lock the store's doors to prevent more protesters from entering.
Mwafaq Jbara, an organizer of the march who was a liaison with police, said the protest was a success.
"It's all about the messages, keeping it alive — letting the people in the streets know what's going on in Gaza," he said.